Sasha Sanchez

Sasha Sanchez is originally from Miami, FL and is in her 5th year of study pursuing a degree in Biological engineering with a specialty in Biosystems, with a minor in International Studies in the Agricultural and Life Sciences. She is expecting to graduate in May 2024. Sasha is a member of various professional and student organizations. Sasha is dedicated to giving back to her community and supporting fellow students. They actively participate in the University of Florida International Engineers Program, where she serves as a buddy to international engineering students. Sasha values the importance of friendship and believes in the power of supporting one another. They actively promote the need for more women in STEM and are passionate about fostering inclusivity and diversity within the engineering community.   

Over the past three years, Sasha has gained valuable engineering experience as an undergraduate research assistant. Sasha has worked in research for controlled environments and hydroponic systems where she has been responsible for managing chambers, handling sensors, conducting extractions, among other tasks. This experience has allowed sasha to develop expertise in data collection techniques, including hyperspectral imaging, spectrophotometry, all while effectively collaborating within a team. Sasha is also proficient in languages such as English, Spanish, and is currently learning French. Sasha also has various laboratory certifications, and experience in engineering modeling.  

In addition to academic pursuits, Sasha is very passionate about travel and gaining international perspective. She has engaged in two international experiences that have further enriched their knowledge in engineering and the world. They attended the Technical University of Denmark in Copenhagen. Sasha also attended Purpan a university in Toulouse, France as well as embarking on a Viticulture Internship at the Chateau Moulin Neuf in Bordeaux, France, where she gained hands on experience in vineyard management and wine packaging.Sasha’s passion for engineering, dedication to community involvement and advocacy for diversity and inclusion make them a valuable asset to any organization. 

Aayan Siddiqui

Aayan is originally from Miami, FL, with a passion for technology and innovation. He is involved in numerous organizations on campus like Society of Software Developers and Project Downtown to name a few, and is also involved in VR research at UF under the College of Sciences. Over the past year, Aayan has worked as an intern at Citi and with the US Navy, developing his skills and creating innovations with a positive impact around him, and is currently looking to transition into industry full time after graduation. 

Phillip Ordonez

Phillip, an Electrical Engineering 4th year, is unwavering in his pursuit of knowledge and innovation. His focus throughout university has been mainly academic, scheduled to graduate on time despite the rigor and variety of classes taken. His multidisciplinary approach is evident through his minor in Economics, showcasing his versatility in problem-solving not limited to solely engineering. His passion for STEM began with highly advanced math and science classes in middle school by being in a special cohort. As the Vice President of SECME at Doral Academy Preparatory, he expanded the club’s influence, cementing his commitment to STEM education and community engagement. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Phillip’s interest in engineering remained steadfast. As an Electrical Engineering major, he found his focus among power systems and hopes to work within the power industry on topics such as renewable energy and updating transmission infrastructure. Outside of academics, he served as the Director of the Extreme Engineering Challenge at the University of Florida in the SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) chapter, fostering collaboration and innovation among engineers.  Phillip is also currently involved in the IPPD program, collaborating with NextEra Energy Resources on a project focused on lightning mitigation for their solar farms. This current endeavor is extremely exciting, and Phillip intends to get the most out of the experience while finishing strong in his last year of undergraduate studies. 

Phillip Thompson

Phillip Thompson is a fifth-year electrical engineering student at the University of Florida. He has also incorporated his passion for music by completing a minor in Music Performance of Classical Guitar. In the last four years, Phillip has worked three internships and an international research project. His last two summers were spent in the DC-Baltimore area working as a Systems Engineering Intern for Northrop Grumman. He contributed to multiple aircraft radar programs and is still working with them now part-time throughout this school year. During the summer of 2021, Phillip performed engineering sustainability research in Madrid, Spain at Comillas Pontifical University. There he was a part of a European Union global research project to identify and combat microplastics in edible consumer products. He worked in Tampa, Florida at an engineering consulting firm in 2020 where he worked on many different architecture and construction projects throughout the country. At UF, Phillip has been involved with many different service and social organizations including Hispanics in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Project Makeover, the UF Guitar Ensemble, and more. He is very excited to now be working with NextEra on his IPPD project this year and is looking forward to the start of his career after graduating this May.