Student Profile – Komal Venugopal Vattumilli
Komal Venugopal Vattumilli, a final-year Master’s student in Software Engineering here at SJSU, is not just preparing for graduation but actively shaping the future.
Komal earned his bachelor’s in Computer Science from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) before working as a full-time software engineer for three years, gaining experience with a variety of technologies, including AWS, Java, Python, Kubernetes, ETL, and DevOps. His work won three Spot Awards and was published in international research papers focused on machine learning and cloud computing.
“I’ve always aimed to stay updated with emerging technologies,” Komal explains. He actively participates in conferences and hackathons, winning two to date, demonstrating his commitment to continuous hands-on learning.
He is the first in his family to study abroad and pursue a graduate degree. “I wanted to show the value of higher education to future generations,” he shares.
Komal’s passion for engineering sparked in high school and deepened in college after he witnessed a near accident involving a blind child, inspiring him to create an “Intelligent Guidance System for the Visually Impaired.” It uses GPS sensors and cloud-based image processing.
Recently he landed an internship with Salesforce, working on the Fileforce team, where he helped implement a scalable gater system and integrated monitoring tools to enhance performance and reliability. A project he worked on was a Slack bot using Python, which automated server remediations and utilized machine learning to predict and reduce downtimes by 30%. “This experience taught me the importance of scalability and performance in enterprise-level software systems,” he said.
For those seeking internships, Komal emphasizes the power of networking and persistence. “Start early and don’t be discouraged by rejections. Networking can lead you to great opportunities,” he advises. Also don’t overlook small start-ups, they can offer some great learning opportunities. Utilize resources like the Career Center and career fairs to maximize all the resources that are available to students.
Overwhelmed by the transition from undergraduate to professional life, Komal embraced continuous learning and seeking mentorship, and he was able to face his doubts and grow stronger. To others facing similar struggles, he says “Acknowledge that doubts are normal, invest in learning, and small, achievable goals.”
Looking ahead, Komal plans to secure a full-time Software Engineer role in San Francisco, and hopefully grow into a Senior Software Architect or Engineering Manager. He is also open to the idea of launching his own startup, focusing on innovative cloud-based solutions or AI applications.
Blending technical expertise and a passion for community impact, Komal is poised to make significant contributions to the industry. As he continues his journey, he inspires others to pursue their passions fearlessly and embrace the possibilities that lie ahead.
Aqueous Battery Consortium for Clean Energy Storage
Photo by Robert C. Bain
San José State University has joined a groundbreaking energy research project, the Aqueous Battery Consortium, alongside Stanford, SLAC National Accelerator Lab, and other top institutions. Supported by up to $62.5 million from the Department of Energy, the project aims to develop a sustainable, cost-effective battery primarily made from water and abundant materials. SJSU’s associate professor Dahyun Oh is contributing through her work on battery interfaces, offering students from minority-serving institutions a rare opportunity to collaborate on cutting-edge energy solutions.
Department of Aviation & Alaska Partnership
The aviation industry faces a critical pilot shortage, and San José State University (SJSU) has teamed up with Alaska Airlines to address the issue. Through Alaska’s Pilot Development Program, SJSU students now have a faster, more affordable route to becoming commercial pilots. This partnership offers aspiring pilots mentorship, financial support, and a conditional job offer early in their college careers, as soon as sophomore year. With Alaska Airlines recognizing SJSU’s strong aviation program, this collaboration is a significant milestone, giving the university increased credibility and opening more opportunities for its growing aviation workforce.
Hispanic Heritage Month- SOLES @SJSU
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re proud to spotlight one of San Jose State University’s most impactful student organizations: SOLES (The Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists). As a dual chapter of SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) and MAES (Latinos in Science and Engineering), SOLES plays a crucial role in supporting the Latino community in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) at SJSU. The club is dedicated to closing the representation gap in STEM fields by providing professional development, networking, and mentorship opportunities, while also giving back through community outreach.
A Mission of Empowerment
SOLES has one core mission, to empower Latinos in STEM by equipping them with the tools they need to succeed. This mission reflects a broader challenge facing Latino students, who remain underrepresented in STEM fields. SOLES is working to change that by fostering a strong, supportive community, and offering resources like resume workshops, mock interviews, and company tours with tech giants like Lockheed Martin, Apple, and Cisco. The club also focuses on social bonding activities such as beach days and hikes, ensuring members feel a sense of “familia” in addition to professional growth.
Meet the 
Leaders
For this academic year, SOLES is led by a dedicated team, including:
- President: Antonio Hueso-Fernandez
- VP of Outreach: Jaime Salinas
- VP of Academics: Alyssa Escalante
- Treasurer: Maria Fernanda Palacios
- Secretary: Caroline Hernandez
Plus several other board members that play essential roles in the club’s daily activities and long-term goals.
Addressing Challenges for Latino Students in STEM
Many Latino students in STEM face unique challenges, such as being the first in their families to attend college, or not having early exposure to engineering environments. SOLES recognizes these obstacles and strives to create opportunities for its members to develop the skills necessary to thrive. By offering professional workshops, networking events, and community support, SOLES helps Latino students overcome these barriers and positions them as strong candidates for the job market.
Success Stories
SOLES has built an impressive track record of success. In the 2023-2024 academic year alone, the club earned several awards, including MAES Chapter of the Year and SHPE Region 1 Chapter of the Year. Its members frequently secure coveted internships and jobs: Javier Gomez landed an internship with NVIDIA after attending their company visit, and Esthefani Montelon also earned an internship with Pratt & Whitney after attending the SHPE National Convention, sponsored by SOLES.
Inspiring Future Generations
SOLES is not only focused on supporting its current members but also on inspiring the next generation of Latino STEM professionals. Through initiatives like Science Extravaganza, which introduces middle school students to STEM fields, and Equipando Padres University, a workshop that helps guide first-year students and their parents through the college experience. Allowing SOLES to address the problem at its roots and foster early engagement with STEM.
Inclusivity and Collaboration
Though SOLES is focused on empowering the Latino community, the organization aims to collaborate with students and organizations from all backgrounds. They actively partner with other groups, such as the Black Alliance of Scientists and Engineers (BASE), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), to broaden their impact and advocate for the success of underrepresented groups in STEM.
Legacy
As the leaders of SOLES prepare for life after graduation, their vision for the legacy is to establish SOLES as a leading organization on both the SHPE and MAES national stages. They want to ensure that SJSU continues to be recognized as a hub for producing industry-ready Latino engineers, contributing to a more diverse and inclusive STEM workforce. For students considering a career in STEM, SOLES offers this advice: “Keep going, it will be challenging, but it will get better. Just keep pushing forward.”
SOLES will host its first general meeting of the semester on Friday, October 4th at 5:00 PM in ENGR 285 room.
To stay up to date follow their Instagram page @soles.sjsu
Engineering Student Success Center (ESSC)
The ESSC Peer Mentorship Program is off to a great start! Volunteer Engineering graduate students and their respective mentees gathered to network, build connections, and kick off their journey at a memorable in-person mixer. We are grateful to our graduate peer mentors for volunteering their time this semester to support fellow graduate students new to the College of Engineering.
Fall 2024 ESSC Peer Mentors :
- Aditya Dinkarbhai Nayak
- Aditya Kulkarni
- Anthony Kommareddy
- Atharva Jadhav
- Harsha Garine
- Ishan Sharma
- Lahari Sri Thamilselvan
- Natalie Dominguez Barrios
- Pragya Jain Santosh
- Pranjali Himanshu Sanghvi
- Prashant Surupsing Gavit
- Reshma Vipul Kanade
- Rishabh Jain
- Rohit Perumal Chidhambara Babu
- Sai Deepak Reddy Mannem
- Shilpi Dey
- Subramanya Jagadeesh
- Suresh Ravuri
- Tripti Ghanghas
- Utkarsh Satishkumar Shah
- Venkat Gowtham
Top 5 Tech Trends to Watch in 2025: An In-Depth Analysis – Prof. Ahmed Banafa
As we approach 2025, the tech landscape is rapidly evolving, with groundbreaking innovations set to transform industries and daily life. These top five trends, ranked by Professor Banafa, are shaping the future, from 5G expansion and early 6G research to advanced battery technology revolutionizing energy storage. Other trends include biotech breakthroughs like precision medicine, lab-grown organs, the rise of practical quantum computing, and AI 2.0’s deep integration into human-machine collaboration.