Student Profile – Dhruv Varshney

Dhruv Varshney is a senior at San José State University majoring in Computer Engineering, and on track to graduate in May 2025. He was born and raised in India but moved to the U.S. shortly after. As an immigrant student, his determination to excel is fueled by the sacrifices and the support his family made for his academic pursuit and passion.

Dhruv’s interest in technology began early in life, inspired by its transformative potential. His first DIY robotics project in high school sparked his passion for engineering. “The experience of assembling and programming my first robot was transformative—it gave me a sense of purpose and creativity,” he reflects. This laid the foundation for his academic pursuits and shaped his focus on embedded systems, robotics, and machine learning.

This past summer Dhruv completed his internship at UL Solutions, a global safety science company that offers a range of services to help customers with product innovation, business growth, and sustainability, where he contributed to Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) testing for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular devices. He also designed graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for data analysis, gaining valuable technical skills in data visualization and wireless communication testing. This experience offered  Dhruv a firsthand look into the semiconductor industry.

Dhruv landed his internship on Handshake, the SJSU career portal, and by networking at industry events. He emphasizes starting early and being proactive when it comes to securing an internship. “Network actively and leverage platforms like LinkedIn,” he advises. He believes that students should tailor their resumes for specific roles and highlight relevant projects to stand out in the pool of applicants.

When first coming into the country Dhruv faced doubts about adapting to a new culture and academic system, but he rose to the occasion by seeking support from peers and joining student organizations. “Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and seek help when needed,” he advises.

As a senior reflecting on his journey, Dhruv advises his younger self to embrace hands-on projects, actively collaborate with peers, and develop strong time management skills—not only to excel academically but also to engage in extracurricular activities for a well-rounded college experience.

After graduation, Dhruv plans to pursue a master’s degree in Computer Science with a focus on AI, robotics, and computer vision. His ultimate goal is to become a leader in the tech industry, driving innovation in autonomous systems and embedded technologies.

PCB Hackathon recap

On Saturday, December 7 engineering students from SJSU, Florida Polytechnic University, Chicago Computer Systems Institute, West Valley Mission College, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Kansas, University of Colorado at Boulder, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, University of Cincinnati, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Brigham Young University, Grossmont College, University of Minnesota, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Clarkson University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UC Santa Cruz, California State University San Marcos, California State University Chico and Cal Poly Pomona, competed in a printed circuit board (PCB) hackathon.

Students were judged on eleven different categories including: project originality, technical complexity, functionality, design efficiency, documentation, and, as a bonus, additional creativity. Making up the judging panel were: Amit Bahl, Chief Revenue Officer at Sierra Circuits, Avery Brock, PCB Design Engineer at NASA, Allan Knox, Senior PCB Design Engineer at Sierra Circuits, Atar Mittal, General Manager of Product Development at Sierra Circuits and Jagdip Singh, Director of Manufacturing at Sierra Circuits.

SJSU College of Engineering students, Jose Lopez-Vergara, Willow Herron, Katherine Sarna, and Tarik Fawal were among the winners. Other winners included participants from Solano Community College, the University of Minnesota, and Clarkson University. Congratulations to all the participants!

Mechanical Engineering Senior Projects Presentations

As the semester comes to a close, mechanical engineering seniors had an opportunity to present to alumni, family, friends, and faculty. The presentations gave students a taste of what it would be like to pitch their efforts in a real-world scenario. Along with advisors, students also had a mentor to guide them through the oral and communications process to identify challenges as well as solutions and impact.

Mechanical engineering students had some guiding principles in choosing their projects which included: Social, economic, cultural, public health and safety, and inclusion when thinking about how the solution would be accessible to those with disabilities.

The Engineering 185 course that created the genesis of the presentation was one of the final pit stops for students reaching for their degree. The culmination of accepting the project and doing the presentation was another pivotal hands-on learning experience the College of Engineering is so well known for.

These presentations are an important part of the student’s education, where improving their skills in public speaking, gaining acceptance for their ideas, and having their solutions to challenges considered by the general public is the tassel to symbolize their graduation status.

CMPE@Connect 2024

On December 6, as part of the Department of Computer Engineering’s social gatherings, students attended CMPE@Connect 2024. Along with students presenting their various internship experiences with companies such as NXP and Tesla, technical talks and an engaging panel discussion were also in the mix.

The purpose of the event was to enable students to share valuable experiences they gained through internships, provide insights into career advancement through mentorship, and foster a greater connection between faculty and students. Professor Young Park and Professor Magdalini Eirinaki hosted the event. Don’t miss the next CMPE social gathering!

Day of Giving

We’re excited to announce that applications are open to participate in SJSU’s Day of Giving 2025! This virtual event will run for 1857 minutes from March 11-12, 2025, honoring our founding year, 1857. It invites students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and family to join in collective generosity to support SJSU.

What is the Day of Giving?

SJSU’s Day of Giving unites the Spartan community to raise funds for impactful campus initiatives, including special projects, student organizations, academic initiatives, and athletics. This annual event spotlights the programs that make a difference and empowers groups to create crowdfunding campaigns that elevate visibility and support for the causes that matter most to them and to the university. Join us in making a lasting impact!

Ready to Apply?

If you’re part of a department, student group, or campus initiative, this is your chance to inspire support from alumni, faculty, students, staff, and friends!

To get started, gather your details for the 2025 Application Form and submit it by December 16. First-time participants, feel free to explore 2024 projects for ideas and inspiration.

Application Deadline: December 16, 2024
Event Dates: March 11-12, 2025

Let’s make an impact together for SJSU students, faculty, and staff!
Questions? Contact crowdfunding@sjsu.edu.

Biocomputers Harnessing Biology for Computing Power by Prof. Ahmed Banafa

Step into the future of computing with biocomputers, a revolutionary technology that uses DNA, proteins, and living cells to process information. Unlike traditional silicon-based machines or quantum computers, biocomputers leverage the complexity of biological systems, offering unparalleled scalability and energy efficiency. Discover how this emerging field could transform industries like healthcare, environmental monitoring, and biomanufacturing—while tackling challenges like integration and ethical concerns. Read the full article now!