Welcome back, SJSU future engineers and aviation professionals!

As we kick off the Spring 2026 semester, we’re thrilled to see the campus with energy and innovation once again. This semester promises exciting opportunities to learn, collaborate and create solutions that shape the future. Remember, your perseverance and creativity are what make Spartan Engineers extraordinary.

Check out the building maps to get to your next class!

Student Profile – Rishika Joshi

Story by Dylan Samat

Rishika Joshi is a fourth-year chemical engineering student whose path has been shaped by curiosity, independence, and willingness to step into the unknown. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys cooking and experimenting with new flavors, often bringing friends together over meals that she creates herself. That same curiosity and care carry into her academic and professional work.

She grew up in India as an only child in a family that placed a strong value on education. At just 17 years old, Rishika moved to the United States alone to pursue her undergraduate degree at San José State University (SJSU). “Leaving my home, extended family, and everything familiar at such a young age taught me resilience, self-reliance, and adaptability”, she says. While she is not the first in her family to attend college, she is the first to pursue higher education outside her home country, an experience that continues to shape how she approaches challenges today.

Her interest in engineering began in high school through a love of chemistry and physics, especially lab work where theory became tangible through experimentation. Engineering felt like a natural extension of that passion, combining fundamental science with hands-on problem solving and design. That mindset continues to guide her choices today. Rishika says, “Many of the best experiences come from taking a chance on something unfamiliar.”

That interest grew during her internship at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, where she joined a photocatalysis research group working on clean energy. Rishika helped improve a reactor used to study hydrogen production from solar-driven water splitting. She set up a new LED lighting system, ran experiments using titanium dioxide photocatalysts, and analyzed results by changing light levels and conditions. By troubleshooting equipment, reviewing scientific literature, and suggesting improvements, she gained firsthand experience with how creative and non-linear real research can be; and discovered how much she enjoys that process.

Today, Rishika is most proud of the time management skills she has developed while balancing advanced coursework, research, and leadership roles, including serving as CFO and Controller for SJSU’s Associated Students. Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a PhD in chemical engineering focused on sustainable energy systems. Her goal is to contribute research that improves the efficiency and scalability of clean energy technologies, helping reduce the environmental impact of energy production and support a more sustainable future.

Meta’s AI Shift: From Code to Power – Prof. Ahmed Banafa

Meta has hired Dina Powell McCormick as its new president and vice chair to help guide its future in artificial intelligence. Even though she has no technical AI background, Meta believes her experience in global finance, politics, and deal-making is key to scaling AI infrastructure. SJSU professor Ahmed Banafa says the hire shows that AI success now depends on building massive data centers, securing energy, and navigating global regulations, not just writing code. He explains that Meta is preparing for a global race where money, power, and partnerships matter as much as innovation. Overall, Meta’s move signals a shift from focusing only on AI research to focusing on large-scale execution and influence.

Read the full story…

Student Profile Form

We want to feature you in our student profile series! Whether you’re leading a project, exploring a unique path in engineering, have an inspiring internship experience to share, or making an impact in your community, we’d love to highlight your story. Use the survey below to nominate yourself for an upcoming newsletter profile. It’s a chance to highlight your work, inspire fellow students, and showcase the incredible talent across our college.

Fill out the form…

Attention Students: Campus E-Vehicle Policy at SJSU

Electric scooters, skateboards, and bikes are welcome for commuting, but keep in mind that SJSU is a dismount zone. Park them at designated drop-off zones or bike enclosures. Bringing them inside academic buildings is prohibited due to fire code regulations. Ride to campus, then walk. Remember that safety and compliance come first! To review the full policy please visit the Electric and Shared Mobility Services webpage.

Student Profile – Ali Jaweed

Ali Jaweed, an aviation major at San José State University (SJSU), is completing his final semester and is on track to graduate in 2025. Growing up in the Bay Area and navigating early personal and medical challenges taught him patience, resilience, and independence. His academic record includes the Dean’s Award and a recent scholarship from the American Association of Airport Executives, one of the country’s largest professional airport organizations. He also completed the aviation department’s honors research program, authoring a 26-page study on cybersecurity vulnerabilities in commercial aviation, covering concerns such as weak password protocols to the susceptibility of aircraft systems to intrusion. He presented his findings to department leadership last fall.

Jaweed has sought out some of the program’s most technical coursework, including classes in aircraft systems and propulsion theory, where students dismantle and study small engines. Because of a rare bone disease, Ollier’s disease, that leaves the bones in one of his hands thin and prone to fracture, he works with a functional model engine instead of a live unit. “It doesn’t stop me from learning how every component works,” he said, showing the same problem-solving mindset that drew him to engineering in the first place.

He is also the lone undergraduate in a graduate-level engineering research course, where he studies quantitative and qualitative methods and the role of bias in scientific inquiry. His current project examines consumer experiences with electric vehicles, using interviews rather than secondary data, a direction that aligns with his long-term interest in the EV and automotive industry.

Beyond the classroom, Jaweed has emerged as a project coordinator on environmental and humanitarian initiatives. Service has always been important to him, and even small acts like volunteering locally have reinforced his belief that engineering should meaningfully improve people’s lives. An assignment on nutrient pollution in waterways led him to design a practical intervention abroad. Working with a mentor and funding the effort entirely from personal savings, he hired contractors in rural Kenya to build a freshwater well for a community relying on contaminated sources. The team secured local permits, oversaw construction and, nearly three years later, the system remains operational. They also funded an earlier project constructing sanitary latrines and distributed food to an orphanage in the same region.

Jaweed says his community service work is rooted in personal history and a belief that engineering is “as much about service as it is about problem-solving.” Volunteering taught him empathy, perspective, and patience; qualities that shape how he approaches engineering solutions with a focus on people and communities. He spends weekends assembling and distributing food packs to unhoused residents in Oakland and San Francisco. His long-term goals include expanding well-building projects abroad, developing affordable housing initiatives at home, and pursuing a career in aviation or automotive manufacturing with a focus on electric propulsion and sustainability. In five years, he hopes to be contributing to cleaner, safer transportation while continuing to support communities locally and internationally.

Asked what guidance he would offer younger students, Jaweed emphasizes purpose over motivation. “You learn by applying what you know,” he said. “Start small, stay consistent, and use your skills to lift other people. Don’t wait to make a difference—serve where you can, and let your actions reflect your values. That’s where real impact begins.”

Student Profile Form

We want to feature you in our student profile series! Whether you’re leading a project, exploring a unique path in engineering, have an inspiring internship experience to share or making an impact in your community, we’d love to highlight your story. Use this survey to nominate yourself for an upcoming newsletter profile. It’s a chance to highlight your work, inspire fellow students, and showcase the incredible talent across our college.

Prof. Ahmed Banafa – Uber Jumps Into Autonomous Taxi Race With 2026 Launch Plan

Uber announced plans to enter the autonomous taxi market by late 2026, partnering with Lucid and Nuro to launch a driverless fleet. The company will start with 100 test vehicles and could expand to 20,000 within six years. SJSU professor Ahmed Banafa says Uber’s global ride-share experience gives it an edge as it competes with Waymo, Tesla, and Amazon in autonomous tech. Experts say increased competition could lower prices, though the move raises concerns about the future of gig-economy driving jobs. The industry still faces major challenges, as seen when Cruise suspended operations after losing key permits in San Francisco.

Read the full story.

Student Profile – Thomas Wong

Thomas Wong is a fifth year aerospace engineering major with a minor in creative writing at San José State University (SJSU). Raised in Daly City and the surrounding peninsula, he grew up surrounded by circuitry and curiosity thanks to his father’s electrical engineering roots. Outside of college walls he spends his time writing, hiking, scuba diving, reading, and building models, fueling the same restless imagination that’s driven him since childhood.

Thomas’ interest in aerospace took hold early in his life. While other kids chose fantasy novels for school projects, he picked a book on the history of wingless flight. The Artemis program, an effort to send humans back to the moon, would later reignite that excitement. That steady pull toward aeronautics and space eventually led him to strengthen the student community around him. He stepped into club leadership because he saw the organization struggling and felt responsible for rebuilding it.

One of his biggest impacts at the college of engineering has been restoring the Aerospace Projects Room, an area that sat quiet after the pandemic. Under his leadership it has become an active workshop and study room for students at all levels. He also helped expand Rocket Club’s momentum. As the GPS subteam lead, Thomas helped expand the Rocket Club’s momentum in the International Rocketry Engineering Competition. He built the ground station that tracked his team’s rocket, which reached over ten thousand feet and landed safely during the 2025 event.

Leadership has shaped the way Thomas sees teamwork, responsibility, and service. “My involvement in Rocket Club has helped keep me in tune with the needs of others and see things as a collective effort,” he explained. Thomas also understands the pressure that comes with making decisions. He recommends to always, “Trust yourself to make the right call.”

Those lessons guide how he now mentors younger students. He stresses grit, accountability, and the importance of enjoying the work, not just pushing through it. His goal is to create a club culture where people feel supported, involved, and able to grow as engineers. In the future Thomas hopes to earn a master’s degree and work in the aerospace industry, contributing to the next steps in space exploration and helping push the limits of what future engineers can achieve.

Student Profile Form

We want to feature you in our student profile series! Whether you’re leading a project, exploring a unique path in engineering, have an inspiring internship experience to share or making an impact in your community, we’d love to highlight your story. Use this survey to nominate yourself for an upcoming newsletter profile. It’s a chance to highlight your work, inspire fellow students, and showcase the incredible talent across our college.

SJSU Aviation Students Support Air Traffic Controllers During Shutdown

SJSU students stepped up to support air traffic controllers at Reid Hillview Airport this fall. Photo: Courtesy of Derrick Meyer.

With the recent government shutdown, a group of SJSU aviation students turned a class assignment into a way to support local air traffic controllers. After learning air traffic controllers at San José’s Reid-Hillview Airport were working without pay, aviation students started a GoFundMe campaign that raised over $1,100. The students used the money to deliver food and gifts to the employees as a thank you for keeping them safe during training flights.

The experience taught the students about community and the importance of supporting the people who make aviation possible. Now they’re working on holiday care packages for controllers at multiple towers and are asking the community to help contribute. If you want to learn more about the students’ efforts, read the full story.

Prof. Ahmed Banafa – DMV Approves Waymo’s Expansion Across the Bay Area

The DMV has given Waymo the green light to expand its driverless taxi service across the Bay Area and toward Sacramento. SJSU professor Ahmed Banafa says it’s a major milestone but notes that scaling and safety challenges still remain. Waymo insists it’s ready for more riders, but not everyone’s sold on hopping into a robotaxi just yet. Before service begins, the company still needs approval from the state utilities commission.

Dr. Karletta Chief: Engineering Water Resilience for Indigenous Communities

Dr. Karletta Chief (Diné) is a hydrologist and Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Arizona whose work focuses on protecting water and environmental health in Indigenous communities. Growing up in the Navajo Nation inspired her to pursue engineering and hydrology, eventually leading her to direct the Indigenous Resilience Center and develop off-grid technologies to support tribal nations. Her work highlights how engineering can serve community needs while honoring Indigenous knowledge.

She is known for leading community-driven research during crises like the Gold King Mine Spill, documenting both environmental and cultural impacts on Navajo families. By blending Western science with Diné knowledge and mentoring Indigenous students, Chief advances climate and water resilience while expanding Indigenous representation in STEM.

Student Profile – Kalino Ruiz

From Robotics Inspiration to Real-World Impact: How Mechanical Engineering Student Kalino Ruiz Is Building a Future in Clean Energy

For fourth-year mechanical engineering student Kalino Ruiz, inspiration struck early. Raised in Milpitas, just north of San José, Kalino credits Robogames 2007 with sparking his passion for engineering. “Watching a swarm of builders work on their prized possessions in the pit was inspirational,” he recalls — a moment that planted the seeds for his future path.

Outside of his coursework at San José State University, Kalino enjoys reading, making costumes, and gaming, but much of his time is spent gaining real engineering experience through his role as a research assistant with SJSU’s Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC). The center supports small and medium-sized companies by identifying opportunities for energy savings — a mission that aligns closely with Kalino’s interests in sustainability and the future of energy.

As part of ITAC, Kalino travels with the team to on-site audits, conducts research, and generates technical reports for clients. Through this hands-on work, he has strengthened core professional skills, from mastering Excel and Word to communicating effectively with clients. “I have learned so much in this program,” he says, emphasizing the value of both technical and communication abilities in real-world engineering settings.

Kalino first learned about the ITAC opportunity through Dr. Crystal Han, who encouraged him to attend meetings and get involved. The experience has proven to be a perfect fit. He appreciates ITAC’s culture, which he describes as studious, respectful, and focused — a place where students are trusted to complete tasks independently and contribute meaningfully.

Looking ahead, Kalino sees himself working in the renewable energy industry, with a particular interest in solar. His long-term goal is clear: “I wish to provide the world with efficient and clean energy in the most practical way possible.”

For fellow students hoping to follow a similar path, Kalino offers simple but powerful advice: “Stay curious, stay organized, and don’t be afraid to lean into the skills you’re still learning — they may become your greatest strengths.”

Student Profile Form

We want to feature you in our student profile series! Whether you’re leading a project, exploring a unique path in engineering, have an inspiring internship experience to share or making an impact in your community, we’d love to highlight your story. Fill out the survey to nominate yourself for an upcoming newsletter profile. It’s a chance to highlight your work, inspire fellow students, and showcase the incredible talent across our college.

Engineering Students Bring Holiday Magic to Life at San Jose’s Christmas in the Park

For more than 40 years, Christmas in the Park has transformed downtown San José into a festive holiday experience — and this season, SJSU mechanical engineering students helped bring one of its classic displays back to life. Working under Professor Vimal Viswanathan, the senior design team refurbished a long-retired penguin display and engineered new animatronic features that allow the penguins to move realistically.

Students Bradley Karr and Zachary McGee embraced the challenge, navigating real-world constraints like budget, safety, and design complexity while collaborating closely with city partners and Christmas in the Park organizers. Their work not only restored the display but also created new opportunities for future multidisciplinary projects between SJSU and the community.

Visitors can enjoy the students’ revitalized penguin scene — and the rest of the holiday wonderland — at Plaza de César Chávez from now through January 1, 2026.

Read the full story on the SJSU blog.

Prof. Ahmed Banafa – Doorbell Deception: Fake Delivery Leads to $11M Crypto Theft

A man posing as a delivery driver allegedly broke into a San Francisco home Saturday evening, tied up the resident, and stole $11 million in cryptocurrency, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and no arrests have been made.

San Jose State tech expert Ahmed Banafa says crimes like this are becoming more common and highlights the need for stronger safeguards. “It’s clear who they are going after, and it’s not a surprise,” he said, emphasizing the importance of dividing large crypto holdings across multiple wallets and strengthening physical security.

Read or watch the full interview here

Engineering Students Clubs Take Center Field at CEFCU Stadium

Photo from left to right: Mayson Bacani, Josue Antonio Luis, Azeneth Munoz, Brandon Chew, President Cynthia Teniente-Mason, Thomas Wong, Tanisha Grover, Smriti Jha and Bineet Anand. Photo by Derrick Meyer.

On Saturday, November 29, during the Fresno State–Spartans matchup, the Baja, Rocket and SWE clubs surged into the spotlight at CEFCU Stadium as part of the College of Engineering’s appreciation night. Student representatives from all three organizations took their place at midfield while the announcer introduced their work to fans. Moments later, SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson stepped forward with a round of praise and encouragement — a high-energy tribute to the students whose ingenuity and drive are helping shape the future of engineering.

“Having the chance to meet President Teniente-Matson made the experience even more memorable. It felt like a celebration of how far SWE has come and a powerful affirmation of the support and visibility for women in engineering at SJSU,” said Bineet Anand, president of SWE.

“It was an amazing experience to see ourselves on screen and to have the feeling of recognition. Thanks to our amazing community for supporting us, the future generation of engineers,” commented Mayson Bacani, Baja president and team project manager.

“It felt amazing to be featured on the field. It meant the world to the team to be recognized by the school for our work in the club, especially considering how the club had stagnated after the pandemic,” said Thomas Wong, Rocket Club president.
Being recognized on the field at Spartan Stadium offered the student engineering teams a rare moment of reflection amid the constant pace of classes and project work. Standing before the SJSU community highlighted the dedication their members invest and underscored the value of belonging to a student engineering organization. Sharing the space with other clubs reminded them that these groups form a vital network of support within the College of Engineering.

Such moments carry weight, signaling that the long hours spent designing and collaborating do not go unnoticed. For students often absorbed in coursework and competitions, this recognition is a powerful reminder that joining a club fosters community, purpose and pride within the university experience.

Please help support these teams by visiting their donation or website page: Baja Club, Rocket Club and SWE.

Student Profile – Natalie Dominguez Barrios

Natalie Dominguez Barrios did not grow into UX by accident. Every step of her life, from childhood creativity to graduate school research, pointed her toward a future shaped by design, psychology, and technology.

She grew up in Fresno, where money was limited but encouragement was not. Her family’s support pushed her through her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and into becoming the first woman in her family to pursue a Master’s degree in a tech field. She remembers the foundation her family gave her, saying, “unwavering encouragement and support to pursue whatever path I chose.”

Her early love for technology came from curiosity. She sketched video game controller layouts, drew digital art in Photoshop, and even taught herself HTML to customize her online blogs. Later, joining a perception lab at Fresno State revealed what she had been looking for all along: a field that blended creativity, design, and human behavior. UX finally made everything click.

At NVIDIA, her passion grew even stronger. She started as a Gameplay Data Analyst, but her instinct for UX led her to contribute to AI projects, internal tools, and customer-facing designs. Reflecting on what she has learned, she says, “no problem is too difficult to solve when you combine initiative with creative problem-solving.”

Looking ahead, Natalie hopes to design ethical, accessible technology while supporting others who want to enter the tech world. She wants to open doors for people who rarely see themselves represented in these spaces. Her career continues to move forward, but her purpose stays the same: to build a future where everyone has a place.

NETS Sparks Careers and Creativity with Alumni Insights and Pumpkin Fun!

On Friday, October 24, The Network Engineering Technology Society (NETS) hosted two engaging events designed to provide students with professional development opportunities, insights from alumni working in the IT field, and a festive Halloween-themed activity to encourage creativity and community participation.

The event was kicked off with the club’s second general meeting, bringing members together for important announcements and a preview of professional development opportunities for the month. The highlight of the meeting was a tech talk with SJSU College of Engineering alumni, Anh “Ray” Hoang Vu and Jason Savage. Ray, a security operations center (SOC) analyst and cloud security architect, shared his journey that took him from a Teaching Assistant at SJSU to a Tier 3 SOC Analyst at Astro Information Security, a provider of cybersecurity services. Jason offered insights from his own career path, moving from IT intern to IT Coordinator at Olander, a distributor of standard and metric fasteners, based in Silicon Valley. Both alumni discussed the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence in business, the challenges posed by the skills gap in IT, and emphasized the importance of pursuing passion projects and remaining patient on one’s career journey.

After the meeting, members dove into the second annual Pumpkin Carving Social, teaming up to scoop, carve, and transform pumpkins into spook-tacular masterpieces! While many pumpkins sported classic spooky faces, a few members took their creations to the next level with a tech twist. One pumpkin was wired with network cables to actually ‘spark to life,’ lighting up like a mini network in action. Another pumpkin shone brightly, proudly displaying the Cisco logo on the wall. It was a perfect mix of Halloween fun and tech flair! Special recognition goes to Alexander M., Richard L., and Nathan W., whose illuminated pumpkins transformed the NETS clubroom into a haunted data center.

October was all about learning, laughter, and connection! NETS is an organization where students grow their skills, unleash their creativity, and make memories. Come join the fun and see what you can create!

SJSU Students Win Fetch.ai Award at Cal Hacks 12.0

A team of SJSU graduate students won an award at Cal Hacks 12.0, which is the biggest college hackathon in the world and took place at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. There were more than 4,000 students at the event and around 600 total projects. Out of 85 teams competing in the Fetch.ai challenge, the SJSU team led by MS Software Engineering student Pruthvik Sheth won the Best Deployment of Agentverse award for their project called EDFLow AI. Their idea stood out because it could actually help hospitals respond faster during heart emergencies.

EDFlow AI is a system that uses different AI agents to help hospitals get ready for a patient who is having a heart attack. Normally it takes around 3 to 5 minutes for a hospital to prepare a room and the equipment they need. Their system can do it in under 10 seconds. When an ambulance sends info about a patient, a main coordinator agent looks at what is needed and then sends tasks to six other agents. These agents help set up a trauma bay, save an ICU bed, order quick lab tests, prepare the meds, and alert the medical teams. It was all built using Fetch.ai’s tools like uAgents and Agentverse. The goal is to save more heart cells and help the patient survive.

The team worked for 36 hours straight with barely any sleep. They said the Wi-Fi went out sometimes and things got stressful, but they kept going until they finished the demo. The judges from Fetch.ai liked how real and useful the project was, not just the tech behind it. The team included Pruthvik, Yugm Patel, Shubham Kothiya, and Rutuja Kadam. They also thanked the mentors from Fetch.ai and their SJSU professors who helped them stay on track.

The College of Engineering is proud of their work and excited to see students using AI to help in real medical situations. Their project shows how SJSU students can make a difference and build technology that actually helps people.

Prof. Ahmed Banafa – Big Tech’s AI Circle Raises Concerns

Big tech companies like OpenAI, Nvidia, AMD, and Oracle are investing large amounts of money in each other to secure hardware, software, and long-term control of the AI industry. SJSU professor Ahmed Banafa explains that these circular deals create a “private club” where only the biggest companies benefit, making it harder for startups to compete. He also warns that if one company in this circle fails, the whole system could be affected because they rely so heavily on each other. Regulators may step in if these partnerships begin to look like a monopoly that harms smaller companies. Banafa says the U.S. wants to stay ahead of China in AI, which is one reason these powerful companies are allowed to keep collaborating so closely.

Listen now…

Aviation Career Discovery Day Draws Hundreds

More than 300 students surged into San José State University last week for the 2nd Annual Aviation Career Discovery Day, an energetic, industry-powered event that left many attendees already asking when the next one will be held.

Hosted by SJSU’s Department of Aviation and Technology in collaboration with the San José Career Center and the Northern California Business Aviation Association, the event united over 60 aviation industry representatives, students from five regional colleges, alumni, and employers for a full day of networking, learning and career exploration.

The program opened with a welcome breakfast and fireside chat focused on finding direction in aviation and embracing entrepreneurial opportunities. That energy carried into eight student-designed breakout sessions, which covered aircraft systems, drones, career trends, and pathways into today’s evolving aviation job market.

A networking lunch paired students directly with mentors from across the industry, offering candid insights into internships, hiring expectations and long-term career growth. “Talking with someone actually working in the field helped me understand what steps I need to take next,” one student said.

The afternoon featured a panel discussion on developing job-ready skills and a well-attended resource fair that connected students to recruiters, graduate programs and aviation organizations.

Excitement peaked during the closing raffle, which offered more than $2,000 in prizes and ten fully funded, behind-the-scenes industry experiences, giving winners rare access to flight departments and aviation operations normally closed to students.

Festivities began the night before with a lively industry-student mixer that set the tone for the next day’s connections.

With rising attendance and growing industry interest, Aviation Career Discovery Day is quickly becoming a signature event for the region’s aviation community — and next year’s installment already promises to be even bigger. Students who missed this year’s event may want to save the date now.

Aaron Yazzie: Navajo Engineer Helping Shape NASA’s Mars Missions

Aaron Yazzie, a mechanical engineer from the Navajo Nation, has built an impressive career contributing to NASA’s exploration of Mars. Born in Tuba City, Arizona, he carried his cultural identity with him to Stanford University, where he earned his mechanical engineering degree before beginning his path at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Today, he works on major Mars missions, including testing the Curiosity rover’s sampling system and developing drill bits for the Perseverance rover.

Yazzie’s engineering work reflects Navajo teachings about origins and the formation of new worlds, connecting cultural knowledge with scientific discovery. With Indigenous people representing less than 0.6% of the STEM workforce, he is dedicated to outreach that helps Native students see themselves in scientific spaces. His achievements continue to inspire a new generation of Indigenous scientists and engineers.