Three undergraduate students from Rice University’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering were awarded the 2026 STS-AIChE Scholarship by the South Texas Local Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Ian Lin, Giulio Valfre Zaydenman, and Prasi Desai were honored during the STS-AIChE monthly dinner meeting held on March 5, 2026, at the University of Houston. The scholarship recognizes outstanding academic achievement and promise among chemical engineering students in the region. The students were celebrated among peers and industry professionals from across the Houston-area chemical engineering network.
“Receiving the STS-AIChE Scholarship is incredibly meaningful to me because it reflects both my passion for chemical engineering and the inspiration I’ve gained from my professors and classmates throughout my time at Rice,” Zaydenman said. “The program has equipped me with analytical and problem-solving skills that can be applied in essentially any industry.”
After graduation, Zaydenman plans to pursue a career in energy investment banking.
“I hope to apply these skills in energy investment banking, where I can help shape the future of the energy landscape through renewable energy and impact investing,” he said.
For Prasi Desai, the recognition reflects a journey that began outside the discipline but ultimately led to a strong connection with the chemical and biomolecular engineering community.
“I didn't originally enter college as a ChBE major, but I'm so glad I made the decision to join this community,” Desai said. “Being part of the ChBE program has given me great research opportunities, career choices and a fantastic community of friends.”
Desai said receiving the scholarship reinforces the value of the experiences and effort invested during her time at Rice.
“The STS-AIChE scholarship was meaningful to receive as it validates my journey at Rice so far,” Desai said. “Having this recognition of my effort encourages me to continue putting my best foot forward both within and beyond the classroom.”
Department leadership also praised the students for their accomplishments.
“We are incredibly proud of Prasi, Ian, and Giulio for being recognized by STS-AIChE,” said Lisa Biswal, department chair. “Their scholarships reflect their hard work, academic excellence, and research in the chemical engineering community, and it is wonderful to see their accomplishments celebrated.”
The recognition of Lin, Zaydenman and Desai reflects the continued impact of Rice ChBE students within the regional chemical engineering ecosystem and the department’s commitment to developing future leaders in the field.