Nicholas Fazio is a 2023 graduate of the Bioprocessing and Bioenergy program. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois. After interning at Boston Bioprocess, he was offered a full-time position as a Bioprocessing Engineer. For Nick, the "PSM program is a great opportunity to connect with professionals in your field of interest and gain a competitive edge in your career. I'm a returning graduate after 5 years in the industry, and I value learning the fundamentals of business, economics, and regulations to understand and navigate the professional world more competently and wisely. I believe the internship and the network of colleagues, peers, and friends from your time in the program is a chance to learn more, prove yourself, and gather support in future career endeavors." 

Laura Pelaez is a 2019 graduate of the Bioprocessing and Bioenergy program. She holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Santo Domingo Institute of Technology. She is currently an Environmental Engineer III at Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She previously worked as an Inventory Control Assistant and Logistics Intern with the Rica Group. She advises current PSM students to “follow PSM guidance to build a resume that matches with each job position, practice mock interviews, and network.” Her summer internship prepared her for job interviews and helped her find a fulltime position after graduation.

Ya-Fang Cheng is a 2019 graduate of the Bioprocessing and Bioenergy program. She holds a B.S. and an M.S. in Food Science and Biotechnology from National Taiwan University. While in the PSM program, Ya-Fang worked as an intern in the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory where she developed and validated HPCL methods to assist bioprocessing projects. She is currently an Associate Scientist in Analytical Development at Agenus. Prior to joining Agenus, she held numerous positions with the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of California-Berkeley and Taiwan Fructose Co., Ltd. She advises students to “be engaged in PSM events, attend career fairs, and take constructive feedback openly.” She appreciated the opportunity to “gain hands-on experience at the IBRL. The summer internship also strengthened [her] real-world working skills and helped [her] practice her networking skills.”

Sai Ram Chandra Veerasaiva is a 2018 graduate of the Illinois PSM's Bioprocessing and Bioenergy program. He interned as a Process Development Intern at Pacific Ethanol (now Alto Ingredients), and went onto work full-time at the company first as a Production Supervisor and now as a Reliability Coordinator. Sai chose the Illinois because of the strong Bioprocessing & Bioenergy faculty, and credits the PSM program for helping him get his foot in the door of his industry. He recommends that prospective students “try to get some work experience while earning their Bachelor's degree, because it really helps you to get an internship.”

Abhijit Limaye graduated from the Bioprocessing & Bioenergy PSM program in 2014. Abhijit says that “During my undergraduate studies, I developed an interest for science related to Bioenergy & sustainability. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur at some point in my career. The Illinois PSM Bioprocessing and Bioenergy program was hence a perfect fit for me - a blend of science and business." Abhijit is founder of Refurbion Labs Pvt. Ltd, a “lab-to-land startup working on bio-based, biodegradable alternatives for fossil-fuel based plastics.” When giving advice to students, he says networking is key. "As an international student, I understand how hard it is to find a job, but if you know the art of networking and how to build a decent LinkedIn profile, finding a job would be easier. Networking with University of Illinois PSM program alumni helped me in securing my first job at Abengoa Bioenergy, and also my second job at DuPont Industrial Biosciences."

Tingwen Bao is a graduate of the Illinois PSM in Bioprocessing and Bioenergy. Tingwen earned an undergraduate degree in bioengineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.  She completed her internship at the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab at the University of Illinois, completing market research to update a market analysis/plan for the new lab.  Tingwen feels that the PSM “gave her the knowledge and skills needed for interviewing and her internship.  There were numerous chances to practice interviewing, build professional networks and prepare presentations.  The practices helped me stand out from the rest of the competition for my current job.”  She currently works as a Data Scientist at Pacific Gas and Electric, located in the San Francisco Bay area.

Pat Grady graduated in 2012 from the Illinois PSM Bioprocessing and Bioenergy program.  He obtained his undergraduate degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a Chemistry minor.  While in the PSM program, Pat was an agriculture business development intern for BP Biofuels and assisted with developing an undergraduate bioenergy course. He has held numerous positions within BP America including operations project manager, field environmental advisor, air quality specialist, strategy manager, and account before accepting his current role as an Americas Carbon Originator for bp - Low Carbon Trading.  Pat’s advice is to “remain flexible and adaptable to change. It is the only thing that has remained constant in my career thus far, and many people are either successful or not based on their reaction to business change and uncertainty.”

John Buns was in the inaugural cohort of the Illinois PSM students, earning his M.S. degree in Bioenergy in 2010.  His educational background was in molecular and cellular biology, earning his undergraduate degree from Northern Arizona University.  John chose the Illinois PSM because he “really enjoyed practical application rather than theory during his undergraduate experience and wanted to enter a more industry-focused program.” His internship centered on biomass densification (pellets) with the Dudley Smith Farm and the Agricultural and Biological Engineering department at Illinois.  He highly recommends that students “take advantage of the program and everything Illinois has to offer, from the student organizations to the prestigious professors.”  John now works in Technical Sales for DuPont Industrial Biosciences and serves on the Illinois PSM Advisory Board.