Research networking opportunity coordinated by grad student
Close Menu
Close Menu

Grad student coordinates on-campus research networking opportunity

Indreesh Badrinarayanan, a doctoral student in The University of Tulsa’s Department of Chemical Engineering, is the coordinator for Research Connect, a research networking initiative held in conjunction with the annual Research Colloquium. Badrinarayanan worked with TU alumnus Pedro Amorim to coordinate the inaugural Research Connect event in 2018 and, in addition to serving on the 2019 Research Colloquium planning committee, will coordinate the second annual Research Connect.

Indreesh BadrinarayananAmorim and Badrinarayanan created Research Connect to help students and faculty connect with national research laboratories and share their research on a broader scale.

Badrinarayanan said his research is in a multi-disciplinary project where the goal is to design a novel, hybrid bioreactor that uses spectral conversion techniques to increase the algal biomass productivity. He is also working on a project where the aim is to use produced water – a major waste stream in the oil and gas industry to grow microalgae, which helps in bio-remediation as well as provides a source of biomass rich in lipids.

“Personally, the exciting aspect about my research is that I get to collaborate and work with other people,” Badrinarayanan said.

Badrinarayanan said that attending conferences and discussing findings with experts in the field is a great, exciting opportunity to enhance the learning experience—a long-term goal of the Research Connect event.

Badrinarayan chose to attend TU for graduate school because the university is well-known for its engineering programs. The small, beautiful campus and diverse student population from countries around the world surprised him.

“I was also amazed about the history of the school and how the engineering program’s inception dates back to the days when Tulsa was known as the ‘Oil Capital of the World,’” he said.

Badrinarayan said that after completing his graduate studies, he plans to work in industry or academia as a research fellow.

“I will miss the plethora of events that we get to attend on campus every year. Specifically, the Homecoming bonfire tradition will be a memorable one,” Badrinarayan said. “I will also miss my friends from several countries. Many whom I wouldn’t have met if not for TU.”