OPP is incredibly proud to have two of our undergraduate TAs honored as Purdue Engineering Fellows, Rithika Athreya and Zachary Logar. Engineering Fellows are chosen based on their demonstrated capacity for creative thinking and the development of innovative problem-solving skills.

Rithika Athreya, Davidson School of Chemical Engineering

Athreya, a fifth-year senior from Montgomery, New Jersey, is a five-term Co-op student, fulfilling four co-op terms with Procter and Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio, and one internship with L’Oréal USA in Clark, New Jersey. She is the president of the Purdue chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, where she connects ChE students with faculty, industry and the community. She also serves as a teaching assistant for the Office of Professional Practice, leading its ENGR 103 professional development and elective courses.

She is a College of Engineering ambassador and holds membership within the John Martinson Honors College (JMHC), Omega Chi Epsilon ChE Honor Society and Mortar Board Senior Honor Society. She has engaged in two interdisciplinary undergraduate research projects at Purdue, one in ChE and BME and another in ChE and Engineering Education. Additionally, she has completed her JMHC scholarly project studying the Indian Diaspora. Lastly, she has participated in a Maymester program in Singapore studying bio-inspired materials. In addition to pursuing a degree in chemical engineering, she also holds a minor in Computer Science and two certificates, one in Entrepreneurship and Innovation and one in Extended Industry Co-op.

Post-graduation, Athreya hopes to be employed as a full-time engineer for a beauty or consumer products company.

Zachary Logar, School of Materials Engineering

Logar, of Glen Gardner, New Jersey, is majoring in materials engineering and minoring in Global Engineering Studies. He is the lead undergraduate TA for the Office of Professional Practice, promoting work-integrated learning experiences such as co-op, internship and first-year professional development. He participated in the Global Engineering Alliance for Research and Education (GEARE) program, completing a study abroad experience in Germany. He serves as an ambassador for MSE, acting as a resource to further department outreach for current and prospective students.

Logar helped spearhead the university’s new semiconductor exploration course, “Changing the World with Chips,” as a TA. Off campus, Logar completed a three-term co-op with Northrop Grumman as a material and process engineer for a large-scale government program. Logar also conducted research with MSE Professors Michael Titus and Kevin Trumble on a project sponsored by Howmet Aerospace investigating processing aircraft forgings, which placed second in the American Society of Metals design competition.

Post-grad, he will be completing a master’s degree in MSE at Purdue. He hopes to transition to a career in industry.