Hagar Tsuri-Etzioni

Global Challenge: Enable high quality healthcare globally, especially for deprived communities.

Bio:

Hagar is a junior studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NYU Tandon. Her experiences over the past year, particularly studying abroad in London and completing a formulation development internship at Arcturus Therapeutics, have strengthened her interest in biotechnology and the applications of chemical engineering in healthcare. Outside of academics, she has continued developing her leadership and global perspective through experiences such as serving as a Hillel Global Ambassador while abroad.

This past summer she completed a Formulation Development Internship at Arcturus Therapeutics, where she gained hands-on experience with lipid nanoparticle formulations for RNA-based therapeutics, and she is now an Undergraduate Researcher in the Pinkerton Lab, where she is continuing to build her research experience in biotechnology. Through these experiences, she has developed laboratory, problem-solving, teamwork, and technical communication skills while gaining exposure to both industry and academic research environments. In the short term after graduation, she hopes to work in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics industry to gain experience in formulation development, product development, and research. She is particularly interested in learning how scientific ideas are translated from early research into products that can eventually reach consumers. In the long term, Hagar hopes to combine her chemical and biomolecular engineering background with her passion for cosmetics and entrepreneurship to create her own cosmetics company. She hopes to use her technical experience to develop innovative, science-driven products that are both effective, meaningful, and affordable for consumers. Service continues to be an important part of Hagar’s experience at NYU. Through Delta Gamma, she has remained involved in service opportunities, particularly those connected to the sorority’s philanthropy, Service for Sight. One experience that has been especially meaningful to her is volunteering with goalball at the Chelsea Recreational Center, a sport designed for athletes who are blind or visually impaired, which has allowed her to engage directly with the community that Delta Gamma’s philanthropy supports. Continuing to participate in these opportunities has strengthened her commitment to service and shown her the importance of staying actively involved in the communities around her.

Hagar studied abroad at NYU London during the Spring 2026 semester, an experience that became one of the most memorable and impactful parts of her time at NYU. Living in London gave her the opportunity to immerse herself in a new city and culture while becoming more independent and confident navigating everyday life in another country. Throughout the semester, she traveled across Europe and beyond, experiencing different cultures, traditions, and ways of life firsthand and gaining a much broader global perspective. While abroad, Hagar also served as a Hillel Global Ambassador, where she helped organize events and create opportunities for Jewish students to meet, connect, and build a sense of community while away from home. Balancing academics, travel, and her involvement with Hillel pushed her outside of her comfort zone and strengthened her adaptability, communication, and independence. By the end of the semester, London had become a second home, and the friendships, experiences, and confidence she gained abroad made the semester one of the most meaningful parts of her college experience.

Being part of the GLASS program has encouraged Hagar to look beyond her technical coursework and think more intentionally about how engineering, service, and global experiences can contribute to solving real-world problems. Through experiences such as studying abroad, volunteering, working in biotechnology, and conducting research, GLASS has helped her recognize that global challenges require not only technical solutions but also an understanding of the different communities those solutions are meant to serve. The areas of Engineering Health and Engineering & Culture resonate most with her because they reflect both her interest in using science to improve people’s lives and the global perspective she developed while living and studying abroad. Similarly, the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Good Health and Well-Being, Zero Hunger, and No Poverty represent interconnected challenges that influence quality of life around the world. Good Health and Well-Being particularly connects to her experiences at Arcturus Therapeutics and in research, where she has seen how chemical and biomolecular engineering can contribute to advances in healthcare. In the future, Hagar hopes to use her engineering, research, and communication skills in diverse and cross-cultural environments, eventually applying these experiences to develop innovative and accessible products in the cosmetics industry.

Outside of NYU, Hagar loves going to see musicals on Broadway, trying new food places with her friends, and going to her favorite artists’ concerts.