Hana Sestakova

Global Challenge: Climate Action

Bio:

Hana is a junior studying Electrical Engineering at NYU Tandon with a minor in Mathematics. She chose to add the math minor because she enjoys the logical structure of mathematics and wants to deepen her understanding of the theoretical foundations in engineering. Recently, she has been expanding her technical skill set by learning PCB design in KiCad, and she has also gained experience with simulation tools like Ansys and MATLAB through her coursework and research projects.

Hana is involved in research at VinUni in Hanoi, where she collaborated with a professor and five other undergraduate students on integrating a thermoelectric module onto a CPV solar panel to improve efficiency under dew conditions. She also completed a 60-hour Fusion course, building two projects and earning the Autodesk Certified User certification. At NYU, she has been involved in two Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP): Wearable Art and Design, where she collaborated with a team to develop interactive fashion technology and designed custom PCBs, and Offshore Wind Platform Research, where she helped simulate aerodynamic loads in OpenFAST and built scaled turbine models in CAD. Through these experiences, she has developed skills in simulation (Ansys, MATLAB), CAD modeling, and PCB design. After graduation, she hopes to work in research and development, ideally in the renewable energy or electronics industries. In the long term, she wants to contribute to sustainable energy solutions that make clean power more accessible and reliable around the world. She has taken on leadership roles through her work as Head of Programming for BallPall, where she led a robotics project from concept to prototype and achieved 2nd place in the NYU Tandon Nick Russo Award.

Hana studied abroad in Hong Kong at City University of Hong Kong through the GLASS program. The experience exposed her to a different educational model and culture, and she learned to navigate a new city independently while building friendships with students from Singapore, Uganda, China, Germany, and the Netherlands. This past year, she also attended the ICMCR 2026 Conference in Tokyo, where she engaged with cutting-edge research in mechatronics and robotics. Her time abroad deepened her appreciation for cross-cultural collaboration and reinforced her interest in global engineering challenges.

Being part of the GLASS program has given Hana a community of like-minded peers and access to global experiences that have shaped her perspective on engineering and its role in the world. GLASS has encouraged her to think beyond the classroom and consider how her skills can address real-world challenges. The UN Sustainable Development Goal that resonates most with her is SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), because she believes that access to reliable and sustainable energy is essential for improving quality of life and reducing inequality around the world. She hopes to apply her skills in a global context by working on renewable energy projects that have real-world impact, and she values the cross-cultural perspective GLASS has given her through study abroad and international research experiences.

Outside of her academic pursuits, Hana enjoys drawing and digital art, often exploring the creative side of technology through visual storytelling and design.