Zeca Gomes

Global Challenge: Drive the development of scalable carbon capture technologies

Bio:

This summer, my research experience in Munich introduced me to the pharmaceutical field in a way I had not really considered before. Through networking with TUM professors and learning more about how Germany connects research, academia, and industry, I became genuinely interested in pharmaceuticals as a potential career path. While I have always been interested in sustainability and green science, I am starting to see pharmaceuticals and life sciences as an equally, if not more, compelling direction for my career. I plan to keep exploring this interest at NYU while building on the academic, professional, and cultural experience I gained in Germany, where I would definitely like to continue my career after graduation.

As a Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering student at NYU Tandon, I have been involved in organizations such as ChemE Car and Project Outreach NYC, where I have developed my technical and teamwork skills. My main research experience so far was through the TUM PREP program in Germany, where I worked in catalysis and electrochemistry and gained hands-on experience with electrodeposition and electrochemical measurements. I also developed my communication skills through tutoring and mentoring other students. After graduation, I hope to apply my research and lab experience into sustainable technologies, with the long-term goal of using chemical engineering to work on challenges such as clean energy, carbon capture, and sustainable chemical processes.

My global perspective has been shaped by studying abroad in the Philippines and South Korea and conducting research in Germany. Each experience exposed me to different cultures, academic environments, and ways of approaching problems. In South Korea, I interacted with students from many different countries and became more adaptable to unfamiliar environments, while my experience at TUM showed me what international collaboration looks like in a professional research setting. Through GLASS, these experiences have made me more open to perspectives different from my own and more aware of the importance of international collaboration. They have also helped me become more independent and comfortable working outside of my usual environment.

Being part of GLASS has shown me that many of the challenges engineers work on are global and cannot be solved by one country or discipline alone. My experiences abroad reinforced this by showing me how much perspective and collaboration matter when approaching complex problems. The global challenge that resonates most with me is climate change, particularly UN Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action. As a Chemical Engineering student, I am interested in how technologies such as clean energy, carbon capture, and sustainable chemical processes can contribute to addressing it. I hope to combine my technical background with my international experiences to work on these challenges in a collaborative, global environment.

Outside of academia, Zeca is passionate about books and music, in particular when he can combine the two. Back in Brazil, he loved spending time at the beach, whether playing amateur volleyball or simply enjoying some quality time alone.

PTC Chemistry Tutor - Outside of academics, Zeca is originally from Brazil and comes from the Northeast region of the country. He is particularly connected to the region's coastal culture and, unsurprisingly, has a strong passion for the beach. He enjoys traveling, discovering new places, listening to music, and meeting people from different backgrounds. As a tutor at the Polytechnic Tutoring Center, he hopes to share his enthusiasm for STEM and help students approach challenging material with greater confidence.