Amaad Zaidi

I am an Energy Engineering student at the Pennsylvania State University who wants to build smarter, cleaner, and fairer energy systems. Having spent my childhood in a village called Raseora, located in India, with its regular blackouts and the smell of diesel fumes from night after night of running generators, I learned then that energy poverty is not just an engineering issue. It is a question of dignity and opportunity. This belief guides my work today, whether in classroom projects or community-building efforts, to ensure I am working on resilient solutions that open up pathways and share prosperity.

I am currently an At-Large Representative and have previously served as the College of Engineering Representative and the Donor and Alumni Relations Chair for the University Park Undergraduate Association at Penn State. I oversee a $150,000 budget, lead sustainability initiatives for over 40,000 students on campus, and collaborate with campus partners on the expansion of sustainability-tagged coursework and experiential opportunities. I led mission-aligned alum engagement for THON, raising more than $10,000 for pediatric cancer relief. I am also working on research that links modeling to policy. I studied solar energy at a Sustainable Engineering summer program at the University of Oxford. I co-authored a deforestation paper using Wolfram Mathematica, which contributed to conservation conversations in India. My technical skills are strongest in Python, C++, MATLAB, Wolfram Mathematica, SolidWorks, and Autodesk Fusion 360. I enjoy converting complex data into tangible designs that impact building layouts, grids, and community design.

Currently, I am creating a geospatial dashboard using Wolfram technologies to identify key locations for renewable-energy zones in underserved areas. The software merges solar potential, grid proximity, and population density to inform siting, planning, and policy decisions. I aim to broaden this into a toolkit that can be used off-the-shelf by governments, nonprofits, and startups, so that good data translates into real projects on the ground.

Outside of academics and research, I was a percussionist with the Penn State Pep Band, and I play guitar and sing with friends whenever time allows. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn to discuss energy, innovation, or music!