Jalen Saldivar, an electrical engineering major at Stony Brook University, has been recognized as the URECA researcher of the month for July. He joined Fang Luo’s group in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in May 2024 and participated in the 2024 Explorations in STEM summer research program sponsored by PSEG.
Saldivar is part of the packaging team in Luo’s High Voltage Laboratory, focusing on building and testing converters that use high-voltage SiC modules to enhance performance and reliability. This summer, he returned to Explorations in STEM to deepen his understanding of power module packaging. In addition to his research, he will serve as a teaching assistant, co-leading programming workshops and social activities. Saldivar plans to present a poster on his semiconductor packaging research at the Summer Symposium on August 1.
“When you’re starting out, just as long as you’re learning, don’t worry if you’re not building anything new or discovering anything new,” said Saldivar regarding advice for fellow undergraduates. “It’s okay. At this point, you need to lay the groundwork for being an effective researcher. And you can do this by reading, but also by doing things hands-on. Just keep learning as you go.”
Saldivar aims to pursue a career in research and development after completing graduate studies. On campus, he is involved with the SBU chapter of IEEE/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and has participated in the Micromouse robotics competition. He is also active with the Collegiate Science Technology Entry Program as a tutor and advisory board member and has contributed to outreach panels with the Career Center’s “Conquer Your Research Journey” series.
Read the full interview with URECA Director Karen Kernan.
