Jalen Saldivar — the URECA researcher of the month for July — is an electrical engineering major who joined the group of Fang Luo, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in May 2024 and participated in the 2024 Explorations in STEM 10-week summer research program sponsored by PSEG.
As a member of the packaging team in Luo’s High Voltage Laboratory, Saldiva is focused on building and testing converters that incorporate high-voltage SiC modules, improving performance and reliability. This summer, he has returned to Explorations in STEM, where he will not only further his knowledge on power module packaging but will also serve as a teaching assistant, co-leading programming workshops and social activities. He will then present a poster on his research on packaging semiconductors and testing the electrical and thermal capacities 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 Saldiver, when asked what advice he has for fellow undergrads. “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.”
Long term, Saldivar plans to pursue a career in research and development after completing graduate studies.
On campus, Saldivar is active in the SBU chapter of IEEE/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and participated in the Micromouse robotics competition. He has also been active with the Collegiate Science Technology Entry Program as a tutor and advisory board member and has assisted on outreach panels with the Career Center’s “Conquer Your Research Journey” series.
Read the full interview with URECA Director Karen Kernan.
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