Dajr Alfred

What does it mean to you to be an engineer?

We’re essentially sculptors and artists; our creations are shaping what the world looks like.

How is your field being redefined for today and tomorrow’s needs? What contributions do you hope to make to this redefined landscape?

Just look at the name of my academic department at NYU Tandon: Electrical and Computer Engineering. From that alone, you can surmise how modern electrical engineering has grown and changed. The challenge for power engineers, like myself, is to stay abreast of developments and not get left behind simply because people don’t understand how much value we can add. We can add plenty of value and we’re incorporating cutting-edge new technologies into what we do. I’m particularly interested in sustainability initiatives, like wireless power transfer for electric-vehicle applications, and I’m also exploring the use of artificial intelligence in the control of electrical systems, which has the potential to be both quicker and less costly.

How did NYU Tandon help you redefine yourself?

My undergraduate degree supplied me with a practical foundation, but NYU Tandon allowed me to study with pioneers in the field who could help me get to the next level, like Dariusz Czarkowski, Thomas Marzetta, Yao Wang, Ivan Selesnick, Matt Campisi and Yury Dvorkin. Because the school stresses collaboration, I’ve learned the value of being part of a team, and that’s been important to my growth, as well. Just facing the challenges every international student faces, such as adapting to a new culture and finding a place to live, has taught me to be unafraid of challenges. I just received a Future Leader Ph.D. Fellowship that will start this fall, so I’m sure I’ll change and grow more in the coming years at NYU Tandon. I do believe that although I was born elsewhere, I was made in Brooklyn!