@fernsulantay

CV

Fernanda Sulantay Vargas

Fernanda.vargas@yale.edu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernanda-sulantay-vargas/

EDUCATION

Yale University
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering (Dec 2025)
M.S. & M.Phil. in Chemical Engineering (Dec 2023)

University of Connecticut
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Magna Cum Laude & Honors (May 2020)

Manchester Community College
A.S. in Engineering Science, Summa Cum Laude & Honors (May 2017)

EXPERIENCE

Yale University, Chemical & Environmental Engineering Department
Graduate Research Assistant, Advisor: Prof. Amir Haji-Akbari (Jan 2021 – Dec 2025)

  • Developed and simulated 20 computational models of crystal nucleation using large-scale molecular dynamics on high-performance computing systems (10^6 − 10^9 MD steps per system on 1–4 CPU cores, 1–2 week wall times), obtaining statistically converged, reproducible nucleation rates spanning multiple orders of magnitude.
  • Applied advanced rare-event sampling techniques to study crystal nucleation in supercooled liquids, analyzing 200,000 configurations to test theoretical predictions for heterogeneous nucleation thermodynamic, structural, and kinetic properties with quantified uncertainty [Cryst. Growth Des.].
  • Optimized simulation parameters for 5 computational models, reducing CPU cost per nucleation-rate estimate by 19% while maintaining accuracy of key thermodynamic and kinetic observables.
  • Enhanced an object-oriented C++ framework to automate MD job submission in LAMMPS and calculations of free-energy profiles, phase transitions, and interfacial properties.
  • Built data-analysis pipelines in Python, MATLAB, C++, and Bash for automated trajectory post-processing, data mining, and visualization of 300,000+ configurations, substantially reducing manual analysis time and enabling streamlined multi-system studies.
  • Presented findings at 4 national conferences and authored 3 research papers (1 peer-reviewed publication in Cryst. Growth Des., 2 in preparation).

Lam Research, ALD-CVD Metals
Process Engineer (Jun – Aug 2021)

  • Led a cross-functional effort with metrology, data science, and ALD/CVD teams to structure and analyze defect image data and train a deep learning model (CNN) on 1,000+ labeled wafer images, reducing manual inspection burden and improving traceability during a customer-escalated metal deposition issue.

Collins Aerospace, Supply Chain
Project Engineer (Jan 2017 – Jan 2018 | Aug 2019 – Apr 2020)

  • Improved supply chain performance and project delivery by leading stakeholder management between U.S. and Puerto Rico manufacturing plants, conducting root cause analysis of purchase order backlogs in SAP, and driving proactive continuous improvement initiatives that enhanced supplier communication, expedited critical shipments, and achieved 95% on-time completion of project milestones.

Triumph Group
Expediter (Jun 2019 – Aug 2019)

  • Supported planning in the engineering department by managing demand planning, production, and procurement logs.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Yale Ventures
Venture Associate, Roberts Innovation Fund (Sept 2025 – Present)

  • Conducted market research and customer discovery to evaluate the commercial viability of 6 lab spinoff technologies, contributing to market entry strategies, lab-to-market translation, and development of pitch decks, marketing plans, and funding strategies.

InspiraSTEM
Co-Founder, Non-profit (May 2024 – Present)

  • Founded and lead a nonprofit delivering an annual STEM conference/summer school in El Salvador; have secured $30K+ in funding, engaged 11 Salvadoran scientists with 100 local students in 2025, and am expanding the program for 2026.
  • Directed partnerships, government relations, and event operations, collaborating with the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Presidential Delegation in El Salvador to expand national STEM education and research initiatives.
  • Grew visibility and engagement through social media strategy and by establishing a global network of 80+ Salvadoran STEM professionals mentoring local students.

Computational Molecular Sciences & Engineering Symposium
Founder (Nov 2024)

  • Founded and led an in-person symposium for molecular simulation and scientific computing research groups within the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS) and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) at Yale University, raising $1K and attracting 80 attendees.

Empowered Engineers
Founder (Oct 2021)

  • Founded an online conference for female engineering students, raising $30K+ and attracting 800+ attendees.
  • Managed a weeklong event featuring seminars, workshops, engineering challenges, and a career fair with participation from major companies.

SKILLS

Programming: Python, C/C++, MATLAB, R, LAMMPS, Linux, Object-Oriented Programming, High-Performance Computing

Professional & Leadership: Research, Project Management, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Entrepreneurship, Scientific
Communication, Technology Commercialization

Machine Learning & Data Science: Deep Learning (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras), Neural Networks, Data Analysis, Data Mining,
Data Visualization, Scientific Computing

Materials & Computational Science: Molecular Dynamics, Rare-Event Sampling, Crystal Nucleation, Thermodynamics, Phase
Transitions, Computational Modeling

Languages – English (Full Proficiency), Spanish (Native)

UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE

Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Center for Nanobiology & Structural Biology
REU Research Assistant, Advisor: Prof. Rudi H. Ettrich (Jun – Aug 2018)

  • Research: Structural and functional analysis of interactions between subunits of Saccharomyces cerevisiae K+ translocation systems encoded by Trk1 genes assessed by Molecular Dynamics.

University of Connecticut
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Advisor: Prof. Leslie Shor (Aug 2017 – May 2019)

  • Research: Characterization of nano-particle formulation and development of screening methods for protists facilitated transport of nanoparticles.

Princeton University
REU Research Assistant, Advisor: Robert K. Prud’homme (Jun – Aug 2017)

  • Research: Formulation and release of anti-malarial drug from Zein nanoparticles prepared via Flash Nano Precipitation.

Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Technologies (MET2)
Team Member (Jan 2015 – May 2017)

  • Skills: 3D printing, Solidworks, PCB design, Arduino, Raspberry Pi.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Summer School Instructor: Experimentos Moleculares en la Computadora: Dinámica en Acción, InspiraSTEM Conference [Link]
Summer School Workshop Developer: Molecular Dynamics, 7th i-CoMSE @ Boise State University [Link]
Summer School Instructor: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning, Eduexplora
Summer School Instructor: Engineering for a Sustainable Future, Eduexplora
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Chemical Engineering Process Design (CENG 416 01), Yale University
Undergraduate Math Tutor: Algebra, Calculus I, II, Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra

PRESENTATIONS & CONFERENCES

  1. Unpacking Crystal Nucleation: Classical Nucleation Theory on Non-Uniform Surfaces and the Role of Interatomic Potentials. 2024 Langer Symposium, New Haven, CT (December 2024). Oral Presentation.
  2. Can Classical Nucleation Theory Describe Heterogeneous Crystal Nucleation on Non-Uniform Surfaces? AIChE Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA (July 2024). Poster Presentation.
  3. Can Classical Nucleation Theory Describe Heterogeneous Crystal Nucleation on Non-Uniform Surfaces? AIChE Foundations of Molecular Modeling & Simulation (FOMMS), Snowbird, UT (July 2024). Poster Presentation.
  4. Can Classical Nucleation Theory Describe Heterogeneous Crystal Nucleation on Non-Uniform Surfaces? Bridging GAPS Diversity in STEM Symposium, Yale University, New Haven, CT (April 2024). Oral Presentation.
  5. Structural and functional analysis of interactions between subunits of Saccharomyces cerevisiae K+ translocation systems encoded by TRK1 genes assessed by Molecular Dynamics. Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Nove Hrady, CZ (August 2018). Oral Presentation.
  6. Characterization of Nano-Particle Formulation and Development of Screening Methods for Protists Facilitated Transport of Nanoparticles. Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Exhibitions, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (October 2017). Poster Presentation.
  7. Formulation and release of Anti-Malarial Drug from Zein Nanoparticles prepared via Flash Nano Precipitation. Northeast Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NELSAMP) Undergraduate Research Symposium, Northeastern University, Boston, MA (October 2017). Poster Presentation. Best Presentation Award (1st Place).
  8. Formulation and release of Anti-Malarial Drug from Zein Nanoparticles prepared via Flash Nano Precipitation. Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (August 2017). Oral & Poster Presentation.

AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS & SCHOLARSHIPS

  • 2022 Rising Star in STEM Nominee, LatinaGeeks
  • 2021 NSF GRFP Fellowship (16% acceptance rate)
  • 2021 GEM Fellowship
  • 2019 NELSAMP Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster Presentation (1st Place)
  • All-CT Academic Team Member (Acceptance rate: 2 students per college in CT)
  • 4 x Manchester Community College Scholarship Recipient
  • Minority Caucus Scholarship Recipient
  • OxyGEN Scholarship Recipient by AT&T
  • President-to-President Scholarship Recipient
  • 2 x CALAHE Scholarship Recipient

CERTIFICATIONS & WORKSHOPS

  • 6th i-CoMSE Workshop: Methods of Enhanced Sampling, Virtual
  • 4th i-CoMSE Workshop: Fundamentals and Applications of DFT, Boise State University
  • SEAS Advanced Graduate Leadership Program, Yale University
  • Data Science Bootcamp, Tech Talent South
  • FEBS Advanced Course: Ligand-Binding Theory and Practice, The Academy of Science of The Czech Republic
  • Visegrad Symposium on Structural Systems Biology, International Visegrad Fund