Alumni
The College of Engineering and Applied Science’s alumni page is our chance to spotlight some of our many graduates who make a difference in the fields of engineering and applied sciences and in our world. If you would like to be considered, please send your information to ceas_comms@stonybrook.edu.
Raza Hassan PhD '20
Imagine having a shoe that is meant for only you. No more discomfort. No more figuring out your size. Stony Brook University alumnus Chaudhry Raza Hassan PhD ’20 has helped design an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven, precision-fit shoe, the IAMBIC MODEL T, that was recognized by TIME as a best invention.
Hassan and Maeve Wang co-founded IAMBIC in 2020. In 2023, TIME chose 200 inventions based on their originality, ambition and transformative impact. The MODEL T was featured in the design category and “shines a spotlight on IAMBIC’s passionate dedication to advancing size-inclusivity in footwear,” said Wang.
According to Hassan, who is the chief technology officer for IAMBIC, Stony Brook University’s Center for Biotechnology played a huge role in preparing him for a career beyond academia. Hassan sat down with us to talk about his time at Stony Brook and explain what exactly the MODEL T is and why it’s so unique.
Derek Peterson '88
BME PhD student '29
Derek Peterson is Founder and CEO of Soter Technologies, a rapidly growing environmental sensor and technology innovator headquartered in Ronkonkoma, New York. He has assembled and leads a team of engineers, software developers, researchers, scientists, technology and business and communications experts to bring a suite of innovative and critical products to market.
These potentially world-changing products include SymptomSense™ Medical Evaluation Gateway, which rapidly scans vital signs, including blood oxygen levels, body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate. This first of its kind technology played a critical role in helping the United States and the world recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Peterson and his team have also invented the world’s first vape and bullying detection and alert system for schools, FlySense. With over 50,000 devices deployed in schools around the world, this technology is making schools healthier and safer.
Mr. Peterson, who holds over 60 patents in various technologies, earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Applied Math and Statistics from Stony Brook University. He is also committed to being a mentor and advisor for students, and is currently pursuing his PhD in biomedical engineering.
Ahmad Pratama '19
Ahmad Pratama is a man of science, but when asked what brought him to Stony Brook University, he says, “Fate brought me here not once, but twice.”
Ten years ago, in 2014, Ahmad made his way to Stony Brook as a Fulbright Scholar in the Department of Technology and Society in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Now back at Stony Brook as the University Libraries’ data literacies lead, Ahmad is thrilled to be on campus by what he believes to be divine intervention.
Alexander Reben '08
Alexander Reben was initially drawn to Stony Brook to study applied mathematics at one of the top programs in the country. Yet looking back, Reben said that one of the best parts of his education was the chance to dip his toe into other areas of study that piqued his interest, such engineering and art. Within a program at Stony Brook that integrated digital arts, culture and technology, he was able to combine his own love of technology and art with classes in software for visual arts and presentations on how artists work with computers.
His degree and the connections he made at SBU lead him to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for his MS in media arts and sciences, where he studied social robotics, the study of how people and robots complete tasks together. After graduating he began a corporate career at Cisco, a software/technology company, as an interaction design strategist, but his love of art was still calling.
Jacob Thomas attended the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in India for his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering. When he started looking into graduate schools, Stony Brook University was on the top of his list, as classmates ahead of him were already here. He applied for the electrical engineering program; however, the response he got changed the trajectory of his career path. “I got a letter saying they were so impressed with my application, they were offering me an assistantship position within the computer science program,” Thomas recalled. “Even though I had no formal training in computer science, I knew it was a great field. It was a great opportunity and I was up for the challenge, so I accepted.” Thomas is thrilled that he can provide opportunities for students, the same way Stony Brook provided an opportunity to him.