Diversity and a transdisciplinary approach are keys to success

César de la Fuente is creating technologies to improve our world. His team at the University of Pennsylvania uses a transdisciplinary approach for projects like developing a low-cost rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19, training computers to create novel antibiotics for currently untreatable infections, exploring the human body as a source of antimicrobials and reprogramming venoms into novel anti-infectives.

He’s also on another mission, starting with his own staff. “I want to see the engineering leadership of this country become a true reflection of the diversity of our society and truly believe organizations like SHPE are making this happen,” de la Fuente said.

– Katherine Brennecke, The Engineering 100