Friday, September 12, 2025

1 – 2 pm

310 Ernst Hall

Fake it ‘til You Make It: Speed School and Beyond

Dr. Alex Gupta, EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute)

Success isn’t always about having the perfect resume; sometimes, it’s about saying yes to unexpected opportunities, sticking it out through uncertain phases, putting yourself in uncomfortable situations, and learning to grow into roles you didn’t think you were qualified for. Here, I’ll share the story of how I went from a pizza delivery boy to an energy scientist – first as a grad student, then as a national lab researcher, a nuclear weapons engineer, and now as a staff scientist at the Electric Power Research Institute working on hydrogen safety. I’ll wrap up by sharing some of the exciting work we’re doing today to advance hydrogen safety in the energy transition. Are you unsure about grad school, anxious about the labor market, or just trying to figure out what’s next? I can’t help you, but hopefully this talk isn’t too boring and offers a bit of reassurance that your path doesn’t have to be a straight line to lead somewhere meaningful.