Adianne Alamban

Adianne Alamban, a graduating student of materials science and engineering in Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, came to ASU due to its expansive community of interesting and brilliant people.

“I knew that there would be an abundance of opportunities and resources to help me be successful in my career,” she says.  

Alamban chose to pursue materials science and engineering with an overarching goal to propel technology to new frontiers. 

“Even the smallest things in our world can have a significant impact on our lives. The materials we develop can make the impossible possible,” she says. 

While at ASU, Alamban played significant leadership roles, notably as the West Regional Conference Committee Chair of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers and the President of the Society of Women Engineers, or SWE.

SWE aims to create a world with gender parity and equality in engineering and technology through programming, outreach and advocacy.

“As president of SWE, I played a part in driving impactful initiatives and fostering community engagement. With the help of my team of directors, I oversaw many programs with a goal to inspire the next generation of engineers. I am so fortunate to have been part of this organization during my time at ASU,” she says. 

Alamban worked on exciting school projects and applied her skills in internships, contributing to the ever-growing semiconductor industry. Working with Nicholas Rolston, an assistant professor in the School of Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering, she researched low-dimensional perovskites, a novel class of semiconductors, for solar window applications. 

She cherishes the supportive relationships she has built at ASU, especially the help and advice she got from her research mentor, Rolston.

“Rolston’s mentorship helped shape me into a more confident, inquisitive and purpose-driven scientist and engineer,” she says. “He created a supportive environment where I felt empowered to ask questions without fear of judgment, fostering a sense of belonging and intellectual curiosity. Most importantly, he taught me how to apply my materials science knowledge to solving real world problems.” 

Alamban carries with her valuable lessons that no one who accomplishes something great does it alone and that diversity leads to engineering more innovative and accessible designs.

She plans to leverage these and many other lessons in her first full-time job at Applied Materials Inc. in Santa Clara. 

“My ultimate ambition is being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame,” Alamban says.

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2024 class here.