Emily Vong: Outstanding Senior in Chemical Engineering
Drawn to the “puzzle-like” nature of science from an early age, Emily Vong knew she wanted a career that could create meaningful change in the communities around her. As a first-generation college student, she entered UC Davis seeking a path that combined technical problem-solving with human impact and found that balance in chemical engineering.
“Engineering felt like the perfect bridge between science and people,” she said.
Vong has kept the “people” part of her goals at the forefront of her mind. To better understand the communities the future work could affect, Vong pursued a minor in social, ethnic and gender relations alongside her chemical engineering major.
“In the balance between the technical rigor of engineering and the critical perspectives I gained through ethnic studies, my goals became much clearer,” she said. “It turned vague desires into a lifelong commitment to engineering solutions that are accessible to everyone.”
Part of that commitment is an inclination toward research, which was solidified through a lab placement in the lab of Professor of Chemical Engineering Adam Moulé, an opportunity supported by the UC LEADS program.
Under the mentorship of Moulé and chemical engineering Ph.D. student Joaquin Mogollon Santiana, she gained her first deep exposure to the realities of scientific research, including troubleshooting experiments, analyzing data and presenting results. With Mogollon Santiana’s help, Vong developed a research poster and presented her findings at symposiums and national conferences.
One especially meaningful moment came when her poster earned second place at the annual research symposium hosted by the Departments of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. The experience taught her about success and failures and helped her see herself as someone capable of contributing new knowledge to the field.
“I felt recognized as a researcher through the culmination of my efforts,” Vong said. “It solidified my desire to pursue a research career.”
Vong credits much of her growth to the mentorship and support she found within the UC Davis community, particularly from Professor Moulé, whose guidance helped her navigate both research and graduate school preparation.
“When I first joined the lab, I felt very out of my depth,” she said. “But the support and encouragement I received made such a difference.”
Outside the lab, some of her favorite memories came from collaborative engineering projects and the friendships formed along the way. As a member of UC Davis’ first ChemE Cube team, Vong helped the group earn seventh place in its debut competition season.
The most memorable part, however, wasn’t the ranking.
“What I’ll hold onto are the days we spent designing and problem-solving together,” she said. “Seeing our efforts come to life on the competition floor was a feeling of ‘we actually did it’ that I’ll never forget.”
This fall, Vong will continue her academic journey as a Ph.D. student in chemical engineering at UC Berkeley, where she hopes to develop sustainable materials and energy solutions to improve access to resources for underserved communities.
Looking back, Vong encourages incoming students to seek out connections and mentorship early.
“You don’t have to have everything figured out before approaching professors or graduate students,” she said. “The supportive community at UC Davis is one of the best resources you can have.”
Generative AI tools were used to assist in organizing and drafting this Outstanding Senior Spotlight using responses from a student-submitted questionnaire. In alignment with the University of California Responsible AI Principles, human members of UC Davis College of Engineering communications staff reviewed, revised, fact-checked and approved the final story to ensure accuracy and authentically reflect the student’s experiences and achievements.