Jean Poll Alva Araujo (MS ’25) specialized in Sustainable Systems (SusSys) at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) and graduated in May. 

What is your background?

I attended the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina in Lima, Peru, where I studied environmental engineering. As a student and after school I was always involved in research. I have had the opportunity to do research in Mexico, Italy and the United Kingdom focusing on bioenergy, solar energy and carbon capture technologies. I also worked for environmental consulting firms on mining and energy projects.

Why did you choose SEAS and the SusSys specialization?

I chose SEAS and the Sustainable Systems specialization because I was particularly interested in the research of SEAS Assistant Professor Michael Craig and SEAS Professor Greg Keoleian. The subjects I wanted to explore were green hydrogen applications, decarbonization of energy systems, industrial ecology and life cycle assessment, which were the primary areas of interest for these two professors. Beyond that, SEAS’ multidisciplinary approach was a key factor in my decision. It encourages addressing complex environmental and energy challenges from multiple angles, and that’s been incredibly valuable during my time here.

What has your SEAS experience been like?

Being a student at SEAS has been a wonderful experience. The students and faculty have extensive knowledge and experience working with sustainability topics. As a student I have had the opportunity to present research at conferences in Morocco, Thailand and France, work on a team of students competing in the Hydrogen Grand Challenge, and participate in an environmental consulting internship supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Program. My background was already technical and scientific, but these experiences helped me further develop my skills and gain new perspectives. Also, my capstone project was developed in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Institute, and I conducted it at the SEAS Center for Sustainable Systems, where I had the opportunity to work closely with researchers who provided valuable guidance and support. In this project, we analyzed the potential of green hydrogen in India’s power sector through a combined techno-economic and policy analysis.

Would you recommend SEAS to incoming students?

I absolutely would recommend this program to incoming students. The faculty have all been amazing to work with and have a high expertise in sustainability issues. The school also provides a number of fantastic resources that I have been lucky to have access to. Some of these resources include funding opportunities and strong professional connections both in research and in industry.

What do you hope to do after graduation? 

After graduation I hope to continue working in environmental consulting or researching decarbonization of energy systems and green hydrogen applications, which is part of the reason why I came to SEAS. In the future, I hope to launch my own company focusing on the intersection between technology and sustainability to develop solutions that enhance the scalability, efficiency and affordability of renewable energy.