Meet our
RFP cohort 2025
Corrina Borchers
Corrina graduated from the University of Cincinnati this spring, receiving their B.S. in Environmental Engineering and, through the Accelerated Engineering Degree Program, their M.Eng. in Chemical Engineering. Along with these degrees, Corrina was a scholar in the University Honors Program and obtained a Certificate of Achievement in Environmental Literacy. Throughout their time at UC, Corrina completed five semesters of cooperative education, moving across the United States to work as an engineer in various industries. They also completed two short-term study abroad trips, traveling to Scotland and Costa Rica. As a Ruhr Fellow, Corrina will be interning at Emschergenossenschaft and Lippeverband and is excited to apply what they learn during RFP to their career.
Maheen Fatima
Maheen is a junior at the University of Cincinnati, studying Marketing, Real Estate, and International Business. Growing up in a family with a legacy in leather goods manufacturing and export, she has always aspired to work alongside her father to expand the business. A passionate traveler, Maheen loves exploring different cultures and previously studied abroad in France. At the university, she is actively involved in several organizations, including The National Society of Leadership and Success, the American Marketing Association, and TravelCats. She is excited to spend time in Germany, where she will be interning at Masterflex Group and immersing herself in the language and culture while continuing to grow personally and professionally.
Akanksha Gavade
Akanksha Gavade is a junior at Lehigh University, pursuing an honors dual degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering and Finance. She is an international student, originally from Mumbai, India. She is a published researcher with Cornell and Lehigh Engineering, focusing on HCI and NLP. Throughout her undergraduate career, she has applied her interdisciplinary skills to projects spanning sustainability, educational technology and user-centered design. Outside of academics, Akanksha has served as a leader in various student-run organizations. Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a PhD to further explore innovative applications of technology that can tangibly enhance human well-being. During the Ruhr Fellowship, she will be interning at the Junior Professorship of Entrepreneurship at TU Dortmund.
Emma Lu
Emma is a recent graduate of UC Berkeley, where she studied Business Administration through the Global Management Program. At school, she has been involved in the Cal Hiking and Outdoor Society, her consulting club the Association for Socially Responsible Business and her sorority Alpha Chi Omega. She also studied abroad twice, in London and Maastricht. After graduation, she will be working in NYC as a Finance Portfolio Analyst at Atlassian. Outside of academics, she enjoys traveling (27 countries and counting!), hiking, playing frisbee and shooting pool. She’s very excited to go to Germany this summer; during the Ruhr Fellowship she will be interning at the Chair of Sustainability and Innovation in Digital Ecosystems at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
Yuliana Lugo Melendez
Yuliana Lugo Melendez is a rising junior at Lehigh University, studying Earth and Environmental Sciences with a minor in Global Studies. As a LUSSI Scholar, she is part of a program that fosters community and academic success among students, focusing on personal growth, inclusion and student empowerment. For fun on campus, Yuliana participates in the Belly Dancing Club at Lehigh, engaging with the community through collaborations and performances. She is also involved in research focused on carbon sequestration and its role in climate change mitigation. During her time as a Ruhr Fellow, she will be interning at Emschergenossenschaft and Lippeverband and is very excited to learn more about water waste management research.
Anh Quan Nguyen
Quan is a rising junior at Lehigh University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Originally from Vietnam, he is passionate about robotics, automation and sustainable technologies. At Lehigh, Quan leads the Driveline, Chassis and Suspension team within the Space Initiative, focusing on rover design for planetary exploration. He is also involved in research on microscale robotic swimmers and has experience with Raspberry Pi, SolidWorks and motor control systems. On campus, Quan serves as a Resident Assistant and enjoys photography, playing pool and basketball games. During the Ruhr Fellowship, he will be interning at the Institute of Forming Technology and Lightweight Components at TU Dortmund.
Khyati Shinghal
Khyati is a rising senior at the University of Cincinnati, studying Business Economics and Information Systems with a minor in Finance. She recently studied cryptocurrency and blockchain in Switzerland and will return to Europe this summer as a Ruhr Fellow, where she will intern at the Chair of Sustainability and Innovation in Digital Ecosystems at the University of Duisburg-Essen, focusing on sustainable supply chains. On campus, she leads the Undergraduate Economics Society and organized a career-focused trip to New York City. She is also involved with Scholars of Finance and the Kautz-Uible Economics Institute. This past semester, she wrapped up an internship at Morgan Stanley in Wealth Management. In her free time, she enjoys tennis, reading, making art and practicing yoga.
Siddharth Urankar
Siddharth Urankar is a University Honors Scholar at the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Computer Science with a Business Analytics certification. Passionate about technology, sustainability, and cross-cultural collaboration, Siddharth has explored innovation from the U.S. to Switzerland. He thrives at the intersection of engineering and entrepreneurship, developing software solutions that address real-world challenges. As a Ruhr Fellow at IE³ at Dortmund University, Siddharth looks forward to contributing to cutting-edge research on energy systems and smart grids while immersing himself in Germany’s renowned innovation landscape. He is eager to build global connections and bring fresh perspectives to help shape a more sustainable future.
