Profile

Holding the saltMIT graduate student David Cohen-Tanugi works to improve water filtration, desalination.

Making wavesPierre Lermusiaux quantifies uncertainty to develop better ocean simulations.

Opening DropboxMIT alumnus Drew Houston took Dropbox from conception to a multibillion-dollar business.

Starting up — again and againMBA student Danny Castonguay finds a thrill in starting new companies.

Diving into nuclear policyWhether he’s in a Navy submarine or in Washington, you’ll find MIT senior Cameron McCord at the intersection of nuclear engineering, policy and service.

Striking a balance on taxesResearch by PhD student Stefanie Stantcheva touches on taxation, student loans and education incentives.

A caring mindRed blood cells, dengue fever and greenhouses have been on MIT senior Paula Trepman’s mind as she tackles problems in global health care.

‘The place I needed to be’An early passion for mechanical engineering drew first‑generation student Madeline Salazar to MIT.

Power to the peopleFrom afar, MIT grad student Chidube Ezeozue devotes energy to his fellow Nigerians.

Modern-day inventorMIT senior Paul Lazarescu uses his engineering talents to help people with disabilities and improve everyday technology.

Building a better big boxMIT architect Alexander D’Hooghe looks to remake suburbs and other neighborhoods with ‘more intelligent’ designs.

Making sense of big dataPhD student Jameson Toole wants to harness data to improve human lives.

From biotech to high-techNewer Kendall Square firms attribute their success to innovative ideas — and to location, location, location.

Searching for solar systems like our ownJosh Winn’s hunt for exoplanets may someday reveal habitable, Earth-like worlds.

Better buildings, better livesWhether working on clean water for a Ugandan village or studying concrete reinforced with natural fibers, MIT senior Marisa Simmons is a civil engineer looking out for the world.

Exploring the brain, and the worldBrain and cognitive sciences major Joy Ekuta researches, learns and teaches her way around the globe.

A physicist and her neutrinosMIT senior Christie Chiu has found her focus: the study of tiny particles.

Finding his voiceFirst-generation college student Eric Trac makes the most of MIT — whether through medical research or community service.

Building a better worldFrom fuel cells to bamboo, and from Tanzania to Brazil, MIT senior Arfa Aijazi crosses borders and disciplines to make an impact.

A brain beyond bordersMIT senior Victoria Okuneye traveled to Mexico and Jamaica to pursue her passions for neuroscience and global service.