Sarah Chekan, a master's student in mechanical engineering, will travel to Chile in 2026 to complete a research and study year focused on utilizing renewable energy in the existing Chilean grid. Credit: Provided by Sarah Chekan
Mechanical engineering grad student selected as Fulbright scholar for Chile
July 1, 2025
By Mariah Lucas
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Sarah Chekan, a master’s student in mechanical engineering in the Penn State College of Engineering, was selected for the 2025-26 U.S. Fulbright Student Research/Study Program. Aligning with the Chilean academic year, Chekan will spend March through November 2026 at the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María in Valparaíso, Chile.
With funding provided by the U.S. Department of State and partner institutions, the Fulbright award covers roundtrip airfare and a monthly stipend for living expenses. Chekan will conduct research within the Advanced Center for Electrical and Electronic Engineering under faculty expert Samir Kouro on integrating renewable energy into existing power grids.
“This research centers around the renewable energy transition and aims to ensure new energy systems integrate smoothly into the existing grid,” Chekan said. “My focus is centered on the modeling and control of these systems.”
Under her adviser Herschel Pangborn, the Shuman Early Career Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Penn State, Chekan researches control algorithms for microgrids as part of the Pangborn Advanced Controls Lab.
“Our goal is to better integrate traditional power sources, like gas turbine engines, with other technologies like batteries, wind turbines and solar panels,” Pangborn said. “This requires us to simultaneously manage many different figures of merit, including operating cost, emissions and reliability.”
In addition to working with Pangborn, Chekan has been involved in sustainable energy research projects in South America led by Brian Fronk, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Margaret Busse, assistant professor of mechanical engineering.
“Sarah has an impressive record of international engagement that spans her undergraduate and graduate studies in addition to her strong research skills,” Pangborn said. “This combination of technical ability and international experience made her an ideal candidate for the Fulbright program.”
Chekan graduated from Penn State in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and minor in international engineering. As an undergraduate, she participated in several study abroad experiences, including the Peru Cross-Cultural Engagement Program in summer 2022, IES Madrid Engineering in Madrid in spring 2023 and the iPRISM Summer Research Internship in Freiburg, Germany, in summer 2023, which was overseen by Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering Zoubeida Ounaies. After concluding the Freiburg program, Chekan continued her research with Ounaies for her Schreyer Honors College thesis, which focused on investigating the mechanics of triboelectricity during adhesive peeling.
“The Fulbright program has a large emphasis on binational impact and cultural exchange, so in addition to conducting research, I am very excited to have the opportunity to be embedded in Chile for an extended period of time to learn about the country, its history, culture and language,” Chekan said.
After completing her master’s degree in December 2026, Chekan plans to pursue positions centered on renewable energy with the International Renewable Energy Agency, the United Nations or the U.S. Department of Energy.
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