Yaritza Padilla

Yaritza Padilla is an Electrical Engineering major with a minor in Engineering Corporate Practice. She is proud and honored to be an Anbryce Scholar, Galvin Scholar, Gates Scholar, Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar, Gilman Scholar, Fulbright Scholar, Cavanaugh Council Scholar and President's Circle Scholar. As a first-generation college student, she works toward exploring her academic and career interests which range from software development and cyber security to embedded systems and photonics.

Yaritza’s interest in computer innovation and technology stem from the lack of exposure and awareness young minority groups have of the different engineering majors and fields of work. Since then, she has become fascinated by the world’s dependence and rapid progression in the advancement of technology and technological instruments.

Throughout her academic career, Yaritza has been surrounded by mentors and professors who love their fields and work toward the encouragement of young minority students into STEM majors and careers. She hopes to one day inspire others in a similar manner and has started her journey with a research internship at the University of California Berkeley. There she does innovative research on a new DNA Origami tile developing experiments around the tile's assembly, programmability, and foldability.

At Notre Dame Yaritza has joined clubs and programs such as Women in Engineering, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, as well as followed her passion for dance and her home states as part of TroopND, AsceND, and the California Club. She has been blessed and honored with the opportunity to have spent the past year traveling abroad in Ireland, Germany, and Scotland. Growing her appreciation for interdisciplinary learning and further realizing the significance behind cultural exchange.

Yaritza will continue to fight for and work toward the exposure of more STEM majors to Latin-American students, as well as challenge herself through internships, conferences, clubs, and other programs to find where she will excel for years after graduation.

Awards

• Gates Scholar
• Fulbright Summer Institute
• Gilman

Study Abroad

• Singapore (Spring 26)
• Berlin, Germany (Summer 24)
• Glasgow, Scotland (Summer 24)

Activities

• TroopND
• SOLES
• Event Coordinator, Notre Dame Club of California
• Aerospace Lab (wind data)

Summer Experiences

• Summer Undergraduate Program in Engineering Research at Berkeley (SUPERB)
• Fulbright Summer Institute