Alum creates endowed fund to support complex fluids research

Chemical engineering alumnus Prasad Setty (E ‘1994) and his wife Shoma recently made a $100,000 gift to the Department of Chemical Engineering to create an endowed fund in support of research in complex fluid interfacial phenomena. This important field harnesses the unique properties of complex fluids to engineer incredible new solutions in areas such as pulmonary drug delivery and groundwater cleanup. 

The Shoma and Prasad Setty Endowed Chemical Engineering Fund will create a legacy of unending support for breakthrough research such as that of Bob Tilton, professor of chemical and biomedical engineering, and director of the Center for Complex Fluids Engineering. Tilton’s research group seeks to better understand complex fluids and use them to create new technologies.

It is extremely touching to know that an alumnus like Prasad attributes part of his success to his time at Carnegie Mellon.

Bob Tilton, professor of chemical and biomedical engineering, and director of the Center for Complex Fluids Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University

“I am very moved by this gift from Prasad and Shoma,” says Tilton. “It is extremely touching to know that an alumnus like Prasad attributes part of his success to his time at Carnegie Mellon and is giving back to the Department of Chemical Engineering.”

Prasad Setty was the first master’s student in the Tilton research group when it began in 1992. He studied the theoretical understanding of protein dynamics on solid surfaces, and helped Tilton design an instrument—the optical reflectometer—which became a mainstay in the lab. In addition to his research impact, Tilton remembers Setty’s sense of humor as a key element that helped the young research group get off to a good start together at Carnegie Mellon University.

After graduating from Carnegie Mellon, Setty earned his MBA from the Wharton School and began a career in management consulting. Setty now works as the vice president of people analytics, benefits and compensation at Google.

“I am very grateful to both the Department of Chemical Engineering and Bob Tilton for my student experience,” says Setty. “My experience was possible because of a graduate fellowship. I am happy to be able to pay it forward to further advance research in chemical engineering.” 

The Shoma and Prasad Setty Endowed Chemical Engineering Fund will have an important impact in the Department of Chemical Engineering. In addition to supporting new research endeavors in the field of complex fluids, the fund will also support professional development opportunities for graduate students, such as traveling to conferences.

“It’s really important for students to go to conferences for a number of reasons. It helps them gain confidence in their work, stimulates new ideas, and can even lead to unique collaborations,” says Tilton. “It’s not easy to find funding for these professional development opportunities, so the Setty Fund will make a big difference in the future of our graduate students.”