Gaukhar Alzhanova, Ezra Stiles '25

Engineering for Humanity: Understanding the Power of Nanoparticles

Written by Sundeep Kaur

Edited by Nithya Guthikonda

Gaukhar Alzhanova, a senior in Ezra Stiles College majoring in Chemical Engineering, brings her diverse background and passion to everything she does. Born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan, a city known for its mountain ranges, she grew up drawing inspiration from nature through summers spent hiking and winters snowboarding. This love for the natural world sparked her curiosity about the building blocks of matter, inspiring a fascination with the nano-world and its transformative potential to solve global challenges. 

For Gaukhar, her interests extend far beyond chemical engineering. She has been a dedicated member of Rhythmic Blue, Yale’s open choreography hip-hop dance group, for the past four years. Dancing since she was five, she has explored styles such as ballet, folk dance, and street dance. At Yale, she has choreographed five routines that blend artistic creativity with the precision she applies to her research—embodying themes of nature and movement in her work both on and off the stage. 

Gaukhar’s research journey began early at Yale, starting in the Zimmerman Lab during her freshman spring. There, she worked on developing a multiplexable synthesis technique for gold nanoparticles, a material with critical applications in the medical industry. Guided by her PhD mentor, she learned the art of troubleshooting and experimental design—skills that became the cornerstone of her engineering mindset. The experience of being published in the lab left a profound impact, making her feel like an active contributor to her field. “I felt like I was collaborating with my PhD mentor, not just assisting,” she shared.

Later, Gaukhar joined Professor Pfefferle’s lab through the First Year Summer Fellowship Program, where she explored the functionalization of a hematite catalyst for methane capture—a technology with potential for reducing greenhouse gases in the oil industry. Fascinated by the interplay of nanomaterials and catalytic combustion, she took a graduate-level course with Dr.Pfefferle to deepen her theoretical knowledge. “I was amazed by how a small synthetic change can greatly alter the property of a material,” she said, reflecting on her passion for nanomaterials and their potential to tackle industrial challenges sustainably.

In addition to her lab experiences, Gaukhar co-founded ChemE Car, a student organization that designs and builds model cars powered and stopped by chemical reactions. This interdisciplinary project allowed her to apply her research expertise to a hands-on challenge while mentoring her peers. Working with her on the battery team, I was amazed by her ability to problem-solve and explain complex concepts like aluminum-air batteries and anionic exchange membranes with ease. Her insights and collaboration elevated the team’s efforts and left a lasting impression on us all. 

Reflecting on her time at Yale, Gaukhar credits her research experiences for shaping her post-graduate plans. With internships at First Solar, a solar energy company, and Micron Technology, a semiconductor company, she is excited to enter the electronics and memory manufacturing industry. Yet, she remains open to returning to academia or research, particularly to address industrial gaps through engineering innovation. Her ability to apply research skills, from designing experiments to performing advanced nanoparticle characterizations, has equipped her to thrive in both worlds. 

Gaukhar’s advice to first-years is to be unafraid of stepping into research and to take advantage of Yale’s close-knit STEM community. “No prior knowledge is assumed,” she says. “Professors and graduate students are incredibly welcoming, and the research experience is deeply fulfilling.” She also encourages students to foster connections within their labs and to take the time to engage with research scientists and graduate students beyond their direct mentors. As Gaukhar prepares to graduate, she reflects on how quickly time has flown. “If I could go back, I’d remind myself to slow down and appreciate every moment during my first year,” she admits. Over the past four years, her growth as an engineer and an artist highlights how fully she has embraced her time at Yale. Whether exploring nature, choreographing dances, or troubleshooting nanoparticle experiments, she exemplifies the synergy between creativity and STEM. Gaukhar’s dedication to her work and her passion for engineering for humanity is truly inspiring. I feel fortunate to call her both a teammate and a friend.