Inaugural College of Engineering Young Alumni Impact Award Recipients
Gregory D. Abowd, dean of the College of Engineering at Northeastern University, announces the inaugural College of Engineering Young Alumni Impact Award recipients. These six leaders in their fields were carefully selected from a pool of faculty nominations. With only one awardee for each engineering discipline, this is an elite achievement.
The recipients will be recognized on February 18, 2025, at the awards ceremony, where they will also participate in the college’s “Career Paths to Impact” fireside chat to share how they turned their experiential education into impactful careers. The event registration is open to students, alumni, faculty, staff, prospective students, and others—engineers and non-engineers.
The Young Alumni Impact Award honors graduates of our college who have completed their degree within the past 15 years. It celebrates alumni who exemplify outstanding commitment, leadership, and meaningful contributions in their professional fields or communities. Through their remarkable achievements and dedication, these recipients embody the values and mission of the College of Engineering, inspiring others and making a lasting impact.
2025 College of Engineering Young Alumni Impact Award Recipients
Codi Gharagouzloo, PhD 2016
bioengineering
Codi Gharagouzloo is the scientific founder and CEO of Imaginostics, a health tech startup commercializing a novel technology called QUTE-CE MRI, which is a platform technology for non-invasive imaging that transforms any MRI machine into a powerful quantitative diagnostic tool. Imaginostics was recognized as a finalist among more than 4,500 participants of Hello Tomorrow, a prestigious competition for deep tech startups. Codi had a postdoctoral fellowship at the Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School.
Anvesh Gurijala, BS 2016
mechanical engineering
Anvesh Gurijala leveraged capstone and master’s work to co-found Boston Materials, a spin-out from a faculty lab at Northeastern. Boston Materials is known for its patented Z-axis Fiber™ technology, a lightweight and corrosion-resistant material that efficiently transfers thermal, electrical, and structural energy. As CEO, Anvesh has led the tremendous growth of the company, securing multiple rounds of funding. Anvesh was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and the company was named to the Technology Pioneers community of the World Economic Forum in 2023.
Shruti Kotian, MS 2019
information systems
After graduating from Northeastern, Shruti Kotian joined McKinsey & Company as a senior software engineer. With a desire to make a broader impact by contributing to products that transform the way the world interacts with technology, Shruti changed her career path to product management. Today she is a product manager delivering innovative solutions that bridge the gap between technology and business. She completed an executive education program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She has worked as a volunteer for the Grace Hopper Celebration, which champions women technologists around the globe.
Kaitlin McCarthy, BS 2009
civil engineering
Kaitlin McCarthy is the founder and CEO of Ionic Development Co., one of Boston’s first woman-owned real estate development and consulting firms. With over 15 years of experience in the real estate development, engineering, and construction industries, she has been instrumental in managing large-scale projects across various industry sectors. Under her leadership, Ionic Development has been involved in the first all-affordable housing development in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood. Kaitlin received a Northeastern University 2024 Women Who Empower Innovator Award, earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, and previously held roles such as vice president at The HYM Investment Group.
Hamed Tabkhi, PhD 2014
computer engineering
Hamed Tabkhi is an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. His research focuses on advancing real-world artificial intelligence and computer vision to address critical social and community challenges. Hamed has secured over $5.5 million in federal and state research funding, including a $2.4 million National Science Foundation Smart and Connected Communities award. He is co-founder of ForesightCares Inc., a company that has already received nearly $1 million in funding to leverage artificial intelligence to promote active, independent aging for older adults.
Emily Wisniewski, BS 2015
chemical engineering
Emily Wisniewski is the associate director of CMC Cell Therapy Process Development at Takeda, where she leads efforts to develop scalable manufacturing processes for cell therapies aimed at treating cancer and autoimmune diseases. With a background in chemical and bioengineering and a deep commitment to advancing cutting-edge therapies to help patients, Emily plays a key role in bridging the gap between laboratory-scale research and large-scale clinical production. Prior to joining Takeda, Emily earned a PhD in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Johns Hopkins University, where her research contributed valuable insights into the behavior of cancer cells, enhancing understanding of cancer progression and potential therapeutic interventions.
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