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🎓 NYU Tandon · GLASS Scholar

Global Leaders &
Scholars in STEM

NYU Tandon's premier honors program for globally competent and socially responsible engineers. My journey through leadership, global experiences, and technical innovation.

3
Years in GLASS
5
Countries Studied In
3.56
GPA
5
Windows of Growth

Who I Am

Mission Statement

My mission in computer engineering centers on mastering embedded systems, particularly their applications in automation, sustainability, and intelligent systems. I am especially interested in how embedded systems can drive efficiency and precision in real-world solutions, such as automated sorting systems for waste management.

By integrating theoretical knowledge with hands-on expertise, I aim to develop the ability to conduct experiments, analyze complex datasets, and leverage engineering judgment to draw insightful conclusions. Through practical application, I seek to design innovative solutions that address pressing global challenges, including sustainable production and waste reduction.

Technology is constantly changing, so I make it a priority to stay up to date with new advancements and find creative ways to apply what I learn. Beyond the classroom, I seek out hands-on experiences that challenge me to solve real-world problems and push my skills further.

The Program

What is GLASS?

The Global Leaders and Scholars in STEM (GLASS) program at NYU Tandon is a three-year honors program that cultivates globally competent, socially responsible engineers. Scholars engage with the NAE Grand Challenges and the UN Sustainability Development Goals, emerging as innovators ready to change the world.


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NYU Tandon Research

Areas of Research Excellence

The two research areas at NYU Tandon that align most closely with my mission and engineering goals.

🤖
Data Science / AI / Robotics
NYU Tandon is making significant progress in this space, from drones controlled by gaze to algorithms that enhance financial security. Their approach harnesses data, machine learning, and autonomous systems to address global issues. This strongly aligns with my commitment to integrating theoretical knowledge with practical expertise in embedded systems, and mirrors my own goal of analyzing complex datasets.
📡
Communications / IT
NYU Tandon is at the forefront of communications research, paving the way for 5G and 6G mobile, computer vision, and cloud-based AI. Their work extends to ultra-fast vehicle communications, remote surgery, and AR/VR. This aligns with my mission to cultivate a deep understanding of embedded systems and their intersection with cutting-edge communications technology.

Global Impact

UN SDGs & NAE Grand Challenges

The sustainability goals and engineering grand challenges that my work connects to.

SDG 4
Quality Education
Emphasizing continuous learning, hands-on experience, and the application of new knowledge directly aligns with promoting quality education for all. My commitment to mentorship and knowledge-sharing reflects this goal in practice.
SDG 9
Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Contributing to technological innovation and infrastructure development through embedded systems and automation aligns with fostering inclusive and sustainable industrialization. My work on automated systems directly addresses this goal.

Research & Writing

GLASS Reflective Research Paper

Abstract

SmartTransit NYC: An AI-Powered Approach to Subway Reliability and Urban Sustainability

Alexander Escobar  ·  NYU Tandon School of Engineering  ·  April 2025

New York City's subway system serves approximately 3.4 million daily riders yet continues to struggle with chronic reliability deficits and information asymmetries. Despite an on-time performance of 82.2% in 2024, riders still experienced over 486,000 delayed trains throughout the year.

This paper presents SmartTransit NYC — a conceptually designed AI-powered prediction system that addresses the critical information gap between raw transit data and rider decision-making. By integrating real-time MTA data feeds, historical delay patterns, weather variables, and time-based usage signals, the system would generate probabilistic outputs across three dimensions: delay likelihood, crowding forecasts, and optimized alternative routing.

Environmental projections estimate that even a 2% increase in subway ridership attributable to improved predictive trust could eliminate approximately 100,000 car trips per day and reduce annual CO₂ emissions by roughly 30,000 tons.

Machine Learning Urban Sustainability SDG 11 AI Systems NYC Transit
💡
Why I Chose This Project

As a student living in New York City, the subway is something I rely on every single day. I have been late to class and other commitments more times than I can count, not because I left late, but because I had no real information on what was actually happening on the line. Apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps will tell you an estimated arrival time, but they do not tell you if there is a delay, how crowded the train is, or what a better option might be. You are just stuck in the station waiting and hoping.

That experience is what pushed me toward this topic. With everything I have learned over the past four years, I wanted to challenge myself and see if there was actually a better way to approach this. Could we use the data that is already out there to give riders something more useful than a countdown timer? And beyond just the commute, could a system like this make a real difference in areas like sustainability, equity, and how cities think about transit altogether?

This paper was my attempt to answer those questions and figure out what that might actually look like.

Download Full Paper (PDF)

The 5 Windows of Growth

My GLASS Experiences

GLASS scholars grow across five dimensions. Click a window to explore my experiences in each.

🌍 Global Competency
Semester Abroad — Abu Dhabi
NYU Abu Dhabi · Spring Semester
Immersed in the local culture, engaging with people from diverse backgrounds. Honed communication skills, became more independent, and developed resilience navigating life far from familiar surroundings.
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🌍 Global Competency
Short Term Trip — Portugal
Consulting Project · Sustainability Focus
Worked on a consulting project for a real company while visiting organizations dedicated to sustainability, innovation, and clean energy.
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🌍 Global Competency
🤝 Service
Short Term Trip — Ecuador
Consulting Project · Sustainability Focus
Spent a week in the Amazon Rainforest supporting an animal conservation reserve, assisting with daily animal care by maintaining enclosures and preparing feedings...
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🏆 Leadership
First-Year Student Mentor
Community Leadership · NYU Tandon
Provided guidance on campus resources, university life, and academic challenges through weekly check-ins. Helped students from underrepresented backgrounds gain confidence.
📚 Academic Excellence
RoboChess — Head of Programming
Team Project · NYU Tandon
I was part of a team of four tasked with automating chess movements on a physical chessboard using a fully functional application. As the head of programming, my primary responsibility was to develop the software that would communicate between the application and the VEX motors that controlled the chess pieces. This involved...
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📚 Academic Excellence
Global Career Accelerator
Data Science · Project
The 'Coding for Data' track is part of NYU Tandon's Global Career Accelerator, focusing on equipping students with essential data analytics skills. It offers hands-on experience with SQL and Python, allowing students to work on real-world projects, like analyzing data for Grammy.com...
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🌍 Global Competency
🤝 Service
Dominican Republic Missions Trip
Global Leadership
This component documents a missions trip to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic with a youth church group. The trip involved hosting church services, distributing food, and providing supplies to local communities. We also...
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💼 Professional
Machine Learning Intern
HP · Intern
During my 12-week internship at HP, I worked as a machine learning intern, developing a software solution that used consumer data to proactively identify potential fixes for technical issues. I pursued this opportunity to challenge myself in a corporate setting, gain independence...
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💼 Professional
SHPE Conference
Professional Development · Newtorking
Participation in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Conference provided opportunities to engage in professional development workshops, connect with industry leaders, and explore emerging trends in engineering and technology. Through networking sessions, company engagements, and...
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