Aggies and Longhorns align for petroleum engineering excellence

Three people standing together and smiling. — From left to right: Nadia Mouedden, Ph.D. student at UT-Austin; Dr. Thomas Blasingame, Texas A&M petroleum engineering department head; and Taha Yehia, Ph.D. student at Texas A&M.

Credit: Kendra Bolin/Texas A&M Engineering

The Texas A&M University Society of Petroleum Engineers Student Chapter (TAMU-SPE) and The University of Texas at Austin’s Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering Graduate Student Association (PGSA) recently joined forces to host a landmark event focused on bridging the gap between petroleum engineering students and industry professionals.

The Aggie-Longhorn Leading Innovation in Energy Symposium (ALLIES) is the first collaboration between TAMU-SPE and PGSA. The student-led initiative brought together undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and industry leaders to showcase ongoing research and technological development at the two universities.

“ALLIES was built around supporting students,” said Taha Yehia, petroleum engineering Ph.D. student and co-chair for the event. “We wanted this event to highlight the impactful research of graduate students and offer them a space for meaningful feedback and critical industry connections.”

The one-day event was held at OXY’s Houston headquarters and opened by the company’s CEO, Vicki Hollub, and COO, Richard Jackson. Over 350 attendees came together for the event, which included a three-minute thesis competition and poster presentations, giving student participants the opportunity to present evolving research in concise formats. A total of 14 prizes, totaling $7,500 for students, were awarded for compelling presentations. All the funding for these prizes, and the entire event, was raised by the two student organizations.

These sessions allowed students to engage directly with technical judges and industry professionals, creating an opportunity for meaningful feedback and discussion. For many participants, it was an opportunity to refine their work while expanding their professional network with practicing engineering and geoscience professionals who attended the ALLIES event.

“Receiving feedback from industry experts is incredibly valuable for students,” said Nadia Mouedden, Ph.D. student at UT-Austin and co-chair for the event. “It helps us see new applications for our research and gives us insight into how that research translates into real-world applications.”

Approximately 120 industry professionals from various companies in the energy space were in attendance. They served as technical judges, participated in networking sessions and presented keynote and technical presentations throughout the symposium.

Additionally, 24 energy companies from the area attended a career fair that was hosted during the event, providing students the opportunity to ask industry specific questions and have meaningful interactions.

“The knowledge that professionals in the industry hold is powerful,” Mouedden said. “Their insight and viewpoints can benefit students greatly, but we are also grateful for their participation as we hope to aid students in securing mentorships and internships that hopefully translate to full-time career opportunities. Events like this is where it starts.”

For the students, ALLIES also represents more than just future personal success.

“Across both institutions, there is a lot of talent and potential,” Yehia said. “But as one, we are all invested in the future of energy. It’s exciting to see what can happen when student organization unite for a common goal.”