Humans of the U: Ayat Alasadi
“When I reflect on my journey, I see how each step has drawn me closer to my passion: developing sustainable energy solutions.
I grew up in Basra, Iraq, where gas flares lit the sky above oil fields that produce more than 85% of the country’s daily production. Those sights instilled in me both pride and urgency. They shaped my decision to study petroleum engineering. And later, working in these fields for four years, where the air I breathed carried more than dust and diesel, it carried the weight of a future I wanted to change.
Seeking that change, I pursued a master’s degree in petroleum engineering at the University of Wyoming as a Fulbright scholar. Focusing my research on geothermal drilling optimization which opened my eyes to geothermal energy’s potential. Unlike other renewables, geothermal is constant and reliable, yet its development is constrained by the extreme conditions deep underground. To me, those challenges felt like an invitation.
When I began looking toward a Ph.D., the University of Utah stood out. Utah FORGE, the nation’s leading field laboratory for enhanced geothermal systems, is here, offering the rare chance to merge my petroleum background with a vision for cleaner, more resilient energy.
Now, my research explores the multi-physical behavior of particulate materials with direct application to geothermal energy. I study and model new ‘tagged’ proppants, engineered particles designed to hold geothermal fractures open while simultaneously providing a way to monitor subsurface behavior. These materials could improve fracture conductivity, lower costs and expand geothermal’s role in the global energy mix.
Along the way, I have been honored to receive the Marcelo Lippmann Graduate Scholarship from Geothermal Rising, awarded to just five graduate students nationwide each year. Recognition like this motivates me, but what drives me most is the guidance of mentors such as my advisor, Dr. Shahrzad Roshankhah, whose mentorship has pushed me to think critically and bridge geotechnical and petroleum engineering in ways that strengthen my research.
Graduate school is more than technical expertise; it is a responsibility to represent my country on the global stage, to advance opportunities for women in sustainable technologies and to grow as a communicator and researcher. Now, I am developing modeling skills, deepening my understanding of fracture mechanics and finding my grounding in Utah’s mountains, which remind me of the broader purpose behind this work.
Looking ahead, I hope to continue pushing the boundaries of geothermal research and development. For me, energy is not just about power generation; it is about protecting and sustaining the world we all share.”
—Ayat Alasadi, a civil and environmental engineering student from Iraq