Name: Aryaman Shah
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Class of 2026
Hometown: Mumbai, India

Internship Company and Job Title: Zenthos Energy, Scientist Intern
How did you find your internship? I connected with the CEO on LinkedIn
Tell us about your internship!
I have always known I wanted to work in the Energy sector, and this internship at Zenthos Energy gave me the hands-on experience I was looking for. As a Scientist intern at the Albuquerque-based startup, I dove into developing aluminum batteries – and quickly learned that real-world electrochemistry is nothing like the neat equations in textbooks. I was involved in comprehensive R&D work spanning cathode/anode formulation, electrolyte optimization, separator selection, and cell stack assembly – all conducted meticulously within glove box environments. My graduate CBE coursework at UPenn, particularly in Reaction kinetics and Thermodynamics, became indispensable for troubleshooting battery performance and improving energy efficiency metrics. By the end of the internship, I mastered creating aluminum batteries from scratch, whether Al-CO₂, Al-S, or novel carbocation-based systems.
For performance evaluation, I became proficient with industry-standard testing protocols using MACCOR and Neware software systems. This included analyzing charge-discharge cycles, creating voltage-current density plots, and calculating energy densities to predict cell behavior – skills I developed through daily hands-on experimentation.
Beyond the lab, I actively contributed to the company’s financial strategy. Recognizing my dual interest in technology and business, the CEO included me in critical investor engagements with various VC groups. I participated in funding discussions, helped refine our pitch materials, and even led outreach to family offices – identifying potential high-net-worth investors and coordinating introductory meetings. This unique combination of deep technical work and strategic business exposure gave me a holistic view of how innovative energy technologies transition from lab-scale prototypes to commercial ventures. The experience culminated in two significant achievements: developing a stack redesign that doubled our energy density, and establishing investor connections that contributed to the company’s financing needs. Finally, This internship not only advanced my electrochemical engineering skills but also gave me rare insight into the business ecosystem surrounding energy innovation.