Triveni Gangadari, a Ph.D. candidate studying energy and mineral engineering, spent her summer as a hydrometallurgy intern at Electra, a startup based in Boulder, Colorado.
Gangadari’s research focuses on the separation of critical minerals, such as rare earth elements, from various secondary resources, such as acid mine drainage and red mud (industrial waste). At Electra, she worked on ways to revolutionize the traditional iron-making process by significantly reducing carbon emissions.
According to Gangadari, Electra has been a timely and impactful first in-person internship experience.
What are your career goals?
My career goal is to work in an industry that drives innovation and sustainability. This internship has been a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience in that direction, as I’ve focused on the production of ‘green iron’ — a game-changing solution in the effort to decarbonize the steel industry, which accounts for 10–15% of global emissions. It’s incredibly rewarding to contribute to a company with such a meaningful mission.
What did a typical day look like?
My work involves testing various ion exchange resins for the removal of impurities from process solutions. It has been an incredible learning experience, developing a deeper understanding of how research is scaled into technology while improving my communication and collaboration skills by working closely with professionals across various teams.
What has the “start-up” experience been like?
Working at a startup like Electra has been especially exciting. The team is full of passionate, driven individuals who genuinely believe in what they’re building. Because of the company’s size, I’ve had the chance to collaborate across departments and attend cross-functional meetings — making every day a new learning opportunity. It’s a dynamic, fast-paced environment where curiosity and initiative are always encouraged.