For recent Cal State LA mechanical engineering graduate Alejandro “Alex” Sanchez, the path to becoming an engineer wasn't a straight one. After time away from school and working as a sheet-metal worker apprentice, a growing fascination with automotive engineering brought him back to college to pursue mechanical engineering. At Cal State LA, undergraduate research helped him discover another unexpected passion and ultimately shaped the direction he is taking into graduate school and beyond.
As an undergraduate researcher in Professor Chris Bachman's Sustainable Technology Lab, Sanchez studied advanced battery technologies, including lithium-ion batteries designed to operate under the extreme temperatures encountered in space exploration. His research led to a collaboration of more than two years with William West and the Electrochemical Energy Group at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he conducted experiments, analyzed electrochemical data, and contributed to research manuscripts.
The experience opened other doors as well. Sanchez completed an internship at NASA Glenn Research Center focused on cryogenic battery systems. In 2025, he earned first place in the engineering undergraduate category of the California State University Research Competition for his work on high-temperature lithium-ion batteries.
Looking back after graduation, Sanchez reflected on how unexpectedly research influenced his path. In a recent LinkedIn post, he shared
“I never expected batteries and energy to become my passion.”
He also credited Bachman and West as important role models as he moves into the next stage of his education and career.
Sanchez is now pursuing graduate study in mechanical engineering at the University of Washington, where he continues his focus on energy and builds toward a career in research and development. Along the way, he has also become a mentor himself, supporting fellow students and volunteering with MESA to encourage younger students to pursue STEM.
His experience illustrates the impact that undergraduate research and sustained faculty mentorship can have.
Students gain more than technical knowledge. They discover new interests, develop confidence as researchers, build professional relationships, and begin to see possibilities for themselves that they may not have imagined when they entered college. And, as Sanchez's experience shows, that impact can extend outward as students become mentors to others.
Read more about Alejandro’s journey at Cal State LA at https://www.calstatela.edu/ecst/alejandro-sanchez.
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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.