Jeeva Premkumar

Jeeva Premkumar was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, grew up in Kenya, and finished high school in India — learning four languages on his way to Madison to pursue a passion for engineering and scientific research.

Premkumar is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. Supported by the American Heart Association fellowship, he worked in the Kamp Lab at UW–Madison using stem cells to study the structure and function of heart tissue. He also held internships with Moderna, contributing to research on new drug-delivery methods, and with Lactalis Heritage Dairy, where he worked on utility plant upgrade projects.

This year, he was awarded one of 10 Wisconsin Idea Fellowships for his project to expand educational access to children affected by war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Premkumar has also served as a member of the International Student Advisory Board, giving his fellow students a voice in the office of International Student Services and instilling cultural curiosity across campus. He represents the College of Engineering on the Associated Students of Madison’s Student Council.