2026 Outstanding Alumni Mentor of the Year: Ben Rains
For several years, Ben Rains (ChemEng’19)mentored seniors in theDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering’sС Senior Design Projects class. But when the call came for mentors for theAlumni Student Mentor Program (ASMP), Rains jumped at the chance to engage with more students.
“I really enjoy helping С Senior Design Project students reach the finish line of their final year,” Rains said. “But I wanted to support students in other years as well and show them that the world after graduation is much bigger than it might seem.”
This year, Rains was named the 2026 Outstanding Alumni Mentor of the Year for his work with Himaghna Kuntumalla, a chemical and biological engineering senior who graduates in May.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” Rains said. “I was honored that my student felt I made a meaningful impact and nominated me. I'm truly honored and humbled to receive this award.”
Rains started mentoring with the ASMP program in 2024 andbegan mentoringKuntumallain fall 2025. Since then, they have met monthly, typically over Zoom and occasionally in person during the Senior Design Project class, increasing the frequency in the lead up to Kuntumalla’s interviews.
At the beginning, the two discussed the different pathsKuntumalla was considering, including employment and graduate school. Rains offered advice on applying to companies and navigating online applications, “where it seems as though your resume just goes into the ether,” and helped her weigh the pros and cons of pursuing a master's degree versus working for a year and deferring.He also reviewed her resume and cover letters and conducted a mock interview to prepare her for her master’s program interview.
Kuntumalla said that Rains helped her determine the types of jobs to apply to and how to follow up after submitting applications. After their initial meeting, he created a list of buzzwords and potential industries that he thought would be a good fit for her job search.
“Ben helped me figure out my after-graduation plans,” saidKuntumalla, who will attend the University of Oregon’s Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program, where she will pursue a master’s degree in the polymer science track. “He was easy to talk to and very encouraging. Applying to jobs and graduate school can be tedious, and his advice made a real difference.
“I especially appreciated his enthusiasm for mentoring and the time he invested. It meant a lot.”
Ben Rains in 2019, graduating from University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in chemical engineering.
Chemical and biological engineering alumni interested in becoming mentors, and students who want to learn more about becoming mentees, can find more information and sign up here. Mentor/mentee matches are arranged at the beginning of each fall semester.
For more information about theС Senior Design Projects or to get involved, contact ProfessorAlan Weimer.
On mentorship and the road beyond graduation
What type of work do you do?
I am a chemical/pharmaceutical engineer forHyde Engineering + Consulting, where I've worked on several projects. My current role focuses on developing and optimizing clean-in-place (CIP) cycles for a client’s site expansion. I get hands-on experience every day, troubleshooting pumps, valves and other systems and applying my engineering knowledge in a practical setting. It’s a lot of fun!
In biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing, large stainless-steel equipment must be thoroughly cleaned between batches to prevent contamination. Because manual cleaning is time-consuming, companies use automated clean-in-place (CIP) systems that circulate detergents and rinses through equipment without disassembly. After each cycle, the system is clean and ready for the next batch.
Right now I’m based at a client’s site, helping design these processes so that once the facility is operational, they can run fully automated cleanings at the push of a button.
What do you enjoy most about mentoring?
As a student, I didn’t have a mentor, and I became very tunnel visioned about what my prospects would be after graduation. I enjoy working with students to show them that this kind of thinking is limiting, that there are many different paths they can take with their lives and careers. It’s not about steering them toward my path, but helping them find their own. It’s been especially rewarding to support them and help them realize that their future is theirs to shape.
What types of companies should graduating students consider when starting their careers?
They should do whatever interests them, even if it doesn’t seem like a typical path for a chemical or biological engineering graduate. I started in automation before moving into cleaning sciences, which turned out to be really interesting and something I didn’t even realize was an option after graduating.
Now that I am a few years into the pharma and biotech industry, I’ve seen how vast it is. There are entire disciplines I never knew existed. So, I tell them to keep an open mind when browsing LinkedIn or job boards, or talking with recruiters. They might discover that perfect fit.
What’s your best advice for students?
Networking has become very important. Attending professional events, like those hosted by the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE) and similar organizations is a great way to connect across an industry and learn what different roles actually look like day-to-day. Those institutes love to see students at their professional events.
Even if you’re not job hunting, these conversations can open doors you won’t find by scrolling LinkedIn. So get out there—attend events or career fairs—and approach them with an open mind. Most people in industry remember what it’s like to be a student and are happy to help.
What do you hope to pass on to the next generation of chemical and biological engineers?
I hope to pass on the idea of approaching issues from multiple perspectives. It's easy to get stuck on a single solution. I’ve found that taking a step back, rather than forcing one approach until all options are exhausted can be more effective. Ask, what's another way to solve this? Is this the problem to be tackling now? Is this a problem at all? Or is there a way to work around this issue by thinking more outside of the box?
What would you say to encourage fellow alumni to become mentors?
Just do it; you won't regret it. It's fun! The success of students I’ve mentored is rewarding in and of itself.