Yulieth Mercado
Yulieth Mercado is a first-generation college student at Tennessee Technological University. In her sophomore year she is double majoring in chemical engineering, with a bio molecular concentration, and Spanish.
Mercado stated that she selected chemical engineering as her field of study because it integrates elements of medicine, research and engineering into a discipline for which she has a strong passion. A colleague of her father used to work as a chemical engineer at NASA and now conducts research on non-pollutant fertilizer.
“Hearing about his experiences made me realize that chemical engineering opens the door to so many different areas, and I knew I wanted a career where I could make a meaningful impact,” she said.
She is from Mérida, Venezuela.
“It’s a place that shaped who I am and taught me to appreciate nature, culture and community,” she said.
Being a first-generation college student isn’t easy. But it can also be very rewarding.
Mercado said, “Sometimes it can feel like I am carrying a lot of weight. Every time I walk into a classroom or an opportunity, I am reminded that I’m representing the people who have sacrificed so much for me to be here. It is exciting, challenging and incredibly meaningful,” she said.
Having moved to Tennessee back in April of 2023, she decided to enroll at Tennessee Tech. Mercado credits Cynthia Putman, an academic social worker who served with the Putnam County School System, and Maria Baltazar, a recruitment specialist at Tech’s Office of Access, Belonging and Community, for her decision to attend Tech. Putman gave Mercado a private tour of Tech during her junior year of high school and helped her through the application process.
“That experience didn’t make Tech just another university on a list—it made it feel like a place where I could belong and grow,” she explained.
Mercado participates in research through the College of Engineering. In the spring of 2025, she started working with Ali Estajab, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemical engineering at Tech. She enjoys seeing how lecture material can be applied outside of the classroom.
“For example, I’ve used what I learned about reactions and energy from my chemistry classes to understand the ammonia cracking process. Seeing classroom knowledge come to life and make a real impact is incredibly rewarding and really motivates me to keep learning and growing as an engineer. It also gives me an overview of what I will be learning further in my college career,” she said.
Mercado is working with a team to create nonpolluting energy production.
“We calculate the energy of absorption gases for this reaction using HPC under different catalytical effects using platinum and iridium,” she explained.
This can ultimately result in hydrogen.
Since hydrogen is a clean energy carrier that produces no pollution when used, improving the efficiency of this process supports the development of affordable, non-polluting energy technologies,” she said.
When not doing schoolwork or research, Mercado enjoys spending time with friends and family. She is a Sunday school leader and is heavily involved in the University Christian Student Center – a campus ministry associated with Collegeside Church of Christ.
She also serves as an ambassador for the College of Engineering and is secretary of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. As part of the Honors program, she conducts research to help non-native English-speaking students learn the language and excel at their schooling.
Mercado stated, “One of my passions is volunteering in local schools and supporting Hispanic families through non-profit organizations, especially by helping parents and students navigate the college application process.”
Life is not always easy for her, but Mercado says she perseveres through it all for her family and future.
“Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I’ve learned to pause, take things one step at a time and lean on the people who support me—my church friends, my family and my mentors,” she said. “I want to become someone who creates opportunities for others and uses education to make a positive impact.”