Cornell Tech and Prairie View A&M University receive financial support for higher level STEM education and collegiate research

Emerson has announced the recipients of its 2025 Discrete Automation Scholarship awards: Aymaan Shaikh of Cornell Tech and India Hatim of Prairie View A&M University. The scholarship program recognizes exceptional undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Both recipients received a $5,000 scholarship, eligibility for an Emerson internship and $1,000 research grants to the engineering departments of the college or university they attend. In addition, this year, Emerson is offering the recipients a company-sponsored trip to PACK EXPO in Las Vegas, Nevada from September 29-October 1, 2025. Shaikh is pursuing a Master of Engineering in Computer Science at Cornell Tech (class of 2026) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Hatim is a second-year graduate student of Electrical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University.

"Receiving this Emerson Scholarship is an incredible honor that eases my financial challenges and allows me to focus fully on my academic and professional development," said Hatim. "It supports my goal of gaining expertise in hardware engineering and computer architecture, contributing to impactful hardware systems and inspiring future STEM professionals through mentorship."

Originally from Khartoum, Sudan, Hatim earned a bachelor's degree with Cum Laude honors and has excelled in leadership roles, including Vice President of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and President of Eta Kappa Nu and Tau Beta Pi. She is passionate about hardware engineering with a focus on circuit design and system-level integration.

The second Discrete Automation Scholarship recipient, Aymaan Shaikh, is from Burlington, Massachusetts. Shaikh has demonstrated a strong passion for artificial intelligence and intelligent automation throughout his academic journey. He has held prestigious research appointments at leading institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), IBM Research and Dartmouth College, tackling topics like algorithmic fairness, special graph-based modeling and biomedical image analysis. He aspires to design intelligent, sustainable systems that drive innovation in modern manufacturing.

"I am deeply honored to receive the Emerson Discrete Automation Scholarship," said Shaikh. "This award empowers me to continue exploring how artificial intelligence and automation can revolutionize industrial systems for greater efficiency, resilience and sustainability. I'm excited to contribute to the future of intelligent manufacturing and to align my work with Emerson's mission of advancing innovation in automation and control."

In addition to the scholarship, the company has also sponsored groundbreaking, student-led projects and over 30 Emerson-hosted "We Love STEM" events that have reached more than 2,000 students in 12 different countries.

For more information, visit: https://www.emerson.com/en-us/automation/industrial-factory-automation/the-emerson-discrete-automation-scholarship-program