Alumni Spotlight

This month, we shine our alumni spotlight on Harleen Suri, a 2017 graduate whose journey from a curious and involved Methacton student to an accomplished mechanical and software engineer in the field of robotics is truly remarkable. Her career path perfectly embodies the school's core values of motivation and transformation, serving as an inspiration for the next generation of innovators.

Harleen's journey with Methacton began in first grade at Audubon Elementary. Some of her fondest early memories include playing on the playground during recess, hanging out with friends in the cafeteria before the morning bell, and participating in art club. In high school, she was an active member of the girls' tennis team and involved in the National Honor Society, Science Fairs, TEAMS, and Junior Achievement.

Harleen fondly remembers many Methacton faculty and staff who made a significant impact on her, including Mr. Alzamora, Ms. Dearolf, Ms. Hartson, and Mr. Outland, all of whom helped shape her academic years.

She highlights her high school math teacher, Ms. Messere with deepening her love for math

"Ms. Messere was influential in shaping how much I liked math. She was overall a really nice person/teacher I looked up to, and was very personable. Each lesson fed into the next, and I thought the tests were challenging, but didn’t leave me feeling disheartened."

Harleen also has a special recognition of her middle school science teacher, Mrs. Neroni, who ignited her passion for science and introduced her to the scientific method. "She’s the reason I got into science fairs, and science fairs were a big reason as to why I wanted to be an engineer. I felt like it was my first introduction to how scientists 'think.'"

Harleen Suri graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a concentration in Biomedical Engineering. She planned to pursue her Ph.D., however, with the onset of COVID-19, she was hesitant to begin graduate school remotely. She decided to take a job at Booz Allen in the meantime, where she discovered her passion for robotics.

"I found myself randomly thinking about how I could solve a certain problem we were facing with a sensor or in the code after work or on the weekends. I realized robotics was a career path that I could see myself in—there were plenty of interesting unsolved problems in robotics. The problems were tangible, and it combined a lot of the skill sets I already had (mechanical engineering and software engineering).

Her professional career has been nothing short of impressive, marked by significant contributions in biomechanical and robotics research. In 2020, she was honored with the prestigious Procter & Gamble Technical Excellence Award.

Currently, Harleen works as a software engineer for Liquid Robotics, where they're developing the world's first wave and solar-powered uncrewed ocean robot, The Wave Glider. The Wave Glider collects and delivers real-time ocean data 24/7 for months at a time, enabling applications in national security, climate change monitoring, offshore energy management, and scientific research.

"I develop the code that goes on the platform itself. A lot of my work focuses on integrating different sensors onto the platform and getting different parts of the Wave Glider to communicate with each other in order to successfully accomplish its given mission."

Recently, Harleen was invited back to Skyview to speak with a group of 5th and 6th graders about her journey into a STEM career. She shared that it was in sixth grade she realized science was more than just facts; it was about "asking questions, finding answers, and coming up with solutions to real-life problems."

Harleen's goal was to show students the clear connection between what they're learning now and the amazing careers they could pursue in the future. By sharing her personal story, she hoped to inspire them to explore their own talents and imagine the impact they can make on the world.

Harleen shared some words of wisdom for current students: "Try as many things as you can in high school—clubs, classes, sports. You never know what you might end up really liking. And be open to change."

Harleen also shared that one of the most important lessons she learned was the value of talking to a variety of people and exploring what's out there. "Take every opportunity to just learn about what the world has to offer, what problems are unsolved, and what you find yourself thinking about when it isn’t a homework assignment."

If you are -- or know -- a Methacton graduate who should be featured in the ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT, complete the interest form here.

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