Two alumni of Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering are among 40 distinguished honorees recognized in the Georgia Tech Alumni Association’s 2025 40 Under 40 list.
The newest honorees of this annual program are reshaping industries, solving big challenges, and leaving a lasting mark on the world as they elevate excellence. Together, they embody the spirit of progress and the boundless potential of the Georgia Tech community.
Nominees, who must have completed at least one semester at Georgia Tech and be under the age of 40 as of June 30, 2025, were scored using a 25-point rubric by a committee of over 28 faculty, staff, and volunteer leaders, who collectively represented all Georgia Tech colleges.
The ChBE alumni on the list are:
David Leber, ChBE 14, MS CS 21
Vice President of Data Science | Preston Ventures
As a vice president of Data Science at Preston Ventures, David Leber spearheads the development of predictive modeling solutions. His team processes data on the senior population and leverages innovative machine learning approaches to derive insights about mortality and morbidity trends. His research aims to simplify how medical records can be used in predictive modeling, making it possible for intersectional data to be harnessed fully. While at Tech, Leber was president of Georgia Tech Mock Trial, served as a computer science TA, and was usually holding space for his now-wife, Ronnie, in Swarm every Saturday.
Favorite Tech Memory: Dancing the Budweiser Bob in the North Ave. Quad during Finals Week.
Sona Shah, ChBE 11
CEO | Neopenda
Sona Shah is a healthtech visionary and co-founder of Neopenda, delivering innovative medical devices for newborns in low-resource settings. With a Georgia Tech bachelor’s in chemical engineering and a master’s in biomedical engineering from Columbia University, she began her career in pharma before founding Neopenda. She has raised over $6 million from VCs and grants, including Fortune 500 companies Vodafone and Cisco. Shah is a UN Women speaker, White House invitee, and a fellow of Techstars, Global Good Fund, and Miller Center. She is passionate about equitable healthcare and scaling impact in emerging markets.
Favorite Tech Memory: Studying abroad at Georgia Tech Lorraine—traveling to 12 countries, taking rigorous chemical engineering courses, and practicing French—was unforgettable.