Throughout his undergraduate studies at Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Justin Le (B.S. 2026) has consistently shown his commitment to bridging communities and helping people.
That passion stems in part from his upbringing, having to translate frequently for his parents, who arrived in the United States as refugees from Vietnam with almost nothing.
“My brother and I had to help with a lot of adult stuff as kids, and that ties into me wanting to give back,” said Le, who grew up in Chicago, Illinois; Orlando, Florida, and Saigon, Vietnam.
That impulse extended into his work with Georgia Tech's EXCEL program, where Le served as an academic coach and student assistant supporting students with learning disabilities in courses ranging from STEM to the humanities.
"There's a real overlap between being an English language learner and navigating a learning difference,” he said. "Both can make systems feel harder to get through."
Le also served as president of the Vietnamese Student Association and was part of the ChBE Community Values Committee, where he helped initiate new events including a Lunar New Year celebration and a Pride event tied to Atlanta Pride.
Focus on Sustainability
Improving the environment is another passion of Le’s. After graduation, he will enroll in Georgetown University’s M.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Management, where he hopes to further explore the intersection of engineering, sustainability, and global policy through a focus on carbon management and climate.
“I really want to do work that helps people using my chemical engineering background, perhaps with the U.N. or in renewable energy consulting,” Le said.
Le pursued his interest in sustainability during his time at Tech, serving as a Ray C. Anderson Sustainability Ambassador through Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business. In that role, he worked with refugee communities in Atlanta on healthcare access, helping connect Afghan and Myanmar refugees with healthcare resources they otherwise could not easily access.
That work had personal resonance for Le, given that his mother arrived in the United States without an elementary education, and his father came by boat. Today, his parents run a business selling furniture to nail salons.
At Tech, Le also minored in Sustainable Cities and African Studies and earned certificates in Sustainable Business and Global Engagement.
Choosing Georgia Tech
Le originally chose Georgia Tech because of its prestigious reputation and the fact that he already had family ties in Atlanta.
When selecting chemical and biomolecular engineering as a major, he knew it had a reputation for difficulty. “But I like problem solving, and I love a good challenge,” he said.
Before arriving at Tech at age 17, he already completed an associate’s degree at Valencia College during the early part of the pandemic after finishing high school in only two years.
During his studies at Tech, he spent a semester abroad at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. “It was a very different learning environment, and an experience I would never give up,” said Le, who was able to visit Mongolia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Macao during long weekends.
Research and Professional Experiences
On the Tech campus, Le gained two years of experience conducting research in the lab of Associate Professor Anant Paravastu focused on peptides and nanofibrils, contributing to three academic publications.
Le interned with companies including Spirit AeroSystems, Valero Energy, and Pond & Company, where he rotated through environmental, process and construction-focused engineering work. He also served as an AI research intern with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, researching how artificial intelligence could influence national security and biosecurity efforts.
Of his busy schedule while at Tech, Le said: “I feel like I manage my time pretty well, but I probably don’t sleep as much as I want. There are tradeoffs, but you can balance a social life and good grades at Tech.”
In spring 2026, Le was named a Fulbright alternate after applying for an English teaching assistantship abroad.
He said he is excited to be starting the master’s program at Georgetown University and remains open to where his career path may lead.
“I really want to do work that helps people,” Le said. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”