Zahraa Krayem Stuart (PhD 2026 EE, BEE 2016)

Zahraa Krayem Stuart, BE ‘16, PhD ‘26, was drawn to electrical engineering because she was looking for an intellectually challenging field. Stony Brook University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) was the answer to her search because it offered both technical depth and opportunities. This decision shaped both her academic and professional path, leading to a career in engineering at a leading aerospace company while she built and raised a family in Texas.

Work

As a Senior Systems Engineering Lead at a leading aerospace company, Stuart combines hardware and software into complete aircraft systems. She makes sure everything works as intended, and supports the testing and certification required for airworthiness.

Her intellectually challenging field is constantly evolving. Zahraa works across different avionics systems that ultimately become part of aircraft, and today she is supporting cutting-edge technologies for the next generation of airplanes. One of the most rewarding aspects is knowing that what she does contributes directly to the advancement of aerospace technology and aviation safety.

When asked whether her degrees gave her the flexibility to find a satisfying career, Zahraa responded, “Absolutely!” Today she is not only a hardware engineer. She works in systems engineering, where she needs to understand hardware, software, firmware, and how they interact, and how the complete system is tested and certified for aviation. The technical foundation gained from her electrical engineering background enables her to move across all of those areas.

Life and Motivation

Her career moved her to the Dallas area. “Dallas has been a good, family-friendly place to live, although Long Island will always feel more like home,” Zahraa said. She found the biggest adjustments to be the Texas heat and the lack of beaches and coastal environment she was accustomed to in New York.

Even while building her career and raising a family, Zahraa continued pursuing another long term goal – earning her PhD. She had a genuine passion for the field and wanted the opportunity to contribute at a deeper technical level. She was also motivated by the personal goal of becoming the first person in her family to earn a doctorate.

“My demanding work schedule, doctoral research, and family responsibilities took commitment and sacrifices,” Zahraa said. There were periods when she was working 12-16 hour days between her career and research, and sometimes nearly every minute of her day had to be
planned. She was fortunate to have family support, especially with the kids, but ultimately it required staying fully committed to both the journey and the end goal.

Stony Brook University

Through all of those stages of her life, Stony Brook University remained more than the place where Zahraa earned her degrees. She loved the educational and social environment. Stony Brook truly became her home away from home she says. It gave her an environment where she
could grow academically, professionally, and personally while building lasting relationships.

Outside of work and school, she enjoyed volunteering and creating hands-on STEM experiences for younger students. She never wanted someone to avoid engineering simply because they assumed it was too difficult. Her goal was to show students what engineering actually looks like and give them enough exposure to make an informed decision about whether it is something they might love.

At home, she continues to share her passion with her kids, as she does science experiments in their kitchen. What began as a way to introduce them to STEM has also become a fun way for the family to spend time together.

Zahraa credits Professor Monica Bugallo and Professor Petar Djurić for being instrumental in helping her reach the finish line. She is especially grateful to Professor Djurić, who spent much of her final year meeting with her at unusual and often very late hours to accommodate her work schedule. “Their support and mentorship made a tremendous difference,” she said.

Her advice for current students? “Do not wait too long to experience
the real world. Pursue internships and hands-on opportunities as early as high school or your first year of college. Explore different areas, stay curious, and always be eager to learn. If you consistently do that, the opportunities and success will follow,” Zahraa said.

Zahraa set out to study a challenging field, one that would help her grow. In electrical engineering, she found just that. The path to research, aerospace, leadership, and balancing of career and family has demanded a great deal from her, but it has also given her opportunities to learn, contribute and grow. And throughout that journey, Stony Brook University continues to play a defining role.