Chemical Engineering Students Make a Big Impact at Chem-E-Car Competition

When the four-person Chem-E-Car team from the University of New Haven arrived at the Northeast Regional competition, they knew they faced tough competition.

“It was extremely daunting at first—being the only primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) among well-funded, prestigious universities with more people and more experience,” Dyllan Bryans ’27, a chemical engineering major on the team, recalled.

This year marked the University’s return to the Chem-E-Car competition after a multi-year hiatus. The challenge was to build a small chemically powered car that can travel a specific distance with extreme precision. It’s a demanding test of both chemical engineering know-how and collaboration.

The team placed fifth—beating out several big names in engineering, such as Yale and Northeastern, in the competition that took place last month at the University of Rhode Island.

“While we know there’s room to improve, placing fifth and having our car successfully run both times made us incredibly proud,” chemical engineering major Tristyn Barnes ’26 said. “It was a huge accomplishment for our team’s first return in a while. We proved that a small team could stand shoulder to shoulder with major research universities.”

The car itself was an innovative blend of science and creativity. “Our use of gelatin truly made our car stand out,” Nya Long ’27, a mechanical engineering major, explained. “Interestingly, other schools tried to use gelatin and weren’t successful—but we made it work.”

The students leaned into experimentation and their resourcefulness. Each member took on a critical role, contributing unique skills and ideas that made the car not only functional but distinctive.

“The biggest challenges we faced were our hectic schedules, limited time, lack of previous experience, and the general chaos during the competition,” Long admitted.

Everything had to be built from the ground up.

With just four team members, communication had to be sharp, and teamwork was non-negotiable. “What really made our car special was the way each of us contributed in a unique and essential way,” Bisher Lpizra ’25, fellow chemical engineering major said. “Everyone played a critical role.”

Beyond the technical success, each team member walked away with something personal. For Barnes, it was a reminder of what truly matters: “Teamwork is the key to success.” Long found direction for the future. “This experience helped me realize where I want to go,” she said.

Bryans took away an important lesson in emotional control. “I learned the importance of staying calm under pressure—especially when communication gets tough in stressful situations,” he said. And for Lpizra, it came down to diligence: “Always double, triple, and quadruple check everything.”

Their experience has already started to pay off. They’re thinking about improvements for next year’s competition and encouraging others to join the team. The more hands on deck, the better the car, and the stronger the connections between students applying what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world problems.

“Come on in—we need more people,” Lpizra said. “It’s a lot of fun and a great experience. Plus, it looks fantastic on your resume. You’ll feel proud using what you’ve learned in class to solve real engineering challenges.”