Colorado continues to demonstrate its leadership in fostering global innovation through higher education and research. With the University of Colorado system contributing over $19.4 billion to the state economy and supporting nearly 102,000 jobs in fiscal year 2024, the importance of international scholars to Colorado’s prosperity cannot be overstated. Yet recent federal restrictions, such as visa pauses and revocations, have placed approximately 10,000 international students in limbo.

Despite these challenges, one remarkable figure rising through Colorado and national academic circles is Pedro Henrique da Silva Parmezani, a Brazilian-born physicist and systems engineering researcher, whose achievements already resonate in the STEM community.

Pedro moved from Brazil to the U.S. at age 15, later earning a Magna Cum Laude degree in Applied Physics and Mathematics (GPA 3.84) from West Virginia Wesleyan College. His honors include the Outstanding Physics/Engineering Award, Senior Academic and Leadership Achievement Award, and a spot on the All‑Mountain East Conference Academic Team.

Supported by the SURE grant, Pedro’s research, “Gamma Rays in Nuclear Physics: Research and Applications”, evaluated radiation shielding materials under isotopes like Cs-137 and Co-60, implemented MATLAB simulations, and championed innovative lightweight plastics as effective shields.

“Discovering that plastic can rival metal in radiation protection shows how unconventional materials can revolutionize aerospace and medical safety,” Pedro explains. He is now preparing for graduate studies in Systems Engineering, aiming to work with data-driven, optimized solutions in logistics, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.

Colorado’s universities enrich the state through expansive research programs and collaborative innovation ecosystems. CU Denver and CU Boulder, with over 67,700 students, serve as economic and intellectual engines. Further, Colorado enables international STEM graduates to stay on the job market through STEM OPT extensions, providing up to 36 months of post-study work eligibility.

Pedro’s emerging expertise aligns precisely with this ecosystem:

  • His gamma-ray shielding research offers potential benefits for aerospace, medical imaging, and nuclear safety sectors, areas with growing presence in Colorado, especially in the Denver-Aurora corridor.
  • His training in systems thinking and optimization is well matched to Colorado’s thriving industries in AI, clean energy, and supply chain resilience.
  • His leadership background, captain of an NCAA team and vice-president of international student organizations, demonstrates cultural agility and project management skills highly valued by local companies.

Colorado’s international students currently face uncertainties from recent visa policy shifts, including interview suspensions and revocations. Yet the state’s academic and economic leaders are urging policymakers to preserve these essential talent pipelines, emphasizing that every three international students support one American job.

Pedro, who may benefit from the STEM OPT extension programs, underscores the broader impact: “International students bring fresh perspectives, drive innovation, and enrich local economies, both with ideas and job creation.”

With credentials in applied physics, systems engineering, and hands-on research, Pedro Parmezani exemplifies the type of high-impact international scholar Colorado needs. His ambitions in areas like optimized logistics for humanitarian aid, smart manufacturing, and sustainable aerospace systems resonate with the state’s strategic industries.

As an active advocate and potential contributor, Pedro is expected to apply to graduate programs in Colorado later this year, just as the state bolsters its global academic standing.

In a period where international talent is at once indispensable and under scrutiny, Pedro’s story represents the profound value these individuals bring. Colorado’s economy, culture, and technological future rely on their continued presence, and leaders like Pedro Parmezani remind us why it matters.