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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Official Athletics Website of the MIT Engineers

2024-25 MIT Women's Openweight Crew Roster

Lia Bu

  • Height 5-3
  • Class Senior
  • High School Isidore Newman School
  • Hometown New Orleans, La.
  • Major Chemical Engineering

Biography

Accolades:

  • 4x Patriot League Academic Honor Roll (2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25)
  • MIT Most Inspirational (2021-22)

2024-25:

  • Appeared in one event
  • Was the #2 seat of the 3V8+ at the Quinsigamond Snake Regatta, Placing 15th out of 26 teams.

2023-24: 

  • Appeared in six events 
  • Was the #5 seat of the Collegiate 2V8+ (4V) that finished 20th at the Head of the Fish (10/28)  
  • Was the #4 seat of the 2V4+ that finished fifth at the Knecht Cup (4/14) 
  • Was the #1 seat of the 2V4+ that finished second in the Grand Final at the New England Rowing Championship (5/4)

2022-23: 

  • Appeared in two events 
  • Was the #6 seat of the 3V8+ that finished 16th at the Quinsigamond Snake Regatta (10/15) 
  • Was the #2 seat of the V4+ that finished fourth against BU (3/25) 

2021-22: 

  • Competed in seven regattas 
  • Rowed in the No. 3 seat of the Novice 8 B boat that was fourth at the Quinsigamond Snake Regatta 
  • Was a coxswain in seven regatta, including in the V4 that advanced to the Grand Final at the Patriot League Championships 

Before MIT:

  • Member of the Cum Laude Society 
  • Member of the National Speech and Debate Association 
  • Leader of Chemistry Club 
  • Tutor for four years 
  • Science Olympiad 
  • Chemistry Research on Graphene, Observational Study on Mask Usage During COVID-19 
  • New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts student 
  • International Science Fair Finalist 
  • National Merit Scholarship Finalist 
  • National Hispanic Recognition Program Winner 

Personal:

  • Internship: Department of Defense (mechanical engineering) 
  • Conducted research in the Brushett Lab (Chemical Engineering): research platinum deposited porous carbon electrodes for possible use in an alternative, renewable fuel cell; quantifying the electrochemical isopropanol oxidation kinetics in acidic electrolytes 
  • McCormick Hall McC-Fast Academic Coordinator, historian and community service co-chair 
  • Content editor, staff writer for the MIT Undergraduate Research Journal (MURJ) 
  • Secretary for MIT's ECS (Electrochemical Society) Board 
  • Editor-in-Chief of MIT Undergraduate Research Journal

Favorite Moment as an MIT Student-Athlete: 

  • “While I don't have a specific memory, I especially love the cold mornings and feeling the camaraderie as we prepare for an excellent practice.”

Historical Player Information

  • 2021-22First Year

    5'3"
  • 2022-23Sophomore

    5'3"
  • 2023-24Junior

    5'3"
  • 2024-25Senior

    5'3"