Alumni Spotlight – Aimee Bailey Founder & CEO – Rock Rabbit

Penn Engineering has long been home to graduates who pair technical excellence with a drive to solve real-world problems. Aimee Bailey, a 2006 Penn Materials Science and Engineering alumna, is carrying that tradition forward as Founder and CEO of Rock Rabbit, an AI-native clean energy software startup.

In this brief interview, Bailey reflects on how Penn gave her both a rigorous academic foundation and a close-knit community, and shares how those experiences continue to shape her work accelerating the green transition today.

Current title: Founder & CEO

Current company/place of employment: Rock Rabbit (rockrabbit.ai)

Penn class year: 2006

Penn degree: BSE in Materials Science & Engineering

What do you do in your current role? As CEO of an AI-native clean energy software startup, I’m focused on accelerating the green transition. We simplify and automate the complex green rebate process, making it easy for homeowners, utilities, and contractors to claim incentives for energy-efficient tech like heat pumps. My day-to-day spans setting our strategic vision, driving enterprise sales, and scaling the business—which includes securing millions in venture backing from top-tier investors.

Why did you come to Penn to study MSE? Choosing Penn MSE was one of the best decisions of my life. I came to Penn seeking a large, diverse university with a powerhouse engineering school. Having attended a summer engineering camp, I found myself drawn to the materials science department early on. What I discovered was the perfect community. As a first-generation college student, navigating a massive university could have been daunting, and I could have easily fallen through the cracks. Instead, MSE gave me a close-knit family. I got to experience the vibrant, global scale of Penn while finding a true home in a supportive academic department.

How did your degree in MSE at Penn help you get to where you are today/help you in your current role? My time at Penn provided the ultimate support structure to stretch, grow, and crucially, to make mistakes. The experience truly is what you make of it, and Penn offered opportunities beyond my wildest dreams—like conducting undergraduate research with Dr. Composto, Dr. Vitek, and their post-docs and grad students. That foundation propelled me to a Ph.D., but more importantly, it equipped me with a lifetime of transferable skills. The critical thinking, technical writing, public speaking, and teamwork I mastered at Penn are the exact tools I rely on today to lead a company and scale a business.

Favorite memory from MSE at Penn and why: My favorite aspect of Penn MSE wasn’t a single memory, but a collection of everyday moments: hanging out with Irene, Vicky, and Pat in the department office, and the warmth of having approachable faculty and staff who knew my name the second I walked down the hall. From the annual holiday parties to the research seminars, it’s that daily sense of community that I treasure most. (Though, I have to admit, Dr. Pope’s wine tasting stands out as a definitive highlight!)

Word of advice for current students (BS, master’s or Ph.D. depending on your degree): Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses! I highly recommend prioritizing time with your classmates outside of the classroom. The deep friendships you build at Penn will enrich your life for decades to come, every bit as much as your education.