Arjun Shivram Vattipalli ’27 | In Memoriam

The Harvey Mudd community grieves the loss of Arjun Shivram Vattipalli ‘27. An exceptional student and a kind, supportive friend who touched the lives of many across the 5C campuses, Arjun passed away on Oct. 22.

Arjun’s journey at Harvey Mudd reflected a blend of genuine academic passion and personal warmth toward peers and professors alike. A standout student, Arjun arrived at Harvey Mudd with an advanced understanding of STEM topics. He had deep passions in many fields, including biology, physics, mathematics, literature, philosophy, psychology and piano. He was fascinated by organic chemistry and biology and was planning to major in biochemistry. He was particularly fascinated by molecular biology and the intricacies of molecular movements and spent hours delving into complex concepts. During a summer internship at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, he did research on molecular dynamics.

Jae Hur, associate professor of biology at Harvey Mudd, recalls Arjun’s curiosity as a student in his Molecular Genetics and Introduction to Biology classes and his fascination with the molecules involved in life. “It really shined through in how well he took to the subjects.” The two discussed Arjun’s work using molecular dynamics simulations, an advanced way of modeling what every atom of a protein is doing at femtosecond intervals. “I think Arjun, as much as anyone, held a deep joy in working to go behind the scenes to finally understand what movements these molecules might actually be doing.”

To strengthen his resume for graduate study in medicine and research, Arjun completed emergency medical certification, then used this experience to volunteer 145 hours at the University of Colorado Hospital.

A vital member of the West Dorm community, Arjun regularly gave of his time and skills. He inspired his classmates to challenge conventional thinking, encouraging them to explore deeper meanings—whether through analyzing literature “for fun” or discussing the significance of a piece of music. Family and friends recall Arjun as being “empathetic, hardworking, intelligent, humble, kind and caring, funny, goofy, responsible and giving by nature.”

When not working on his academics or diving into his many hobbies—reading, piano, gym, rock climbing—Arjun cherished the meaningful and personal connections he made with his Mudd classmates and his long-term friends from middle and high school.

The son of Vasu Vattipalli and Parul Duvvuri of Aurora, Colorado, Arjun is survived by his parents and younger brother, Valmik, as well as a large family that loves him deeply.

Memories of Arjun

Ryan Tran

Friend Through High School and College

I am so grateful to have met Arjun in high school, and to be close friends with him since then and into college. He was always a bundle of joy with his bright smile and great sense of humor. I enjoyed taking classes with him, whether it was Anatomy and Physiology, English, or Psychology. He made those classes so fun, and I will forever cherish the memories we made throughout the years, both in school and outside of school. Some of my favorite memories included karaoke, going on picnics, hiking, and driving around at night while talking for hours. You could clearly tell how intelligent and curious he was, where he easily understood the subjects and went beyond expectations. He was such a caring and kind friend, and I appreciated how he was always there for people through tough times. I will never forget how great of a friend he was and the great impact he left on those around him.

Daisy Olivera

Every time he came to Jay’s Place he had the biggest smile! His biggest smile was when we all sang Happy Birthday. He is truly missed.

Karl Haushalter

Professor

As a student, Arjun brought energy, excitement, and a sense of fun to the Chem42 class that I taught in fall 2023. I greatly enjoyed interacting with Arjun and talking with him about chemistry and how it could be applied to interesting questions in biology and medicine. Arjun’s positive energy boosted everyone around him.

Rohan Subramanian ’25

Classmate

I remember working late at Platt one day when I heard very beautiful piano playing. I went to see who it was and I saw Arjun playing Chopin’s Ballade. Another day, Arjun came up to me at the Hoch and said he had enjoyed hearing me play the piano another night! It warms me to think about his musical talent which showcased his warm personality, which I’ll always remember and miss.

Devon Tao ’25

I had only one interaction with Arjun but it has touched me to this day—I was in the Platt practice rooms and I heard someone in the room next to me playing Bach’s “Prelude in C Major.” This is one of my favorite pieces so I wanted to compliment the pianist next door. I also happened to have written a vocal melody to this piece. I asked if he would play while I sang, and he eagerly agreed even though we were strangers until that moment. We were two strangers creating music together, and he played beautifully.

Afterwards, we chatted for a bit about music, composing, and piano. Even though I only knew him for a very brief period of time, it was a very special period of time. To connect with another, a stranger, over music is a feeling like no other. I am grateful to Arjun for sharing that experience with me.

Ryan Lee ’27

Friend through High School and College

I am extremely fortunate to have called Arjun my friend for the past few years. It is too difficult to isolate one specific memory because there are so many good memories to look back upon. Arjun had always set aside his own interests to support me in my endeavors. In any of my performances or presentations, I knew he would be in the audience cheering me on. I took advantage of his kindness and gratitude but will never forget the way he made me feel. He was patient, empathetic, and so kind. During the darkest parts of my life, he was an uplifting spirit despite his own struggles. He never made me feel like a burden when I needed help and would reach out to me first before I had the chance to ask. Through both the good and bad times of my life, Arjun had been one of the best friends I could have ever asked for.

Sarah Kavassalis

Professor

I taught Arjun in CHEM60, a scientific computing class tailored for chemistry majors. Although I only taught him in one course, Arjun’s unique technical skills and community-minded spirit left a deep impression on me. Despite being a first-year college student, Arjun grasped complex chemistry concepts with the same apparent comfort level as the third-year students alongside him in the course. He very humbly described his passion for biochemistry as his motivator to learn, and that passion, while calmly stated, was clear and consistent every week. He frequently followed up with me to learn about specific topics for which there was no academic benefit, simply to pursue knowledge for its own sake. Arjun willingly spent significant time during lab sessions aiding others. He had a unique humility and generosity, and encouraged every student around him.

Adam Johnson

Professor

I was Arjun’s Writ 1 instructor last year and I got to know him well during our weekly discussions. He was always so engaged and interested in developing his paper to take it to the next level. His outside reader found his paper to be “charming,” with a strong voice, and I agree. I enjoyed getting to know him, and was happy to see him every week this fall when he was in the chemistry lab near my office. He came by to talk with me and my research student almost every week.