2022
Cheyenne Begay
Institution: University of California- Irvine
Faculty Mentor: Arka Majumdar
Cheyenne is a rising sophomore at the University of California- Irvine pursuing a degree in chemistry and interested in a double degree in applied physics. She will be working in the NOISE lab this summer, headed by Arka Majumdar, to study 2D-material nanophotonics. She is looking toward joining a research group at her college in the future and pursuing a graduate degree in chemistry. Cheyenne is interested in pursuing a career in a research facility otherwise she is interested in being a forensic scientist. In her free time, she likes to draw, act, hike, bike, watch cartoons, write, and read.
Favian Gonzalez
Institution: University of Central Florida
Faculty Mentor: Xiaodong Xu
Favian is rising senior at the University of Central Florida. He is working towards his bachelor’s degree in physics with a specialization in material science. This summer, he is working in Professor Xiaodong Xu’s lab, studying the interaction of stacking different 2-D materials on top of each other. He hopes to pursue a PhD in physics after graduating with a bachelors. In his free time, he enjoy playing soccer, going to the beach, and listening to music.
Kamal Harrison
Institution: University of Central Florida
Faculty Mentor: Jiun-Haw Chu
Kamal is a rising senior at the University of Central Florida pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and a minor in Materials Science. He is working in Jiun-Haw Chu’s lab for quantum materials. He is working on synthesizing new materials through crystal growth and studying their electrical and magnetic properties. Kamal hopes to one day graduate with his Ph.D. in condensed matter physics. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports and exploring new places.
Janae Carrie Hume
Institution: University of California Merced
Faculty Mentor: Brandi Cossairt
Janae is a rising sophomore at University of California Merced who is pursuing a degree in chemistry. This summer, she is working in Professor Brandi Cossairt’s lab studying the synthesis of spinal nanocrystals using air free chemistry, binary precursors, and cation exchange. In her free time, Janae likes playing guitar, listening to music, and going into the outdoors.
Shelby Mitchell
Institution: University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Faculty Mentor: Xiaosong Li
Shelby is a senior at the University of Hawaii at Manoa who has a BS in physics and is pursing a degree in Mathematics. This summer she is working in Dr. Li lab’s, modeling X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy for Lanthanides. She is interested in continuing her work in analyzing crystalline structures. In her free time, she enjoys either being in the ocean surfing or hiking and dirt biking in the mountains.
Debora Mugisha
Institution: University of Washington
Faculty Mentor: Mo Li
Debora is a rising junior at the University of Washington studying materials science and engineering. This summer, she is working in Dr. Mo Li’s lab researching optical phase-change material as a nonvolatile photonic memory and integrating it into photonic devices to achieve various functions. Her work is focused on helping make optical simulations, making measurements, and analyzing data. She hopes to use this research experience to broaden her network and see a research environment first-hand since this is her first research internship. Outside of research, she love reading, playing video games, and hanging out with friends in her free time.
Tracee Nguyen
Institution: University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Faculty Mentor: Brandi Cossairt
Tracee is a rising sophomore at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, pursuing her degree in Chemistry. Her passion and ambitions for Chemistry were cultivated at a very young age by her family members and close family friends being educators and researchers. This past spring, Tracee started working with metal diborides with MEM-C at UH Manoa. This summer, she is working in the Cossairt lab, under the mentorship of Ricardo Rivera, to study the synthesis of metal boride nanomaterials via chemical reduction. Outside of research, Tracee enjoys creating digital art, listening to and finding new music, and dancing as hobbies. She hopes to make the most of her time here in Seattle by making new friends and learning new things.
Gerardo Salgado
Institution: University of Washington
Faculty Mentor: Xiaosong Li
Gerardo is a rising junior, studying Computer Engineering in the Allen School of CSE at the University of Washington. This summer, he is working in Professor Xiaosong Li’s group which works with quantum theory and mechanics. Specifically, he will be writing software to interpret data from the computational chemistry software packages the group uses. With this experience, he is looking forward to learning many technical skills and increasing his background of quantum mechanics, while helping the group with the skills he has now. He hopes to work on a variety of projects which he awaits will bring technological advancements to help the world become a better and safer place. In his free time, Gerardo likes to stay active and play video games.
Alana Sendlakowski
Institution: Tufts University
Faculty Mentor: Kai-Mei Fu
Alana Sendlakowski is a rising sophomore at the Tufts University School of Engineering where she is majoring in Computer Engineering with a possible minor in Computer Science. She is excited to be working in Professor Kai-Mei Fu’s lab where she is researching the lifetime of excited state of Zinc Oxide (ZnO). In her free time, she enjoys trivia, dancing, sewing and spending time with friends and family.
Waseem Shindy
Institution: University of California Los Angeles
Faculty Mentor: Matthew Golder
Waseem is a rising junior at the University of California Los Angeles, in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Ecology/Evolutionary Biology. This summer, he is working at the Golder lab on a project using piezoelectric nanoparticles to mechanically induce redox reactions in free radical polymerizations. Waseem is interested in the intersections of sustainability, chemical synthesis, organismal biology, education and materials science. In his free time Waseem enjoys playing soccer, spending time outside, and taking care of his plants.
Luis Tomar
Institution: University of Central Florida
Faculty Mentor: Daniel Gamelin
Luis is a rising junior in Material Science and Engineering at the University of Central Florida. This summer, he is researching new methods of coating colloidal nanoparticles for their photoelectric properties. He is interested in the progression of semiconductors for their application in the computer industry. His main hobbies are going to the gym and playing video games.