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2017-2018 AGEP Scholars

Zakaria Al Balushi

B.S. Pennsylvania State University: Engineering Science; Minor in Nanotechnology - 2011 
M.S. Pennsylvania State University: Engineering Science - 2012 
Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University: Materials Science & Engineering - 2017 
Division: Engineering and Applied Science 
Principal Investigator: Dr. Harry Atwater 
Hometown: Bronx, New York 
Current Research Project: Designing Two-Dimensional Semiconductor Heterojunctions for Highly Efficient Light Emitters 
Interests & Hobbies: traveling abroad, hiking national parks


Andrea Balbas

B.S. Queens College CUNY: Geology- 2010
Ph.D. Oregon State University: Chemistry, Geology - 2016 
Division: Geological and Planetary Sciences
Principal Investigator: Dr. Kenneth Farley
Hometown: Hollister, CA
Current Research Project: Defining new geochemical proxies for paleomagnetic change 




 

Marchello Cavitt

B.S. University of Louisville: Chemistry; Minor in Mathematics - 2007 
M.S. University of Michigan- Chemistry, Chemical Biology- 2009 
Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology: Chemistry, Organic Chemistry - 2015 
Division: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering 
Principal Investigator: Dr. Brian Stoltz 
Hometown: Murray, KY & Detroit, MI 
Current Research Project: Expanding the Synthetic Toolbox: Development of New Methods Using Nickel Catalysis 
Interests & Hobbies: traveling, singing, reading, politics, science policy, and cosmology


Bradley Dickerson

B.A. Swarthmore College: Biology with High Honors- 2008
Ph.D. University of Washington: Biology - 2015 D
Division: Biology and Biological Engineering
Principal Investigator: Dr. Michael Dickinson
Hometown: Lawrence, NJ
Current Research Project: The neuromechanics of a biological gyroscope
Interests & Hobbies: reading, watching basketball, listening to too many podcasts



Brittany Kamai

B.S. University of Hawaii, Manoa: Physics - 2007 
M.A. Fisk University: Physics- 2011 
M.S. Vanderbilt University: Physics - 2013 
Ph.D. Vanderbilt University: Physics - 2016 
Division: Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy 
Principal Investigator: Dr. Rana Adhikari 
Hometown: Honolulu, HI 
Current Research Project: Cryogenic tests of silicon for LIGO Voyager 
Interests & Hobbies: being outside, soaking up sunshine, biking, exploring in the mountains, surfing, skateboarding around town, swimming in oceans, lakes or pools, laughing with friends

Dana Levine

Dana Levine
B.S. California Institute of Technology: Chemistry - 2009 
Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley: Chemistry with Designated Emphasis in Nanoscale Science and Engineering - 2016 
Division: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering 
Principal Investigator: Dr. Mark E. Davis 
Hometown: San Diego, CA 
Current Research Project: Development of Targeted Nanoparticles for Treatment of Intracranial Cancers 
Interests & Hobbies: soccer, drums, singing, dancing, traveling


Stewart Mallory

B.A. University of Hawaii, Manoa: Mathematics - 2011 
B.S. University of Hawaii, Manoa: Chemistry - 2011 
Ph.D. Columbia University: Physics - 2017 
Division: Chemistry & Chemical Engineering 
Principal Investigator: Dr. John Brady 
Hometown: Denver, CO 
Current Research Project: The role of hydrodynamics in active matter 
Interests & Hobbies: Basketball, books & board games


Michaelle Mayalu

B.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Mechanical Engineering - 2010 
S.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Mechanical Engineering - 2012 
Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Mechanical Engineering - 2017 
Division: Computing and Mathematical Sciences 
Principal Investigator: Dr. Richard Murray 
Hometown: Tucson, AZ 
Current Research Project: Modeling and Control of Biomolecular Circuits 
Interests & Hobbies: Music, Singing, Nature walks, Cooking, Eating, Yoga, Traveling, Art, Museums


Teddy Mekonnen

B.A. Washington University in St. Louis: Economics - 2011 
Ph.D. Northwestern University: Economics - 2017 
Division: Computing and Mathematical Sciences, SISL 
Principal Investigator: Dr Adam Wierman 
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 
Current Research Project: Ex-ante Comparative Statics: Responsiveness to Information Quality 
Interests & Hobbies: Hiking, Tennis, Cooking, Board Games



Brian Ramirez

B.S. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona: Material Sciences - 2013 
M.S. University of California, Los Angeles: Mechanical Engineering - 2015 
Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles: Mechanical Engineering - 2017 
Division: Mechancial and Civil Engineering 
Principal Investigator: Dr Chiara Daraio 
Hometown: East Los Angeles, CA 
Current Research Project: 3D Imaging of the microbiota 
Interests & Hobbies: Developing methods to study biological systems in a quantitative fashion. Current work is focused on bacterial communities of the gut. Swimming, Biking, Hiking, Exploring new neighborhoods, beaches, and restaurants

Gustavo Rios

B.S University of California, Irvine: Electrical Engineering - 2009 
Ph.D. California Institute of Technology: Bioengineering, Biodevices - 2016 
Division: Biology and Biological Engineering 
Principal Investigator: Dr. Thanos Siapas 
Hometown: Ingelwood, CA 
Current Research Project: Chronic recording of brain activity in the hippocampus of freely-behaving rodents using a state-of-the-art neural probe system. 
Interests & Hobbies: running and kickboxing