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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

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