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2018-2019 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


Philip Camayd - Munoz

Philip Camayd - Munoz
B.S. California Institute of Technology: Applied Physics - 2009 
M.S. Harvard University: Applied Physics - 2012 
Ph.D. Harvard University: Applied Physics - 2016 
Division: Engineering and Applied Science 
Principal Investigator: Dr. Andrei Faraon 
Hometown: Beaverton, Oregon 
Current Research Project: Inverse Design of Multifunctional 3D Metadevices 
Interests & Hobbies: hiking, homebrewing, 3D printing


Marchello Cavitt

Currently: Research Scientist at Johnson and Johnson
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

Currently: Assistant Professor at UNC Chapel Hill
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


Brian Ramirez

Currently: Assistant Professor at Cal Poly Pomona
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



Jamie Stewart

Jamie Stewart
B.S. University of Illinois, Chicago: Bioengineering - 2013 
Ph.D. Univeristy of California, Riverside: Bioengineering - 2018 
Division: Engineering and Applied Science 
Principal Investigator: Dr. Paul Rothemund 
Hometown: Chicago, IL 
Current Research Project: Design, synthesis, and characterization of DNA origami devices for the detection of nucleic acids 
Interests & Hobbies: listening to music and podcasts, traveling, stand-up comedy, playing sports, and entrepreneurship