Exploiting biology in functional materials
The intellectual focus of this RIMSE Summer School is to engineer living systems to generate new polymeric materials. These composite materials can be responsive to diverse stimuli and are capable of generating complex, genetically encoded material outputs. Such materials can enable biosynthetic electronics, chemical threat decontamination, synthesis and/or delivery of therapeutics, and soft robotics, among other applications. Led by Professor Jonathan Pokorski, the course offers an introduction to skills relevant to synthesis and fabrication of engineered living materials. Trainees will learn techniques to create materials at the living/non-living interface, including polymer chemistry, additive manufacture, and soft matter characterization.
For questions, please contact mrsec@ucsd.edu
2025 SSELM Participants
Bolt, Ashling
BIO: Ashling is an undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at California State University, Long Beach. Her current research observes how biomaterials influence human skeletal muscle cell behavior. She is interested in exploring the interface of biological and engineered systems and is excited by their applications in therapeutic drug delivery. Ashling is eager to contribute to the innovative research happening at UCSD.
ORCID: 0009-0000-1735-9886
Mentor: Katy Wnuk-Fink
Djajadi, Eric
BIO: Eric Djajadi is an Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR) undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. He has worked with the Design for Nanomanufacturing Lab HeliCAL team, designed attachments for vertical farming, researched with 3D bioprinting pens, and was a co-instructor with the Additive Manufacturing at Berkeley Decal.
ORCID: 0009-0002-4160-7338
Mentor: Erica Hild
Hatchell, McKayla
BIO:McKayla is a sophomore mechanical engineering student at NC A&T State University and she is from Oakland California. This summer she will be researching new engineered living materials. She enjoys drawing, reading sci-fi/ fantasy books, and running. She loves getting opportunities for hands-on learning and is excited for her future as an engineer.
ORCID: 0009-0002-3849-4352
Mentor: Lubna Amer
Jenkins, Brooklyn
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Kovas, Viggo
BIO: Viggo is a rising senior at UC San Diego, who majors in Nanoengineering and works at the Pokorski Lab. His research focuses on synthesizing polynorbornene based polymers for integration onto living plants. In his free time, Viggo enjoys going on runs and spending time with friends.
ORCID: 0009-0005-2263-1756
Mentor: Luis Palomino
Kulkarni, Rishika
BIO: Rishika Kulkarni is an undergraduate student (2028) at the University of Rochester majoring in neuroscience and is a part of the 8 year BS/MD program. She has participated in MRSEC before in 2022 under Dr. Tao and Dr. Pascal within Predictive Assembly. Additionally she has interned at the Tao Lab for 2 years working with nano materials and ligand exchange. She’s currently working on getting certified to be an EMT and is on her school’s dance team. In her free time, she likes to read, write, and swim.
ORCID: 0000-0003-1752-660X
Mentor: Lubna Amer
Lewis, Kaniyah
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Majeed, David
BIO: David is a rising junior at the University of California San Diego, majoring in Public Health with a concentration in Medicine Sciences, minoring in General Biology and Middle Eastern Studies. David is on the pre-med track, planning to graduate in 2026. In his free time, he enjoys the various beaches around Southern California.
ORCID: 0009-0009-6042-8459
Mentor: Sean McDowell
Meyler, Evangeline
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Miguelino, Gabe
BIO: Gabe is an undergraduate at the University of California San Diego pursuing a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He is excited to learn more about engineered living materials and other topics of research within the material science sphere. In his spare time, he enjoys completing the daily New York Times Wordle and Connections, playing games like Stardew Valley and Minecraft, and bouldering with friends.
ORCID: 0009-0000-2263-5996
Mentor: Erica Hild
Navarrete, Daisy
BIO: Daisy is a transfer Biology student at City College pursuing veterinary medicine. Her ongoing interest in STEM has furthered her community advocacy and school involvement. Daisy is excited to step foot in research that interlaces Engineering and Biology, and she looks forward to cultivating her research experience. Additionally, she enjoys journaling and taking hikes in her free time
ORCID: 0009-0000-0579-2818
Mentor: Nathan Soulier
Perez Rodriguez, Nayeli
BIO: Nayeli Perez Rodriguez is a Biology major at San Diego City College, participating in UCSD's 2025 Research Immersion in Materials Science & Engineering (RIMSE) program. She has a passion for Biology and Medicine and helping people.
ORCID: 0009-0005-6353-9809
Mentor: Nathan Soulier
Robinson, Breanna
BIO: Breanna is a Sophomore Physics Engineering major at the illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She is from Augusta, Georgia, and hobbies include but are not limited to playing tennis, reading, and crocheting. She is excited to apply her Physics to living materials this summer.
ORCID: 0009-0008-4552-3282
Mentor: Tejas Nivarty
Sateesh, Sahana
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Tiwari, Shubhi
BIO: Shubhi is a master’s student in Chemical Engineering at UC San Diego. Her academic journey has been driven by a strong passion for sustainability and environmentally conscious engineering. Shubhi is particularly interested in exploring how engineering solutions can drive sustainable innovations in the chemical industry. Through her graduate studies, she aims to contribute to the development of cleaner, more responsible industrial practices.
ORCID: 0009-0004-9003-1296
Mentor: Debika Datta
Truong, Kelly
BIO: Kelly is an undergraduate at University of California, Riverside, majoring in Biology. She is eager to conduct research through RIMSE's SSELM and hopes to apply what she learns toward her goal of entering the biotechnology field. In her free time, she enjoys learning card tricks and reading.
ORCID: 0009-0006-9530-3013
Mentor: Kaibiao Wang
2025 SSELM Mentor Participants
Amer, Lubna
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Chambers, Bobby
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Chandra, Arthi
BIO: Arthi is a rising high school senior at Canyon Crest Academy and is returning to RIMSE SSELM as a mentor participant. She is an ecology and conservation enthusiast and her previous research focused on creating engineered plastics embedded with living spores to aid in faster biodegradation and improve tensile strength. This summer she hopes to pursue similar polymer based research that explores more sustainable solutions.
ORCID: 0009-0008-0550-8897
Chang, Tyler
BIO: Tyler is a high school student at The Bishop’s School. His prior research has focused on product development in bakeries, bypassing treatment-resistant depression, and developing responsive soft materials. He previously worked in Prof. Jinhye Bae’s lab and is looking forward to further researching ELMs in Prof. Jon Pokorski’s lab. He is interested in further advancing the role of ELMs in biomedical settings and environmental repair.
ORCID: 0009-0003-0796-526X
Datta, Debika
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Deglurkar, Shivani
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Hild, Erica
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Kim, Han Sol
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Leganes Bayon, Jorge
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McDowell, Sean
BIO: Sean is a master's student in UCSD's Dept. of Nanoengineering. His primary interest is implementing hands-on bioscience education and outreach activities. With the RIMSE program
Sean is excited to work with and learn more about materials science education and bio-derived nanomaterials.
ORCID: 0009-0008-9142-4808
Palomino, Luis
Bio: Luis is a NanoEngineering Ph.D. student in Prof. Pokorski's lab. He obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM) in Lima, Peru in 2016 and worked as a research assistant and instructor at the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC), Lima, Peru. At this prior post, Luis participated in funded collaborative projects with the University of Connecticut, Harvard University, and Cleveland Clinic developing metallic, polymeric, and carbon nanomaterials for their use in environmental remediation, drug delivery, and energy storage.
ORCID: 0000-0002-3992-3123
Soulier, Nathan
Bio: Nathan is a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Susan Golden's lab. His research background is mainly in the fields of microbiology, molecular biology, and structural biology with a B.S. from Case Western Reserve University, and a Ph.D. from Penn State University. At present, his research is focused on the construction and implementation of cyanobacteria in Engineered Living Materials (ELMs), namely cyanobacterial hydrogels. These ELMs have numerous potential applications, including the generation of useful products in industrial settings, and environmental remediation.
ORCID: 0000-0001-7257-8846
Wang, Kaibiao
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Wnuk-Fink, Katy
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