Summer School on Engineering Living Materials

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, Brooklynn

BIO: Brooklynn is an undergraduate student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, class of 2026. She is majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Materials Science. Her academic interests include advancing the understanding of understudied materials and their potential applications to innovative technology. She has gained nearly two years of research experience and recently completed research at Cornell University, where she studied the unexplored properties and strengths of a material known as alumina (Al2O3). Outside of academics, she enjoys exploring life to the fullest. She is passionate about music, dancing, traveling, and trying new foods. She thrives on discovering new experiences, both in the lab and beyond!
ORCID: 0009-0005-2508-9704
Mentor: Robert Chambers

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

BIO: Kaniyah is a sophomore Mechanical Engineering student from Raleigh, NC. She attends NC Agricultural and Technical University and enjoys playing in the marching band there. She will be researching Silicon Nanotechnology under the RISME program this summer 2025. She hopes to connect what they research with improving sustainability through the materials/chemicals they use.
ORCID: 0009-0001-0202-2188
Mentor: Shivani Deglurkar

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

BIO: Evangeline is an undergraduate biomedical engineering student at the University of Florida with a strong interest in biomaterials and tissue engineering. As a researcher in the Taylor Lab, she works on projects involving mechanical testing, electrospinning nanofiber scaffolds, cell culture, and data automation. Beyond academics, she enjoys playing water polo in her free time.
ORCID: 0009-0007-5542-0108
Mentor: Han Sol Kim

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

Sateesh, Sahana

BIO: Sahana is a rising senior (Class of 2026) at the University of Washington, Seattle, studying Bioengineering. She is participating in the 2025 SSELM, where she looks forward to expanding her knowledge of biomaterial development and the applications of nanoengineering. In her free time, she enjoys drawing and traveling.
ORCID: 0009-0009-0955-1400
Mentor: Jorge Leganes Bayon

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

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

Deglurkar, Shivani

Hild, Erica

Kim, Han Sol

Leganes Bayon, Jorge

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

Soulier, Nathan

Wang, Kaibiao

Wnuk-Fink, Katy

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