2023 Harvard MRSEC REU for Undergraduate Student Participants

Julien is a first-year bioengineering student at the University of California, Los Angeles. The multitude of real-life impacts bioengineering has on society has captivated him deeply. Looking ahead, he plans to further his knowledge in engineering by pursuing graduate studies. In his free time, he finds joy in indulging his creative side through piano, dance, and listening to music.

REU Project Title: Photo-emergent locomotion in an artificial millipede

Mentors: Joanna Aizenberg, Jacopo Movilli, Milan Wilborn

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754

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Alsyl is a current second year studying Electrical Engineering at Chabot College, a community college in the SF Bay Area. He also currently interns at the Stanford Nanofabrication Facility, and loves exploring nanotechnology and its fabrication. He hopes to transfer to a 4-year to attain a Bachelor's degree. In his free time he loves to hike, backpack, go the gym, and do photography.

REU Project Title: Fabrication of epsilon-near-zero metamaterial with anomalous refraction

Mentors: Federico Capasso, Maryna Meretska

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754

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My name is Drealle Estrada, I am a rising junior at Navajo Technical University, majoring in Biology. I am from Chinle, Arizona and part of the Navajo tribe. I plan to pursue a career in healthcare upon the completion of my undergraduate studies. I enjoy going outdoors, reading, and baking in my spare time.

REU Project Title: Diné tea extract-encapsulating microgels: microfluidics-based fabrication and their antibacterial effects

Mentors: David Weitz, Robinson Tom, Yan Liu, Rohan Thakur, Chunuan Liu

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754 and NSF PREM NTU DMR-2122195

Originally from NYC, Ayelet is a physics major with a love for interdisciplinary study. Within the Yale STEM community, Ayelet has served as the co-president of Women in Physics and the Yale Undergraduate Quantum Computing Group. Ayelet is currently a member of the Windham Campbell Literary Prize Student Committee and a tutor at New Haven Reads. Looking towards the coming academic year, Ayelet is excited to be a Froco, a mentor for the incoming Class of 2027. Alongside family and friends, Ayelet enjoys exploring new cities, museums, and films.

REU Project Title: The forward problem of elastic sheet growth

Mentors: L. Mahadevan, Lucy Liu

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754

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Ethan is a freshman at Navajo Technical University studying for a Bachelors in Additive Manufacturing Engineering Technology. Originating from Navajo, enjoys the outdoors, swimming, basketball and food. Hopes to change the world in small ways one at a time.

REU Project Title: STEM kits and educational immersion for students

Mentors: Conor Walsh, Nicholas Bira

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754 and NSF PREM NTU DMR-2122195

My name is Alena Morrissette and I'm an upcoming sophomore at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Currently I am studying Biomedical Engineering and pursuing a concentration in Neural Engineering. I am also apart of the DuSable Scholars program for Black and Native American students in STEM at UIC. My goal is to further my understanding of Bioengineering.

REU Project Title: Biomimetic swimming actuators via dynamic Gaussian shape morphs

Mentors: Joanna Aizenberg, Milan Wilborn

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754

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Dawn San Luis is a Materials Science Engineering student at the University of Central Florida. She was born and raised in the Philippines. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, work out, go to the beach, cook, scuba diving, fishing, and traveling.

REU Project Title: Understanding soft matter for manipulating light and heat

Mentors: Joanna Aizenberg, Raphael Kay, Jacopo Movilli

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754

LinkedIn Profile

I am from Many Farms, AZ and I am a Navajo Technical University student located at the Chinle, AZ site. I am a double major for an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and a Bachelor in Biology. I aim to earn my MD/Ph.D. and become a Clinical Laboratory Scientist and experience and gain knowledge about being an RN in the Emergency Room. In my free time, I love spending quality time with my family and I enjoy hiking and exploring national parks.

REU Project Title: Diné tea extract-encapsulating microgels: microfluidics-based fabrication and their antibacterial effects

Mentors: David Weitz, Robinson Tom, Yan Liu, Rohan Thakur, Chuanhuan Liu

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754 and NSF PREM NTU DMR-2122195

Christopher's dream of improving lives through medical innovation was sparked during childhood after his father, Rob, suffered a crippling heart attack. Luckily, angioplasty and a series of stents saved his father and reunited their family. For years Christopher’s dreams of medical innovation lay dormant, but, gradually, inspired by his experiences scouting, leading Marines, and serving his community in Orange County, NY, Christopher’s visions of improving medicine strengthened. Now, with a fully-fledged focus on improving lives worldwide with novel biotechnologies, Christopher looks forward to drawing strength from this non-traditional background.

During his service as a Marine KC-130T Flight Engineer, from the Arctic to the Equator, Christopher enjoyed talking with folks across the globe. From these conversations, a clear commonality appeared; everyone sought the best for their community. Naturally, he garnered a cliché yet motivating realization; we are all in this together. We all seek the health and happiness of our people.

In honor of the folks who have shaped Christopher's understanding of the world—those who have crossed his path, thus altering its trajectory forever—he vows to eternalize their influence. With their guidance (and a touch of luck), his research will improve the human experience worldwide.

REU Project Title: Cyborg cardiac tissues with embedded electronics for intratissue recording of extracellular action potentials

Mentors: Kevin Kit Parker, Michael Peters, Justin Benton

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754

LinkedIn Profile

Katelyn Wilson is from Crownpoint, New Mexico. She is a recent graduate in the Biology program at Navajo Technical University located in Crownpoint, New Mexico. She wants to apply what she learned back to the Navajo Nation. She enjoys playing mobile games and on her free time she enjoys playing volleyball and tending to her family's livestock.

REU Project Title: Bending dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs)

Mentors: David Clarke, Nikhil Deliwala

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754 and NSF PREM NTU DMR-2122195

Ling Xu is a rising senior at the University of Pennsylvania studying mechanical engineering and mathematics. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. after graduation. In her free time, she enjoys playing badminton, trying new foods, and painting.

REU Project Title: Design space exploration and simulation for educational origami grippers

Mentors: Conor Walsh, Nicholas Bira

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754

My name is Oliver Yellowhair. I am currently a student at Navajo Technical University. I am pursuing a Nursing degree with a minor in civil engineering. I am an enrolled Navajo with aspirations to fulfill my goals and give back to the community as a registered nurse. My mentor is my professor, Franklin Maloba. I am aiming for higher education to help younger generations to pursue their dreams and education as well.

REU Project Title: Diné tea extract-encapsulating microgels: microfluidics-based fabrication and their antibacterial effects

Mentors: David Weitz, Robinson Tom, Yan Liu, Rohan Thakur, Chuanhuan Liu

Funding: NSF MRSEC DMR-2011754 and NSF PREM NTU DMR-2122195