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An evening with Blue Origin: CEO Dave Limp and technical leaders share their vision for building the road to space
Watson Lecture - Katie Bouman: Illuminating the Hidden Universe with Physics and AI
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- Judge Shirley Hufstedler Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences
Lin Lin
Lin's research centers on developing quantum and classical computational methods for solving quantum many-body problems, with applications in quantum chemistry, quantum physics, materials science, and quantum information science.
- Assistant Professor of Computing & Mathematical Sciences
Kewen Wu
Kewen Wu's research interests lie in the general area of theoretical computer science, with a recent focus on provable quantum advantages, Boolean function analysis, and quantum cryptography.
- Elizabeth W. Gilloon Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering
Sally Ng
Dr. Ng's research interest is in aerosol chemistry, air quality, and health effects. Her research focuses on both laboratory experiments and field measurements to understand the formation and evolution of atmospheric nanoparticles (aerosols). This research includes conducting laboratory chamber experiments in which specific compounds of interest can be isolated and studied under simple, well-controlled oxidation environments, allowing for a more detailed and direct characterization of the composition, chemical, and physical properties of aerosols. Dr. Ng is also involved in field measurement campaigns and integrated analysis of multidimensional and multiple worldwide mass spectrometer datasets to investigate the chemistry and life cycles (sources, processes, and fates) of ambient aerosols.
- Undergraduate Student, Mechanical Engineering
Ethan Hamel
Hi! I am a third year undergraduate studying Mechanical Engineering with an Aerospace minor and am interested in in-space robotics and deployable space structures. Over the past two years, I have worked in the Space Structures Laboratory under Dr. Sergio Pellegrino on mechanisms for in-space assembly of lightweight space structures both during the year and through a SURF program last summer. I was drawn to Caltech because of the availability of opportunities to undergraduate students to learn and grow outside of the classroom through research. Working on large-scale projects and flight hardware in the Spaces Structures Lab has been crucial in allowing me to apply what I’ve learned through Caltech’s thorough mechanical engineering curriculum. I am also an engineer in PARSEC (Propulsion, Aeronautics, and Rocket Systems Engineering at Caltech), the undergraduate-student-run rocketry team where we are developing an autonomous rocket-propelled terrestrial lander. I’ve worked with the custom test stand, designed structural components of the lander, and have been given engineering responsibility that undergraduate students rarely get outside Caltech. What makes Caltech unique are the resources and expertise that student-run clubs have access to. PARSEC has allowed me to gain design and analysis experience that translates directly into the aerospace industry and graduate school. Beyond the classroom, I am a goalkeeper and captain of the Caltech men’s soccer team, and for my first two years here, a trombonist in the Caltech jazz band. I love music in general, play the guitar, and enjoy snowboarding in the winter.
- Undergraduate Student, Electrical Engineering
Aaban Syed
My name is Aaban Syed and I'm an undergraduate senior studying Electrical Engineering (MedE Track) with a Biology minor. During my time here, I've worked in the Shapiro Lab studying the mechanism behind ultrasound activation of mechanosensitive ion channels, and at the Caltech Holistic Integrated Circuits lab doing research in subtractive photonics to create photonic components in a bulk CMOS process. Moving forward, I’m interested in improving our sensing and imaging capabilities to enhance image-guided procedures and diagnoses. This summer, I’ll be starting the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) leading to a MD-PhD at UChicago. Outside of school, I've enjoyed competing as a pole vaulter on the Caltech Track & Field team for the past four years, diving for the Caltech Swim and Dive team, working as a Hixon Writing Peer Tutor, and volunteering as a Health Advocate.
- Graduate Student, Aerospace
George Popov
Hello everyone, I’m George Popov, a G5 student Space Engineering working in the Space Structures Lab under Sergio Pellegrino at Caltech! My research focuses on the Space Solar Power Project, a concept for wirelessly transmitting solar energy to Earth using ultralight deployable spacecraft. More specifically, I integrate foldable thin films and composites using techniques like kirigami to achieve structural stability and high surface accuracy under the harsh environments and large thermal strains of space. I have also contributed to several other projects, including the development of a foldable donut reflector at JPL and the assembly of a spacecraft whose mission is, ironically, to assemble itself in space. Before coming to Pasadena, I studied at UPenn in the VIPER program, where my passion for the interdisciplinary intersections that excite me in my work was sparked from researching things like photophoretic levitation, particle detectors, thermionics, and solar sails. Outside of the lab, I enjoy the turtle pond, driving into the mountains, mentorship, rocketry, museums (especially Monet), and visiting friends in more temperate climates.
- Undergraduate Student
Sophia-Marie Andrews
My name is Sophia, and I am a third-year undergraduate student studying Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace. I have been deeply passionate about rocketry since my first few terms at Caltech, and my academic and project work have increasingly focused on this area. I am particularly interested in propulsion design, thermal management, and fluid dynamics, especially as applied to combustion components. At Caltech, I took Ae 121 (Space Propulsion), taught by Professor Polk, which has quickly become one of my favorite courses. The class provides a rigorous foundation in nozzle flow, combustion stability and chemistry, shock theory, and performance analysis, while closely connecting to the hands-on project work I pursue outside the classroom. Beyond coursework, I am a member of PARSEC, Caltech’s rocketry team, where I work on the propulsion subteam. My contributions include analyzing coolant channel designs for our combustion chamber, designing and manufacturing venturi tubes for RP-1 flow testing, and developing a deflector plate to manage thrust during ground testing. This past summer, I conducted research on resonance ignition in the Gharib Lab. My work focused on pressure-wave coupling and ignition dynamics using a resonator cavity and nozzle that I designed. Through this project, I gained experience in high-frequency physics, experimental fluid mechanics, thermal-structural analysis, and the iterative process of moving between modeling and real-world testing. This coming summer, I will be interning at SpaceX with the thermal analysis team, where I will apply my background in heat transfer and fluid mechanics to next-generation propulsion and heat-shielding systems for Starship. I am extremely excited to contribute to the fast-paced and demanding environment at Starbase. In my free time, I am working toward my private pilot’s license, which further deepened my appreciation for fluid dynamics and engine systems. I enjoy recreational sports such as tennis, boxing, and weightlifting, and I play piano regularly. I also enjoy learning new languages and traveling.
- Undergraduate Student
Nerissa Finnen
I am Nerissa Finnen, an undergraduate student majoring in Electrical Engineering at Caltech. I first discovered my interest in electronics after competing with my high school’s robotics team. During my time at Caltech, I have enjoyed learning about hardware and embedded systems, and I hope to develop technology that will improve society or bring happiness to others. Outside of my studies, I practice figure skating at the ice rink near the Pasadena Convention Center. My favorite tricks to perform are the hydroblade and the triple jump. After I graduate, I will work at a space startup, and I also hope to pursue a graduate degree in radio-frequency electronics or integrated circuit design in the future.
- Graduate Student, Material Science
Zachary A. Chase
Hi all! I’m Zac, a fourth-year PhD candidate in materials science under the advisement of Professor Katherine Faber. In collaboration with JPL, my research focuses on manipulating the microstructures of 3D-printed, high-temperature materials. By introducing targeted interfacial treatments to printed microstructures, we enable tunable densification, dopant-driven crystal stabilization, and enhanced thermal crack resistance. Outside of research, I serve as one of the co-chairs of the Caltech Graduate Student Council. Prior to this, I founded the EAS Graduate Student Advisory Board, which aims to provide insights to the EAS Division in order to achieve a continuing understanding of students' perspectives and program quality. I am also the student liaison for the Keck Institute for Space Studies – the amazing think tank situated on campus. When I’m not in the lab or volunteering, I perform lead vocals for my band, The Muscadines, with my friends Jadon Bienz (See/Cushing Groups), Ethan McGarrigle, and Evan Gonzalez.
- Graduate Student, Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Aman Eujayl
I am a third-year PhD student in Mechanical and Civil Engineering at Caltech, advised by Professor Ruby Fu. Before coming to Caltech, I completed my Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at Rice University. My research focuses on investigating how water flows and freezes in subfreezing porous media at the microscale, such as snow or permafrost. My research project involves conducting microfluidic experiments to observe unique and beautiful patterns that occur when liquid water freezes and flows simultaneously. I use fluorescent imaging to observe preferential flow channels and microscale stepped ice structures in a quasi-2D flow visualization experiment. The broader impact of my research is its ability to inform computational models with pore-scale details of the underlying thermodynamics and physics that affect macroscale patterns seen in nature. There is still much to learn about how ice lenses, ice pipes, and ice terraces form in cold-region geosystems, particularly how climate change affects them. I am excited to continue research in this area, and hope to expand my fundamental study to investigate different parameter space or different materials. Outside of my research, I am part of the Graduate Summer Research Institute community and served as a peer mentor from 2024 to 2025. Additionally, I am an EAS Chair Scholar and currently serve as the Vice President of the Black Scientists and Engineers of Caltech. I enjoy doing yoga and Pilates, and exploring new restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area with my friends.
- Postdoctoral Scholar, Electrical Engineering
Michael Hobley
Hi, I’m Michael, a postdoctoral researcher working with Pietro Perona at Caltech. I’m currently the head scientist of the Fisheye team, a collaboration between Caltech, MIT, and UMass Amherst that’s developing AI tools to automatically count migratory salmon using sonar imagery. It’s part of my broader fascination with using artificial intelligence to tackle problems in environmental science, especially when it comes to counting things that are hard to count. One of my favorite parts of my job is teaching at the Computer Vision for Ecology workshop — a three-week residential program where we help ecologists learn how to use computer vision to advance their research. Before coming to Caltech, I was in Oxford, first for my doctorate and then working at a hypersonic jet engine research company. Outside of the lab, I love rowing, leatherwork, camping, and climbing.
- Graduate Student, Computing and Mathematical Sciences
Fengze Xie
I am a fifth-year PhD student in Computing and Mathematical Sciences at Caltech, co-advised by Professors Yisong Yue and Soon-Jo Chung. My research focuses on learning-based control for real robotic systems. This is my sixth year at Caltech, which includes one year completing an M.S. in Electrical Engineering. Before coming to Caltech, I graduated from UIUC with degrees in Computer Engineering and Engineering Physics. During my PhD, I have worked with a wide range of robotic platforms, including quadrotors, ground vehicles, fixed-wing aircraft, and quadrupeds. I am passionate about designing robot hardware and algorithms that serve people in real-world applications, from exploration to everyday use. Currently, I am starting an exciting project on humanoid robots. My goal is to deliver practical, robust results that are also elegant and useful to the broader community. I am always happy to connect, share progress, and learn from others. In my spare time, I enjoy reading detective and science fiction novels. I also appreciate the weather in Pasadena and the welcoming atmosphere at Caltech. Over the years, I have learned a great deal and received support from many people on campus, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to study and explore here.
- Graduate Student, Control & Dynamical Systems
Massimiliano de Sa
Hi everyone! My name is Max, and I’m a G3 in Control & Dynamical Systems advised by Professor Aaron Ames. My work lies broadly in the area of nonlinear control. Currently, I’m interested in the applications of differential geometry and geometric mechanics to modern nonlinear control problems. Prior to Caltech, I studied mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley, where I focused on more applied problems in robotics. Outside of research, I’m interested in education in CDS, and am developing educational resources to lower the barrier of entry to the field. I also like drinking coffee—an open problem in this area is how to use the espresso machine I recently got for my office—if you have any insights, please let me know!
- August 2026
CMS Alumni Continue to Lead Research in Discrete Differential Geometry
Discrete geometric structures, an area of research historically led by computing and mathematical science researchers at Caltech, continues to be carried forward by CMS faculty and alumni as demonstrated at the 2026 Discrete Geometric Structures workshop. Professor Peter Schröder, Shaler Arthur Hanisch Professor of Computer Science and Applied and Computational Mathematics, known for his contributions to discrete differential geometry and digital geometry processing, along with Albert Chern (PhD'17, ACM), Mark Gillespie (BS'18, Math and CS), and Yousuf Soliman (PhD'24, ACM) gave talks at the workshop. Chern is an assistant professor at the Center of Visual Computing, Computer Science and Engineering, UC San Diego; Gillespie is an assistant professor in the Kahlert School of Computing at the University of Utah; and Soliman is a research scientist at SideFX.
- Vladimir Fedorov (BS '01, MS '01) and Jean Wang (BS '01)
Alumni Establish Ingenuity SURF
In the late 1990s, Vladimir Fedorov (BS ’01, MS ’01 CS) and Jean Wang (BS ’01 EE) met and fell in love as undergraduates at Caltech. Years later, with two daughters and successful careers in their respective fields, the couple was looking for a way to give back and to support their alma mater in the face of federal funding cuts. Wang, who has been named chair of the EE Advisory Council (EEAC), attended a recent EEAC meeting, at the invitation of then-Executive Officer for Electrical Engineering Changhuei Yang, that offered a possible answer. In that meeting, second-year student Aleksandar Marinkovic brought up the value of the Institute's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program and the importance of ongoing funding support. Wang shared her experience with Fedorov. They decided to endow a fellowship they have named Ingenuity SURF to provide undergraduates with the same opportunities that proved foundational to their own careers, with a preference for students conducting research in electrical engineering. Wang, who earned her MS and PhD from the University of Washington, was most recently the founding director for Amazon's Smart Eyewear programs. Listed as co-inventor on more than 30 patents, she also has served as the hardware lead and chief of staff for Google Glass. Prior to his current role as CTO for GitHub, Fedorov was senior vice president for privacy engineering and product at Meta.
- Chair of Caltech's Electrical Engineering Advisory Council
Dr. Jean Wang (BS'01 EE)
Dr. Wang was a Director at Amazon, where she founded the smart eyewear program - driving the commercial launch of three generations of Echo Frames and establishing Project Amelia to enhance enterprise delivery driver safety and productivity. Prior to Amazon, she was a founding engineer of Google Glass (Google [X]) and an early member of the Google Life Sciences (Verily) surgical robotics initiative, which later became Verb Surgical (acquired by Johnson & Johnson). Over her tenure on Google Glass, she served as an optics engineer, Hardware Lead, and Chief of Staff through product market introduction.
- Lead Systems Engineer, NASA Ames Mission Design Center
Kevin Parkin
Kevin Parkin (MS '00, PhD '06, Aeronautics) is a rocket scientist, inventor, and a visionary transforming sci-fi into reality. Currently the Lead Systems Engineer for the NASA Ames Mission Design Center, Parkin has returned to the place he helped establish in 2007, where he began his career after graduating from Caltech. His career highlights include the invention of the microwave thermal rocket, a breakthrough from his graduate studies at Caltech, which he has further developed through collaborations with NASA and DARPA.
- Founding Partner, Armond Wilson LLP
Michelle Armond
Michelle Armond (BS '00, electrical engineering and history) loves being a lawyer. Informed by her Caltech undergraduate training, Armond's two-decade professional journey as an intellectual property litigator is marked by her unique ability to navigate both legal and technical complexity. Five years ago, Armond's career took a bold turn when she and a colleague started their own law firm in 2019, Armond Wilson LLP.
- Founder, Epitome Antiviral LLC
Paul Wegener
Paul T. Wegener (BS '71) is dedicated to transforming ideas into groundbreaking innovations. His career spans environmental engineering and pharmaceuticals, with ventures that range from pioneering an ocean wave energy conversion device to exploring green tea extract as a treatment for viral infections. Despite claiming to be retired, Wegener continues to analyze data sets and clinical trials—driven by his passion for invention—and he welcomes discussion and input from anyone interested in his work.
- President of the Space & Mission Systems sector at BAE Systems, Inc.
Dave Kaufman
Dave Kaufman (MS '90, PhD '95, mechanical engineering) is a testament to the power of saying "yes" to unexpected opportunities. Kaufman began his career as a thermal engineer, but his willingness to go "off script" has led him to his current role as President of the Space & Mission Systems sector at BAE Systems, Inc. Along with his three-decade industry career, Kaufman has been awarded two patents for his research and development work and is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
- Chief Commercial Officer, Refinery Calculator, Inc.
Lori McDowell
Lori McDowell (MS '88, environmental engineering) has navigated through diverse roles in her career, from research and development to business development, but she has recently embarked on a new path. Currently, McDowell serves as the Chief Commercial Officer for Refinery Calculator, Inc. an energy data company, while also leading Reimagine U Strategies, the coaching and speaking company she founded aimed at helping individuals lead more joyful and fulfilling lives. McDowell's focus lies in helping people recognize and overcome obstacles that hinder their progress, promoting what she terms a "Reinvention Mindset," which is also the title of her forthcoming book.
- Founder and CEO, MightyMeld
Steven Schkolne
Steven Schkolne (MS '99, PhD '04, Computer Science) has been fascinated by computers long before they became mainstream. His early experiences with programming and video games have fueled a career that successfully integrates art, design, and mathematics. As the founder and CEO of MightyMeld, a visualization and creation platform for web applications, Schkolne's pioneering work has solidified his reputation as a leading figure at the intersection of technology and creativity. Additionally, Schkolne's PhD research led to the first fully functional drawing programs for virtual reality, establishing him as one of the foremost experts in 3D interface design worldwide.
- Fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
John Kitching
For John Kitching (MS '92, PhD '95, applied physics), keeping time is not just a necessity for daily life; it's his passion and career focus. Kitching holds several patents in the areas of spectroscopy and quantum systems, and his ground-breaking inventions of the chip-scale atomic clock and chip-scale atomic magnetometer earned him recognition as a 2022 Fellow of both the National Academy of Inventors and IEEE.