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People Spotlights

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  • 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!

  • Undergraduate Student

Jena Alsup

Hi! My name is Jena, and I’m a fourth-year undergraduate studying computer science at Caltech. I’m originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and am passionate about AI safety and the application of AI to advance scientific discovery. This past summer, I interned at Exa, a startup building web search tools for large language models, and I currently work in the Zernicka-Goetz Lab, where I conduct 3D image segmentation of human embryo models. I also love teaching and have served as a TA for Introduction to Programming (CS 1), Data Structures (CS 2), and Learning Systems (CS 156). On campus, I’m involved with the Caltech Y and participate in dance. Outside of academics, I enjoy spending time outdoors, baking plant-based confections, and training in aerial silks.

Anqi Zhang
  • Assistant Professor of Medical Engineering

Anqi Zhang

Anqi Zhang will start as an Assistant Professor of Medical Engineering at Caltech in March 2025. She received her Ph.D. degree in Chemistry under the supervision of Charles M. Lieber at Harvard University in 2020 and her B.S. degree in Materials Science from Fudan University in 2014. Her research is funded by the American Heart Association (AHA) postdoctoral fellowship and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) K99/R00 award. The Zhang Research Group will be dedicated to advancements in neurotechnology. The group will develop innovative tools for the modulation and monitoring of neural circuits through electronic, chemical, and genetic engineering. The ultimate goal is to bring novel technology from the laboratory to the clinic to understand and treat neurological disorders.

  • Joining 2025

Angkur Shaikeea

We aim to unite designers, material scientists, and mechanicians to foster innovation in the creation of new materials. Our goal is to develop cutting-edge experimental tools, particularly using X-rays, to understand material behavior in 3D and apply this knowledge to design new materials and products. We are in pursuit of building a unique laboratory that integrates tomography, ptychography, EDXRD, and 3DXRD for in-situ measurements under mechanical loading, for metals to biological samples. By extracting detailed 3D stress and strain data, we are in pursuit of building the largest database for data-driven mechanics, enabling machine learning and AI analysis. With a strong foundation in solid mechanics, our research tackles complex challenges across disciplines while also prioritizing sustainable innovations.