People Spotlights
All Spotlights
- Postdoctoral Scholar, Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Elif Oral
Hello! As a researcher, I am intrigued by the destructive power of the Earth, such that I work on understanding the physical mechanisms that drive earthquakes and related natural hazards. Specifically, I work in the junction of computational mechanics, fracture and soil mechanics, and theoretical and observational seismology. My background is civil engineering, which additionally motivates me to valorize physics-based knowledge to predict the consequences of future events and build resilient cities. Caltech is kind of the cradle of earthquake science and engineering. Working here, amongst the pioneers of many concepts in the field, has been inspiring for my research, and I continue to enjoy the rewarding feeling of pushing my expertise. Plus, when you are an earthquake scientist, living in Southern California becomes an awkward pleasure. Even though they sound scary, earthquakes are the architects shaping unique landscapes.
- AMA Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Penn University
Ottman Tertuliano
From West Africa to the West Coast, Ottman Tertuliano's (MS '15, PhD '19) journey in materials science has brought him to the intersection of nanoscience, biomechanics, and biology. Now the AMA Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics at Penn University, Tertuliano's research group explores how mechanics can combine with biology, leading to enhanced outcomes for musculoskeletal diseases and tissue engineering.
- Co-Head of AI, Virtualitics
Aakash Indurkhya
Aakash Indurkhya (BS '16) is a trailblazer in the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence (AI), which continues to spark conversations (and heated debate) in the scientific and political realms. As the co-head of AI at Virtualitics, a Pasadena-based advanced analytics company, Indurkhya is focused on ways to make AI for analytics more effective, ethical, and relevant for real-world use cases.
- Associate Professor of Materials Science and Radiology, Stanford
Jen Dionne
Jennifer (Jen) Dionne (PhD '09) channels the principles of nanophotonics to engineer new solutions for global health and sustainability. Growing up in Rhode Island, her inspiration to pursue science came from watching the X-Files, where she saw how interdisciplinary teamwork could tackle unsolved mysteries. Currently an Associate Professor of Materials Science and Radiology at Stanford, Dionne's research is focused on creating impactful and innovative solutions for growing existential threats, like antimicrobial resistance. Outside of her research group, Dionne also served as the Senior Associate Vice Provost for research platforms/shared facilities at Stanford, a role informed by her involvement with Caltech's Kavli Nanoscience Institute (KNI), and is currently co-founder of Pumpkinseed and Deputy Director of a DOE National Quantum Science Center, Q-NEXT.
- General Manager of Robotics and Autonomy, Microsoft
Tim Chung
Tim Chung's (MS '02, PhD '07) growth as a robotics enthusiast and innovator, from his early days working with soccer-playing robots to his revitalization of robotics at Microsoft, is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary learning and curiosity. Fueled by a Caltech background without departmental boundaries, Chung's foray into the field of robotics has furthered the frontier both above and below, from controlling robot swarms in intricate urban situations to improving search and rescue operations in underground locations.
- Postdoctoral Scholar, Andrew and Peggy Cherng Dept. of Medical Engineering
Juliane R. Sempionatto
I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Medical Engineering Department at Caltech, working with wearable biosensors for health monitoring. Before that, I did my PhD in Nanoengineering at UCSD. My research interests involve the development of non-invasive biosensors for the continuous and real-time self-monitoring of health. My job is to develop biosensors that can be worn as a skin patch to read the molecular information in your sweat. These wearable biosensors can replace finger pricking and implantable needles used by diabetes patients. In April 2024, I will be joining Rice University in Houston, TX as an assistant professor to continue pursuing the goal of developing affordable medical devices. After working with sweat, I really got interested in any activity that makes you sweat. I like hiking, running, lifting, volleyball, etc. During my PhD, I lost 22lb (10 kg)! Sweat sensors are making me healthier already ;) But don’t worry, I can also induce sweating using the sensors, so you don’t need to exercise at all!