People Spotlights
All Spotlights
- Graduate Student, Andrew and Peggy Cherng Dept. of Medical Engineering
Jiahong Li
I’m a Medical Engineering PhD student in Professor Wei Gao’s lab. Prior to joining Caltech in 2020, I received my BS degree from Wuhan University and MS degree from Northwestern University. My research interest is in continuous health monitoring systems, because the signs of illness often precede the development of severe disease. By capitalizing on early detection and promptly initiating treatment, we can significantly enhance both the prognosis and the quality of life for patients. The wealth of information contained in chemical signals derived from sweat and other biofluids—like glucose concentrations and inflammation levels—broadens the scope and potential of health monitoring systems. Bearing this in mind, I am currently engaged in the development of a continuous biofluid monitoring system. This system is designed to seamlessly attach to the skin and other tissues, paving the way for comprehensive and uninterrupted health monitoring. During my leisure hours, I find pleasure in engaging with photography, immersing myself in hiking adventures, and embarking on exhilarating road trips.
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Applied Physics and Materials Science
Aisulu Aitbekova
My name is Aisulu Aitbekova and I am a Kavli Nanoscience Institute Postdoctoral Fellow under the tutelage of Professor Harry Atwater. My research focuses on developing novel solar-driven processes to generate fuels and chemicals. Over the last two years, I have been a part of the Liquid Sunlight Alliance Energy Innovation Hub devoted to advancing science to derive these products using carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight. Being part of this organization is exciting because I get to work on fundamental problems that have the potential for impactful applications. Outside of the lab, I lead and participate in outreach activities to ignite young minds about science. My most outstanding achievement is establishing an Accountability Partners Program at Caltech to help students from diverse backgrounds apply to graduate school. Every Saturday morning, I cheer for my three-year-old son during soccer.
- Undergraduate Student, Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Tomás Wexler
Hi! I’m a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Mechanical Engineering with an interest in heat transfer devices, particularly two-phase devices such as heat pipes. Currently, I’m interning at JPL, focusing on the applications of additive manufacturing on thermal management systems, where my main project involves the integration of heat pipes into an additively manufactured electric propulsion thruster. In past summers, I’ve worked with Professors Jane Bae and Beverley McKeon on models for wall-bounded turbulent flows that aim to uncover the underlying physics of coherent structures in those flows. I’ve also had the opportunity to TA ME12A and B, the introductory undergraduate Mechanics classes with Professor Michael Mello. Outside of academics, I’m the president of Dabney House, one of the eight undergraduate houses on campus, which has been an extremely supportive and fun space throughout my time here. In my free time, I enjoy baking desserts, playing board games or other tabletop games, and watching bad movies with my friends.
- Postdoc, Mechanical and Civil Engineering
Anna Gorgogianni
I am a postdoctoral scholar in Mechanical and Civil Engineering, working with Professor José Andrade. My current research focuses on data-driven multiscale modeling of the failure behavior of granular media. Interacting with the Caltech community during these last two years has been a continuous source of inspiration to me. Prior to joining Caltech, I was a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota, working on continuum finite element modeling of quasibrittle fracture, in both deterministic and stochastic settings. My interest in mechanics and fracture phenomena was largely developed due to my father being a physicist. Coming from Greece, I enjoy the California climate, even though it can make me feel nostalgic at times. In my free time, I enjoy going to concerts, socializing, and exploring big cities.
- Undergraduate Student, Computing and Mathematical Sciences
Abraham Belayneh
Hey! I am a rising third-year undergraduate student majoring in computer science. I have a strong interest in cloud infrastructure and server-side development. For the past two summers, I have been working with NVIDIA on their GPU technology, leading the development of cloud software to improve resource utilization for engineers within a wide span of engineering teams. As for areas of interest outside of academia, I take great pleasure in photography, creating illusive one-shots for my business and bringing visions to fruition. Additionally, I am a part of an undergraduate band known as ÆTHER where I play the bass guitar.
- Teaching Professor, Computing and Mathematical Sciences
Michael Vanier (PhD '01)
Before joining Caltech as an instructor in 2001, I was a graduate student in Computation and Neural Systems (CNS). I'm a self-taught programmer, which has been an advantage for me because programming still feels more like a hobby than a job. My interests include functional programming languages (like OCaml and Haskell), proof assistants, and the implementation of programming languages. I love teaching Caltech students because they are so quick and interested in everything. I enjoy skydiving, music, board/video games, and learning Japanese. My wife, Denise, used to be a standup comedian, and now teaches political science at Pierce College. We bonded over our shared love of comedy. My advice to students is this: find what you love and do that. Students are rightfully worried about getting a good job after graduation, but it’s more important to leave Caltech having a clear idea of what your passion is.