People Spotlights

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!

Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, Mechanical and Civil Engineering

Marlini Simoes

I finished my PhD in Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory of the University of Cambridge, UK, and joined Caltech as a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow this year. During my PhD, I developed new additively manufactured smart cellular material structures to be used as reusable energy absorbers for vehicle landing impacts and to offer self-healing protection against space debris impact – this research was awarded a grant from the European Space Agency. My PhD thesis led me to be the winner of the UK Doctoral Researcher Awards 2022 in Engineering. My research aims at developing a new generation of material-structures that can provide hitherto mechanical behavior by expanding the frontiers of manufacturing engineering for space applications and beyond. To achieve this, I combine computational modeling, a large range of material characterization techniques and mechanical testing, as well as additive manufacturing technologies. Outside of research, I go jogging and I do race walking training.

Graduate Student, Applied Physics and Materials Science

Gordon Li

Hello everyone, I’m a third-year PhD Candidate in Applied Physics. I’m originally from Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney with a BSc (Hons) in Physics before arriving at Caltech in June 2021 to join the group of Alireza Marandi. My research is in the field of optics and photonics (the study of light) and focuses on developing next-generation computers that process information using light rather than electricity. By harnessing ultrafast nonlinear optical processes, we can achieve thousands of times faster computational clock rates and latencies compared to existing digital electronic computers. I’m grateful to be a recipient of the inaugural Quad Fellowship, which is a first-of-its-kind scholarship program initiated by the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. Currently, I also serve as President of the Caltech Optica Student Chapter. My hobbies include swimming (but only in 50m pools!), cooking Cantonese food, calisthenics, and watching anime.

Undergraduate Student, Electrical Engineering

Hope Arnett

I’m a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Electrical Engineering. In addition to playing for the women’s basketball team, I’ve been heavily involved with projects and clubs. Within the Caltech Air and Outer Space (CAOS) club, I’m the Co-founder and Electrical Lead for the Caltech Rover Autonomy, Technology, and Exploration Research (CRATER) project. Our goal is to develop a rover testbed that is fully equipped with a robotic arm, autonomous navigation capabilities, remote control up to 2km, and a robust chassis to traverse extreme terrain. Throughout the beginning of this project, most of the Electrical subteam’s responsibility has been the power distribution system in the rover. This experience has coupled nicely with my internship on the Power Design Services (Automotive) team at Texas Instruments, so I’m excited to take advantage of this coincidence and continue exploring power electronics. My advice to underclassmen who aren’t sure about their career right now: go along with whatever intriguing opportunities open up for you, even if it’s not quite what you imagined yourself doing—it might lead you closer to your dream than you think.

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.

All Spotlights