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Vibrations
The Newsletter for the EAS Community
Message from the Chair
EAS Community,
Please join me in welcoming Yazmin Gonzalez to EAS. Yazmin comes from Caltech’s CCID and has taken on the pivotal role of Director of EAS Programs for Student Success. Yazmin will lead the Division’s efforts in coordination with EAS staff, including faculty option representatives and staff option managers to ensure that all EAS students have the information and resources they need to thrive at Caltech. Yazmin’s office is in 149 Jorgensen, and you can reach her at yazminyg@caltech.edu.
I also want to call attention to the upcoming EAS Trailblazers Symposium, happening on Thursday morning, November 2 from 10-12 in Lees-Kubota Lecture Hall. This is a great opportunity for students, faculty, postdocs, and staff to hear talks from young leaders in engineering and applied science from across the country.
I hope to see you in a packed Lees-Kubota auditorium on November 2 – and I extend a hearty welcome to Yazmin as she begins her new position in EAS.
Harry Atwater
Otis Booth Leadership Chair, Division of Engineering and Applied Science
New Director of Programs for Student Success in EAS
Yazmin Gonzalez
We are delighted to introduce Yazmin Gonzalez, an accomplished equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategist and practitioner, to the EAS Division. Yazmin will be a resource for students, faculty, staff, and others in the Division on best practices and issues related to student success, diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, she will connect students who are experiencing difficulties to appropriate resources and actuate activities to enhance the quality of life for graduate and undergraduate students in EAS. Yazmin will work closely with the EAS Division Academic Council, faculty, graduate and undergraduate option representatives, and executive
officers in her efforts. She will also work with the Graduate Admissions Office, Dean’s Offices, Equity and Title IX Office, Undergraduate Admissions Office, and others on campus to fully integrate EAS programming with that of our campus partners.
Yazmin began her journey in higher education at UCLA, where she worked on strategic recruitment and retention initiatives focused on underserved groups. In March 2021, Yazmin joined the Caltech Center for Inclusion and Diversity (CCID) as an Assistant Director, and has served as an Associate Director since November 2022. Throughout her time at the CCID, she has implemented various programs intended to increase the retention and inclusion of identities, histories, and experiences that are historically underrepresented in STEM fields.
Yazmin holds an M.A. and B.A. in Latin American studies from UCLA, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from UCLA as well. We extend a warm welcome to Yazmin Gonzalez, who is thrilled to foster the vibrant and diverse EAS community.
Please don't hesitate to extend a friendly greeting to Yazmin via email, or visit during her standing office hours on Wednesdays between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm at 149 Jorgensen to say hello in person.
Welcome, Yazmin!
Selected Upcoming Events
Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm (12-2 lunch)
American Institute of Mathematics (AIM) Open House
Location: Bridge Portico Lawn (between East Bridge and Caltech Hall)
Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Innovation at Boeing Executive Keynote - William Lyons, Global Engineering/Global Technology Senior Director at Boeing.
Location: Guggenheim 133 (Lees-Kubota Lecture Hall)
Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Charge Up! Entrepreneurship Series: "Scaling for Growth: From R&D to Reality" - Steve Oldham, CEO, Captura
Location: Jorgensen 109
Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Watson Lecture: "The Chemistry of Everything: Uncovering New Treatments in the Natural World" - Hosea Nelson (PhD '13), Professor of Chemistry, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Location: Beckman Auditorium
Friday, October 20, 2023, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
KNI-Wheatley Scholar Lecture: "Wiring the Quantum Future: Developing Interconnects for Superconducting Qubits" - Mohammad Mirhosseini, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics; 2022 KNI-Wheatley Scholar
Location: Beckman Auditorium
Monday, October 23, 2023, 12:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Caltech-Amgen Research Symposium (Register here)
Location: Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Neuroscience Research building
Monday, October 23, 2023, 5:30 pm
Womxn in EAS: Annual Kickoff Event! (RSVP here)
Location: Chen Breezeway
Thursday, October 26, 2023, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
David G. Goodwin Memorial Lecture: "Experimental Optimization of Polymer-Based Organic Electronics" - Martha Grover, Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology
Location: Gates-Thomas 135
Thursday, November 2, 2023, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
EAS Trailblazers Symposium
Location: Guggenheim 133 (Lees-Kubota Lecture Hall)
Spotlight On Our People
Soudabeh Saeid
Postdoctoral Scholar, Environmental Science and Engineering
As a postdoctoral researcher in Professor Kornfield's lab, my primary academic interest revolves around wastewater treatment, with a specific focus on the degradation of pharmaceutical contaminants through innovative methods. During my doctoral studies at Åbo Akademi University in Finland, I conducted extensive research on degrading pharmaceutical pollutants using a combination of ozonation and heterogeneous catalysis. At Caltech, my goal is to integrate my doctoral research advancements in pharmaceutical degradation with the electrochemical production of oxidizing species developed by Professor Hoffmann's group. This fusion aims to create an efficient oxidation technology for wastewater treatment, fully converting dangerous pharmaceuticals into harmless compounds. By eliminating partially-oxidized intermediates, we can avoid introducing new chemical entities with unknown toxicity. Beyond academia, I worked at Nanoform, Helsinki, successfully producing nano-sized pharmaceuticals. I enjoy photography and won 3rd place in the "I Love Åbo" photo competition. Dancing, particularly salsa, and swimming are my cherished hobbies.
Jiahong Li
Graduate Student, Andrew and Peggy Cherng Dept. of Medical Engineering
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.
We'd like to feature you!
Calls for Nomination & Funding Opportunities
Caltech’s Office of Foundation Relations maintains an online database and email subscription service of primarily non-federal funding opportunities as a resource for the Caltech community. Opportunities include calls for proposals released by private foundations, public charities, associations, corporations, internal Caltech opportunities and federal limited opportunities.
2024 KISS Affiliates Call
The Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) is soliciting nominations for KISS Affiliates who will be welcomed into the cohort in January 2024. Nominated by the Caltech faculty, KISS Affiliates are an ongoing cohort of Campus graduate students and postdocs who are seen as the next generation of space exploration leaders. They form a cross-divisional cohort and will participate in monthly events with space leaders at NASA, industry, and academia and a program of professional development. Nominations due November 3, 2023. Learn more.
2024 KISS Study Programs Call
The Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) is soliciting concepts for Study Programs to be carried out during the 2024 calendar year. Concepts are solicited in the areas of space engineering, planetary science, remote sensing and earth system science, astrobiology, observational astronomy and physics from space. Proposal Concepts Due (Required; 2-pages): November 3, 2023. Proposals Due (5-pages+appendices): December 20, 2023. Learn more.
RSI Ideation Grants - Call for Proposals
These grants are intended to fund scientists and engineers interested in translating their ideas and technologies into wider world impact, and potentially creating new ventures. These grants serve the Resnick Sustainability Institute's mission to advance global sustainability by addressing challenges and opportunities associated with climate change and the stewardship of natural resources. Ideation funding supports conceptualizing technology development, from early idea to kickstarting a business. Expenditure categories include; techno-economic/carbon lifecycle analysis; shared workspace & tech facility fees; industry visits & conferences; small equipment, materials & supplies; and business information. Rolling applications accepted through December 31, 2023. Learn more and apply.
2024 RSI Pioneer Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Resnick Sustainability Institute's (RSI) Pioneer Postdoctoral Fellowship recruits outstanding recent PhD graduates to pursue research and training in exciting areas relevant to sustainability at Caltech. This fellowship will afford researchers access to cutting edge facilities, training, and broad expertise in the science and engineering needed to tackle pressing challenges in sustainability. RSI anticipates making up to 3 awards and welcomes applicants with exceptional backgrounds in research and who are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive, equitable culture. Candidates must secure a commitment from one or more Caltech faculty members to serve as a mentor and to provide office/lab space for the fellowship. Mentors will be expected to provide a 50% cost-share for the fellowship. Application deadline: Friday, January 12, 2024. Learn more and apply.
Division of Engineering and Applied Science
