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Vibrations
The Newsletter for the EAS Community
Selected Upcoming Events
March 14, 2023, 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Pi Day: Irrational Yet Entertaining - Pizza, games, and activities
Location: Center for Student Services, Large Tent
March 15, 2023, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Caltech Young Investigators Lecture: "Using Models to Inform Atmospherically Relevant Laboratory Measurements of Aerosol Formation Reactions" - Hannah Kenagy, Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT
Location: South Mudd 365
March 16, 2023, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
NSF I-Corps ZAP Lunch and Learn: Learn how to turn your idea into a business
Location: Jorgensen Laboratory, Conference Room 224 (Register using the link above)
March 16, 2023, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
RSI Charge Up! Series: Fund-Raising Part I: "Raising the Curtain on Venture Capital" - Carly Anderson, Principal, Prelude Ventures
Location: Zoom (Register using the link above)
May 17, 2023, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Wouk Lecture: "Rethinking Evaporation: Thermal and Optical Evaporation from Pure Water and Hydrogels" - Gang Chen, Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering, MIT
Location: Ramo Auditorium
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Events
March 16, 2023, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Women's HERstory Keynote: Jessica Hernandez, Ph.D.
Location: Online (RSVP using the link above)
March 20, 2023, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
APACT - Caltech Walking Tour with arborist Bryan Vejar
Location: Keck Center (Register using the link above)
Spotlight On Our People
Emile Anand
Undergraduate Student, CMS
I am a fourth-year undergraduate student from Dubai, UAE, majoring in Computer Science. My research interest lies in complexity theory, where I am currently studying the pseudo randomness of expander random walks using Boolean Fourier analytic methods with Professor Chris Umans. I am also interested in online convex optimization and online algorithms for reinforcement learning, which I work on with Professor Adam Wierman in the Rigorous Systems Research Group. I hope to continue working in theoretical computer science to create randomized algorithms that surpass fundamental natural constructs, to solve the outstanding open problem of whether BPP=P (is computational randomness truly random and special). Currently, I am also the head TA for CS 155 (Machine Learning and Data Assimilation). In my free time, I enjoy playing the piano, going for runs, and writing blog posts.
John Pederson
Graduate Student, GALCIT
Hi there! I’m a fourth-year Aerospace PhD student in the Space Structures Lab, headed by Professor Sergio Pellegrino. I received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia before joining Caltech in 2019. In my research, I try to predict how large structures in space, like solar panels and antennae, will bend and vibrate when heated by sunlight (this bending has impaired numerous space missions, even the Hubble Space Telescope!). Understanding this involves heating and measuring the bending of model structures, which I do both in a vacuum chamber in the Guggenheim lab and in a multiphysics simulation. Our lab also happens to manufacture thin-ply composites, whose tunable thermal expansion properties might eventually allow us to build structures immune to this issue. Outside of research, I love classic literature, cooking, and learning languages – as well as whatever pickup sports my friends get me into :)
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.
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation - Matter-to-Life Grant (Faculty)
Sloan's new Matter-to-Life program aims to sharpen our scientific understanding of life by supporting curiosity-driven research falling within three focus areas: Building Life, Principles of Life, and Signs of Life. These areas define a broad scientific scope for understanding the physical principles and mechanisms governing living systems, while also highlighting an openness to exploring life broadly conceived by instantiating the distinctive functions of living systems in entities built using various matter platforms. The program will also support scientific meetings that promote information exchange, the development of collaborations, and self-organizing. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Total Award: $50,000 to $2,500,000
Chen Institute Diversity and Inclusion Award
The Chen Institute for Neuroscience is accepting nominations for the Chen Institute Diversity and Inclusion Award. The award is to support Caltech neuroscience graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who are actively working to achieve diversity and inclusion at Caltech, and/or the wider community and STEM education. Examples of efforts include, but are not limited to, education through shared experience, outreach to local communities, creating and participating in programs and organizations working to bring change and enhance diversity and inclusion. Nominations are due by 5:00 pm on April 3, 2023.
2023 Demetriades-Tsafka-Kokkalis Prizes - Call to Submit Nominations
The Demetriades-Tsafka-Kokkalis Prizes consist of four prizes (Biotechnology or Related Fields; Nanotechnology or Related Fields; Environmentally Benign Renewable Energy Sources or Related Fields; and Seismo-Engineering, Prediction, and Protection) are awarded to a Ph.D. candidate for the best thesis, publication or discovery. The prize for Entrepreneurship or Related Fields is awarded to a graduate or undergraduate student for the best business plan, proposal, start-up or related efforts at Caltech. The prizes are open to the entire Institute. Nominations from faculty should be submitted by email to Melissa Hill by sending the name and the thesis of the nominee. The deadline for nominations is Monday, May 8, 2023. For the Entrepreneurship prize, please provide the name, CV and business plan of the nominee. The announcement of the prizes will be included in the commencement brochure. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Melissa Hill with any other questions.
New Horizons DEI Fund
The EAS Division is pleased to solicit small-scale proposals for new initiatives to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts by members of the EAS division. Short proposals (1 page with a budget) can be submitted to dei.eas@caltech.edu on a rolling basis and will be reviewed by members of the EAS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. The committee is interested in new projects, such as seeding a new program that supports or impacts the EAS community or exploring a new outreach effort that engages EAS members in the local Pasadena community.
RSI Ideation Grants Program
The RSI Ideation Grants program helps Caltech innovators further the development and real-world application of their climate-tech technologies. These ideation grants are geared towards faculty, students, and post-doctoral researchers developing technologies and creating new ventures addressing climate change. Grants range from $5,000 - $15,000, and cover both projects and companies. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis but funding is limited and candidates are encouraged to apply early. Learn more about the program and find application forms here.
COVID Updates: Visit together.caltech.edu for the latest communications from the Institute.
- As of October 3, 2022, masking is voluntary in all indoor settings, with the exception of instructional spaces. Students in instructional spaces must wear N95 masks, however instructors may elect to remove their masks. If you have been exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, you must wear a high quality mask (surgical mask, N95, KN95, or KF94 respirator) in any indoor space on campus for 10 days after exposure. Read the full update.
Effective Friday, March 17, the last day of winter term, the Institute will close its Caltech-sponsored surveillance testing program, and suspend the current twice-weekly testing requirement for students and employees. Read the full update.
- Voluntary surveillance testing is available to all (more info).
- Masks at no charge are available to persons with a Caltech ID at the Bookstore.
Division of Engineering and Applied Science
