2022

Zofia Adamska is a student at California Institute of Technology, planning to double major in maths and physics. In her free time, she sings, plays the piano and the ukulele.

Project: Nonequilibrium optimization in single-molecule pulling experiments
Mentor: Michael Brenner
Funding: California Institute of Technology

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Zabari Bell is a recent graduate of Navajo Technical University, class of 2022. She received her Bachelor of Science in biology and has plans of pursuing a postgraduate degree in microbiology. She is Diné (Navajo) and African American. Kinyaa'áanii nishłį́ Nahiłii bashishchiin Kinłichii'nii dashicheii Nahiłii dashinalí. This means she is Towering House Clan born for the African Americans. She is from Torreon, NM but grew up predominantly in Houston, TX. She has dreams of exploring research and how traditional Navajo culture can be incorporated into science. In her free time she enjoys spending time with animals, singing, and traveling. 

Project: Developing a novel droplet sorting device using electrophoresis
Mentors: Robinson Tom, Rohan Thakur, David Weitz
Funding: NSF Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) Vision for Excellence at Navajo Technical University for Research and Education in STEM (VENTURES) | NSF DMR-2122195
NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754

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Jada Bonds is a chemistry major at the College of William & Mary. After she graduates she would love to work in industry and eventually earn her PhD. In her free time she enjoys baking, singing, and knitting. 

Project: Development of sputtered aluminum nitride thin films on silicon
Mentors: Eliza Cornell, Sophie Ding, Marko Lončar
Funding: NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) | NSF ECCS-2025158

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Michael Bregar is majoring in physics and minoring in aerospace engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He is very passionate about using mathematics and physics for tackling and solving important questions for humanity’s betterment. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in physics and a career in academia or government research. He also enjoys chess, golf, and opera.

Project: Design of a new broadband output coupler for optimal THz laser performance
Mentors: Paul Chevalier, Federico Capasso
Funding: NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) | NSF ECCS-2025158

Lorena Britton a rising sophomore at Harvard College majoring in bioengineering on the chemical and materials subtrack. She plans to pursue an M.D. for a career in medicine and research.

Project: Transferring thin films synthesized by molecular beam epitaxy to silicon wafers  
Mentors: Charles Brooks, Julia Mundy
Funding:  NSF Science & Technology Center - Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (CIQM) | NSF DMR-1231319

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Katarina Cheng is from Los Angeles, California. She is a rising sophomore studying computer science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In her free time, she loves to dance.

Project: Data structures for P4 programmable switches
Mentors: Vic Feng, Minlan Yu
Funding:  NSF CNS Core: Medium: Approximation and Randomization in the Programmable Data Plane | NSF CNS-2107078

LinkedIn

Jonathan Chinana is from the Navajo/Jemez tribe and was born on the Navajo Nation in a small community called Torreon, NM. He is first-generation student at Navajo Technical University. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and currently in his junior year. He mainly works in robotics where he communicates with electronics in another language. He likes to play video games, draw, listen to podcasts, and work on his vehicle. Being Navajo, he takes pride in his community, his people, and where he comes from. He strives to gain engineering knowledge in hopes to teach a new generation of Native American engineers.

Project: Wearable soft robotic gripper
Mentors: Lucas Gerez, Harrison Young, Conor Walsh
Funding: NSF Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) Vision for Excellence at Navajo Technical University for Research and Education in STEM (VENTURES) | NSF DMR-2122195
NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754

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Leonardo Claure is a rising senior at Emory University where he is majoring in biology. After graduation, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. In his free time he enjoys making pottery, playing basketball, and traveling. 

Project: Tissue embedded flexible nanoelectronics to capture development in cyborg brain organoids
Mentors: Qiang Li,  Jia Liu
Funding: NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754

LinkedIn

Rothiel (Rocky) Davis II is a rising fourth-year biomedical engineer at Florida A&M University from Chicago. He is very interested in health and materials-based research.

Project: Microfluidics: Droplet formation
Mentors: Bobby Haney, David Weitz
Funding: NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754

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Desvaun Drummond is a rising senior from Kingston, Jamaica. Desvaun is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at Howard University. During the program, he worked with the group of Riccardo Comin at MIT to study quantum materials. After completing his undergraduate studies, he hopes to attain a PhD in electrical engineering.

Project: Optical measurement of strained crystals to determine magnetic properties
Mentors: Joshua Sanchez, Riccardo Comin
Funding: NSF Science & Technology Center - Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (CIQM) | NSF DMR-1231319

LinkedIn

Samantha Francis is studying chemical engineering technology at Navajo Technical University.

Project: 3D printed lattices for optimized electrodes design
Mentors: Dylan Barber, Jennifer Lewis
Funding: NSF Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) Vision for Excellence at Navajo Technical University for Research and Education in STEM (VENTURES) | NSF DMR-2122195
NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754

Allie Gipson is a senior at Drury University studying biochemistry and psychology. After graduation, she plans to obtain her MD or PHD. In her free time, Allie enjoys hanging out with her family and two dogs, trying new things, and cooking. 

Project: The effect of mechanical stiffness on cell viability in gel scaffolds
Mentors: Suji Choi, Kevin Kit Parker
Funding: NSF REU Site in Biomaterials Research Initiative Dedicated to Gateway Experiences | NSF DMR-1559890

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Ashley Henriquez is a senior undergraduate electrical engineering student at the University of Maryland College Park (UMDCP). She transferred after receiving her associates at Prince George’s Community College. She also holds a certificate in Latin American and Caribbean studies from UMDCP. She is planning to attend grad school to receive her Ph.D. in electrical engineering. Outside of school, she is a mom and enjoys reading, running, and watching anime. 

Project: Self-assembly of silicon dioxide nanoparticles, a tool for strain engineering in 2D materials
Mentors: Philip Kim, Tina Brower-Thomas, Sajedeh Pourianejad
Funding: NSF Science & Technology Center - Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (CIQM) | NSF DMR-1231319

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Circe Hsu is a second year mathematics student with an interest in physics and computer science, with additional interests in mathematics pedagogy and STEM education. Outside of her education, she enjoys cooking, photography, and baseball.

Project: Modeling one-dimensional periodic crystals with physics-informed neural networks
Mentors: Daniel Larson, Gabriel Ravanhani Schleder, Marios Matthaiakis, Efthimios Kaxiras
Funding: NSF Science & Technology Center - Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (CIQM) | NSF DMR-1231319

LinkedIn

Andrew Huang is rising sophomore at Caltech studying computer science.

Project: Using programmable switches to trade stocks
Mentors: Vic Feng, Minlan Yu
Funding: California Institute of Technology, NSF CNS Core: Medium: Approximation and Randomization in the Programmable Data Plane | NSF CNS-2107078

LinkedIn

Mikayla Jackson was born and raised in New Jersey. She's a rising junior at the University of Virginia, and is majoring in biomedical engineering. She's passionate about computational biomedical engineering, and hopes to pursue research in this field. In the future, she plans to attend graduate school. She's interested in baking, playing guitar, listening to music, and trying new things. 

Project: Establishing a hydrogel-based system for efficient induction of regulatory T cells in vitro
Mentors: Einat Bleiberg Vitner, David Mooney
Funding: Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering
NSF REU Site in Biomaterials Research Initiative Dedicated to Gateway Experiences | NSF DMR-1559890

LinkedIn

Layla James is a freshman at the Navajo Technical University. She is majoring in biology and plans on pursuing a PhD in biochemistry or biomedical science. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, listening to music and reading fiction novels.

Project: Integrating nanoplasmonic-based heating with digital droplet PCR
Mentors: Yang Wang, Jean Carlos Serrano Flores, David Weitz
Funding: NSF Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) Vision for Excellence at Navajo Technical University for Research and Education in STEM (VENTURES) | NSF DMR-2122195
NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754

LinkedIn

Rebekah Jin is a student at UCLA majoring in physics, and plans to pursue her PhD after graduating in 2023. In her free time, she enjoys watercolor painting and reading fiction.

Project: Fabrication of bilayer suspended photonic crystals
Mentors: Haoning Tang, Eric Mazur
Funding: NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) | NSF ECCS-2025158

Loyd Joseph is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and recently graduated from Bunker Hill Community College with an Associate's Degree in engineering transfer option. He intends to pursue a bachelor's degree in industrial and systems engineering, which he hopes to use to help Haiti's food and manufacturing industries improve their systematic processes. Loyd's favorite activities include music, design, volunteering as a preschool educator, creating entertainment videos, and cooking.

Project: Graphene based field effect transistors: the next revolution in microchip technology
Mentors: Yingying Wu, Jagadeesh Moodera
Funding: NSF Science & Technology Center - Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (CIQM) | NSF DMR-1231319

LinkedIn

Jaylynn Kim is a rising sophomore in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. After she graduates, she is looking to pursue her interest in biomimetics and soft robotics. In her free time, she enjoys baking, playing badminton, and organizing board game meet-ups with her friends.

Project: Development and evaluation of an accessible soft aquatic robot
Mentors: Lucas Gerez, Harrison Young, Conor Walsh
Funding: NSF EFRI C3 SoRo: Textile Robotics: Integrative Design, Modeling, Manufacture, and Control of Soft Human-Interactive Apparel | NSF EFMA-1830896

LinkedIn

Venny Kojouharov is a rising junior at the Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in computer science. He plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in robotics and aspires to become a professor one day. Outside of academics, he enjoys hiking, skiing, and woodworking.

Project: Bio-inspired designs for transitional locomotion using the Harvard ambulatory robot
Mentors: Alyssa Hernandez, Perrin Schiebel, Robert Wood
Funding: NSF REU Site in Biomaterials Research Initiative Dedicated to Gateway Experiences | NSF DMR-1559890

LinkedIn

Deepika Kumawat is from India. She is a junior at Mount Holyoke College, majoring in physics with a Nexus in education policy and practice. 

Project: Characterization of VO2 thin films on oxide substrates
Mentors: Jason Hoffman, Jenny Hoffman
Funding: NSF Science & Technology Center - Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (CIQM) | NSF DMR-1231319

LinkedIn

Robert Lamarche served in the Navy as a nuclear mechanic for 6 years, and now is advancing his knowledge by pursuing a mechanical engineering degree. He is currently enrolled at Bunker Hill Community College. He enjoys scuba diving, traveling, hiking, photography, and guitar in his free time.

Project: Manipulating breast cancer cell alignment by micro-contact printing fibronectin protein patterns
Mentors: Jiten Narang, Arthur McClelland
Funding: NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) | NSF ECCS-2025158

LinkedIn

Maggie Lashutka is from Cleveland, Ohio. She is a rising senior at The Ohio State University majoring in biological engineering. She hopes to obtain her PhD after her undergraduate degree, and in her free time works as a freelance photographer.

Project: A new 3D printing technology for building human tissues
Mentors: Aric Lu, Jennifer Lewis
Funding: Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering

LinkedIn

Anna Li is a rising senior at UC Berkeley studying materials science and engineering and minoring in classics. She is interested in nanomaterials and nanofabrication. She hopes to attend graduate school after finishing her undergraduate degree and pursue research. In her free time, she likes to draw and to explore cityscapes. 

Project: Imaging of hyperbolic plasmon-phonon polaritons in twisted double bilayer graphene
Mentors: Danial Haie, Bill Wilson
Funding: NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) | NSF ECCS-2025158

LinkedIn

David Li is a student at Lehigh University where he is majoring in electrical engineering and engineering physics. After graduation, he plans to attend graduate school.

Project: Fabrication of silicon micropillar arrays: Investigations into the Bosch process
Mentors: Ling Xie, Bill Wilson
Funding: NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) | NSF ECCS-2025158

Abigail Rose Lockhart-Calpito is a sophomore at Harvard College pursuing a S.B. in mechanical engineering. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, she loves to represent her hometown at the world renowned Harvard. Abigail loves to engage with her college community during the academic school year through her work on the executive boards for the Asian American Association, the Half Asian People’s Association, and Primus (The First-Gen/ Low-Income Student Union). In her free time, Abigail is a mixed media artist, and her work ranges from painting to zines to creative coding projects. Through her engineering coursework, Abigail continuously learns of new manufacturing techniques that she can use to develop her creative visions. Abigail is thrilled to have the opportunity to be working with Dr. Conor Walsh’s group this summer through Harvard’s REU program. She hopes to grow her understanding of the field of soft robotics and its applications in research through this phenomenal opportunity. Post-graduation, Abigail hopes to use her engineering skills to contribute to humanitarian efforts and develop her own engineering firm with the goal of creating engineering solutions to poverty and homelessness.

Project: Wearable soft robotic gripper
Mentors: Lucas Gerez, Harrison Young, Conor Walsh
Funding: NSF EFRI C3 SoRo: Textile Robotics: Integrative Design, Modeling, Manufacture, and Control of Soft Human-Interactive Apparel | NSF EFMA-1830896

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Katherine Marquis is a rising sophomore at Caltech studying applied and computational mathematics, where she is on the varsity women's soccer and basketball teams. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and baking. 

Project: Direct atomic imaging of  SrTiO3 surface reconstructions
Mentor: David Bell
Funding: California Institute of Technology
NSF Science & Technology Center - Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (CIQM) | NSF DMR-1231319

LinkedIn

Erin McGee is a rising sophomore at Stevens Institute of Technology pursuing a degree in physics. She hopes to continue her education to get her Ph.D. in applied physics and continue doing research. In her free time she enjoys running, reading, playing chess, and playing the violin.

Project: Characterization of lithium niobate ridge waveguides
Mentors: C.J. Xin, Marko Lončar
Funding: NSF Engineering Research Center for Quantum Networks (CQN) | NSF EEC-1941583

LinkedIn

Cristian Medina Cea is from El Salvador; he is the first member of his family to attend college. He recently graduated from Bunker Hill Community College and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. Outside of studying, he enjoys weightlifting, playing basketball, listening to music, traveling and watching nature documentaries. 

Project: Non-Abelian anyons in van der Waals heterostructures  
Mentors: Jonathan Zauberman
Funding: NSF Science & Technology Center - Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (CIQM) | NSF DMR-1231319

LinkedIn

Baran Mensah is from Accra, Ghana, and is a rising junior at MIT majoring in mechanical engineering. In his free time, he enjoys dancing, listening to music, and working out. 

Project: Development and evaluation of an accessible soft aquatic robot
Mentors: Harrison Young, Conor Walsh
Funding: NSF REU Site in Biomaterials Research Initiative Dedicated to Gateway Experiences | NSF DMR-1559890

LinkedIn

Isaac Omodia is a senior at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore where he is majoring in aerospace engineering. After graduation, he plans to pursue a master's degree. In his free time, he enjoys learning about human psychology, and listening to music.

Project: Vibration-induced elasto-hydro-dynamic adhesion of Thin elastic sheet
Mentor: L. Mahadevan
Funding: University of Maryland Eastern Shore

LinkedIn

Christina Perry is a senior at Southern University and A&M College, majoring in chemistry. After graduation, she plans to pursue an MD. Outside of academics, she is passionate about spending time with her family, baking, and community service.

Project: Effects of nixtamalization on the physical properties and nutrient content in various corns
Mentors: Kathryn Hollar, Pia Sörensen, David Weitz
Funding: NSF Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology - Center for Next Generation Multifunctional Composites (NextGen Composites Phase II) | NSF HRD-1736136
NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754

LinkedIn

Catherine Pfaltzgraff is a student at Texas A&M University where she is majoring in chemistry and minoring in secondary education. She plans on pursuing a career in the cosmetic chemistry field. She is the Director of Philanthropy for her sorority, and in her free time, she enjoys dancing, reading, and cooking.

Project: High throughput production of nature-derived biodegradable polymer micron/nanofibers
Mentors: Huibin Chang, Kevin Kit Parker
Funding: NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) | NSF ECCS-2025158

LinkedIn

Justin Platero is a rising senior at University of New Mexico studying biology. He continues his research in electrochemistry at Navajo Technical University during the semester under the direction of Dr. Thiagarajan Soundappan. He plans on pursuing a career in medicine. In his spare time he likes to take walks, and admire the scenery.

Project: Investigating the rheological properties of graphene ink For 3-D printed battery electrodes
Mentors: Dylan Barber, Jennifer Lewis
Funding: NSF Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) Vision for Excellence at Navajo Technical University for Research and Education in STEM (VENTURES) | NSF DMR-2122195
NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754

LinkedIn

Mohammed Sbai is a rising senior at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, where he is majoring in mechanical engineering with robotics and mathematics minors. He is very interested and passionate about Medical Robotics and Unmanned aerial systems. Going on road trips is his favorite thing to do.

Project: Fabrication of elastomer cylindrical thin shells for soft robotics
Mentors:  Yi Yang,  Katia Bertoldi
Funding: NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754

LinkedIn

Claudia Serban is a junior at Mount Holyoke College majoring in physics and minoring in computer science. In her free time, she enjoys reading and exploring her home state of Maine.

Project: Improving the efficiency of the superconducting diode effect in thin film superconductors
Mentors: Shua Sanchez, Jagadeesh Moodera
Funding: NSF Science & Technology Center - Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (CIQM) | NSF DMR-1231319

LinkedIn

Hunter Shepard is a senior currently attending Southern University and A&M College located in Baton Rouge, LA, majoring in mathematics & physics with a concentration in mathematics. Hunter considers himself an upcoming scientist but also an educator at heart. In the future, he plans to attend graduate school and teach STEM in both secondary & higher education sectors.

Project: Identifying crystal particle structures and modifying with noise to identify fluctuations
Mentors: Will Wang, Frans Spaepen, David Weitz
Funding: NSF Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology - Center for Next Generation Multifunctional Composites (NextGen Composites Phase II) | NSF HRD-1736136
NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754

LinkedIn

Felix Song is a rising sophomore at Tufts University studying physics with a minor in computer science. He is particularly interested in biophysics and machine learning for developing new technologies to further medical and biophysics fields. He is excited to work on projects to understand novel mechanisms responsible for maintaining normal cellular functions and for neurodegenerative diseases. After graduation, he plans to pursue a PhD in Applied Physics. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball and basketball, playing music with friends, volunteering, and traveling.

Project: Affinity between particles and condensates
Mentors: Will Wang, Frans Spaepen, David Weitz
Funding: Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering

LinkedIn

Tionna Tapaha is from Farmington, NM and attends Navajo Technical University. She is majoring in biology and is expected to graduate in Fall 2022. She hopes to continue her education and obtain her Ph.D. and MD and become a dermatologist. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, and traveling.

Project: Developing a novel droplet sorting device using electrophoresis
Mentors: Robinson Tom, Rohan Thakur, David Weitz
Funding: NSF Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) Vision for Excellence at Navajo Technical University for Research and Education in STEM (VENTURES) | NSF DMR-2122195
NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754

Rea Tresa is a rising senior studying molecular bioengineering at Imperial College London. She is originally from Albania, and aside from her studies, she is mainly involved in student leadership and representation. Rea loves football (European, AKA the real one ;)), classic rock, and non-fiction books. 

Project: Characterising biomaterial-induced T cell recruitment and tertiary lymphoid structure formation
Mentors: Joshua Brockman, Nikko Jeffreys, David Mooney

Funding: Wellcome LEAP, Inc.

LinkedIn

Christopher’s dream of improving lives through medical innovation was sparked during childhood after his father, Rob, suffered a crippling heart attack. Luckily, angioplasty and a series of stents saved his father and reunited their family. For years Christopher’s dreams of medical innovation lay dormant, but, gradually, inspired by his experiences scouting, leading Marines, and serving his community in Orange County, NY,  Christopher’s visions of improving medicine strengthened. Now, with a fully-fledged focus on improving lives worldwide with novel biotechnologies, Christopher looks forward to drawing strength from this non-traditional background. 

During his service as a Marine KC-130T Flight Engineer, from the Arctic to the Equator, Christopher enjoyed talking with folks across the globe. From these conversations, a clear commonality appeared; everyone sought the best for their community. Naturally, he garnered a cliché yet motivating realization; we are all in this together. We all seek the health and happiness of our people.  

In honor of the folks who have shaped Christopher’s understanding of the world—those who have crossed his path, thus altering its trajectory forever—he vows to eternalize their influence. With their guidance (and a touch of luck), his research will improve the human experience worldwide.

Project: Controlling conduction velocity of engineered myocardial tissue
Mentors: Michael Peters, Kevin Kit Parker
Funding: NSF REU Site in Biomaterials Research Initiative Dedicated to Gateway Experiences | NSF DMR-1559890

LinkedIn

Lauryn Whiteside is a rising senior at Worcester Polytechnic Institute studying robotics engineering and mechanical engineering. After graduation, she plans to obtain her Ph.D. in robotics. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, listening to music, and roller-skating. 

Project: Evaluation of robotic solutions for underway ship hull cleaning
Mentors: Michael Bell, Daniel Vogt, Rob Wood
Funding: NSF REU Site in Biomaterials Research Initiative Dedicated to Gateway Experiences | NSF DMR-1559890

LinkedIn

Katelyn Wilson is Navajo and her clans are the Tangle Clan, Start of the Red Streak People Clan, Towering House Clan and Salt People clan. She is from Becenti, New Mexico and she recently graduated this spring of 2022 with her bachelors in science for biology.

Project: Integrating nanoplasmonic-based heating with digital droplet PCR 
Mentors: Yang Wang, Jean Carlos Serrano Flores, David Weitz
Funding: NSF Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) Vision for Excellence at Navajo Technical University for Research and Education in STEM (VENTURES) | NSF DMR-2122195
NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754