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Joel Yazzie
My name is Joel Yazzie. I’m Navajo and recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Navajo Technical University, where I focused on Advanced Manufacturing and Material Science. I’ve always been interested in hands on work and figuring out how things are made and improved, especially through additive manufacturing. I plan to keep learning and growing in the fields of mechanical and material science so I can be part of developing new technologies and creating practical solutions for real world problems.
Project: A liquid building wrapping capable of dynamically sending heat to outer space
Mentors: Joanna Aizenberg, Raphael Kay
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
Kevin Wang
Kevin is a rising junior at Boston University majoring in Biomedical Engineering. He is passionate about translational research that bridges science and patient care to improve health outcomes. Kevin is currently exploring future paths, including pursuing a Ph.D. or an M.D. Outside of academics, he enjoys going to the gym, watching TV shows, and spending time with friends and family.
Project: Self-organizing active soft matter
Mentors: Vinothan Manoharan, Stefania Ketzetzi, Francesca Soddu
Funding: NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754
Emma Vinokour
Emma is a rising junior at Northwestern University studying Biological Sciences with a concentration in Biochemistry & Biophysics; she is also pursuing a Biotechnology & Biochemical Engineering minor and a Data Science minor. She aspires to make a meaningful impact by harnessing scientific and engineering principles for the development of innovative, patient-centered therapeutics. In her free time she loves playing the violin and piano, watercolor painting, reading, and exploring the outdoors!
Project: High throughput intracellular delivery
Mentors: Joanna Aizenberg, Eric Mazur, Reena Paink
Vasumathi Venkat
Vasumathi Venkat is a rising senior studying Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University. She focuses on primarily reinforcement learning and controls for robotic systems but is also interested in exploring fabrication and control of robotic systems with unconventional methods of locomotion and manipulation. In her free time, she likes watching F1 and working on her digital art.
Project: Soft Robotic Particles
Mentors: Joanna Aizenberg, Hamed Almohammadi
Funding: NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754
Antonio Valencia
Antonio Valencia is The rising Sophomore at the Navajo Technical University located in Crownpoint New Mexico. He is majoring in Automotive Technology, and aims to bring improvements in manufacturing of future automobiles through research of materials, specifically with metals. He is originally from Pinon AZ and raised in and out of the Salt River Indian Community of AZ, where he started running and hasn't stopped. Antonio enjoys discussing science fiction and ubiquitous culture of the new world in his pocket time. Antonio explores material science/engineering in any way how and has previous experience researching experimental passive safety systems for automobiles, he seeks to obtain a Ph.D. in Metallurgy science in his future. You can find him assisting faculty of the community in cleaning and repair, or on his runs around town.
Project: Mechanoreponsive liquid metal coreshells coupled with LCEs for soft electronics/robotics
Mentors: Jennifer Lewis, Mustafa Abdelrahman
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
Kendrick Thompson
I am from the Navajo reservation in northern Arizona. I grew up in a small town on a farm with my family. After high school I did not know I wanted to do so I worked construction until one day I wanted to change that.
Project: Anti-diabetic effects of Native American herbal plants
Mentors: Joanna Aizenberg, Reena Paink
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
Hunter Reidhead
Hello! My name is Hunter Reidhead. I am a current student at Navajo Technical University where I am studying Electrical Engineering. My current goals are to continue my education and to gain experience. For my hobbies, I enjoy running, cooking, anime and expanding my knowledge. The Harvard REU program has provided me with my first research experience and I am truly grateful for this summer experience.
Project: Native American tea/herbs bioactive extraction and their antimicrobial effects
Mentors: David Weitz, Yan Liu, Robinson Tom
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
Sonja Larson
Sonja Larson is a rising sophomore at Cornell University studying chemistry and physics.
Project: Axial ligands for telecom molecular lanthanide qubits
Mentors: Danna Freedman (MIT), Ryan Murphy, Christian Oswood
Funding: NSF Engineering Research Center for Quantum Networks | NSF EEC-1941583
Italian Johnson
Italian Johnson is a rising senior physics major at Jackson State University from Edwards, Mississippi. She is passionate about materials research and plans to pursue a Ph.D. after graduation to help advance quantum technologies.
Outside the classroom, Italian is active in several campus organizations and currently serves as Attorney General of the Student Government Association. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, staying involved in her community, and spending time in the lab gaining hands-on research experience.
Project: Synthesis of oxide quantum materials
Mentors: Julia Mundy, Tema Temazulu, Charles Brooks
Funding: NSF Engineering Research Center for Quantum Networks | NSF EEC-1941583
Rita Ionides
Rita is a student at University of Michigan, where she studies Mathematics and Data Science. Her research interests are in machine learning theory in general, and differential privacy in particular. An unsorted few of her favorite things are topology, ballet, coffee, Kaggle, and the Oxford Comma.
Project: Open DP
Mentors: Salil Vadhan
Leonardo Herrera
I will focus on the development and characterization of periodically poled lithium tantalate crystals for spontaneous parametric down-conversion. My work will help efforts in quantum photonics, advancing photon pair sources for quantum information applications.
This spring semester (2025) I will have graduated from South Mountain Community College with an Associates in Science Emphasis in Engineering, I plan to continue my education and at minimum achieve a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering at an accredited university. I am excited to be combining theoretical understanding with hands-on experimentation to explore and solve real problems in photonics and also working with leading scientists in their revolutionary labs during my time at Harvard!
Project: Fabrication of nano-electromechanical device made for routing single-photons for diamond defect applications
Mentors: Marko Lončar, Katie Barajas
Funding: NSF Engineering Research Center for Quantum Networks | NSF EEC-1941583
Claire Hays
My name is Claire and I'm a Mechanical Engineering and Biology student at Caltech interested in medical engineering and medical devices. In my free time, I enjoy running, biking, music, and growing plants.
Project: Microneurography Electrode Development
Mentors: Shriya Srinivasan, Mali Halac, Andrea Elizabeth Biju
Funding: William F. Milton Fund
Eric Garza
Hello! My name is Eric Garza and I decided to return to school to pursue a degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering while working in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to having a previous Associates in Business Administration, I'm a lifelong musician and have been a Classical Guitarist for nearly 19 years now. I've used my return to college as an opportunity to formally study Classical Guitar at Pima CC while simultaneously completing my engineering degree. I also have a passion for teaching. During the school year I regularly work two separate jobs as a math tutor with both TRIO at Sunnyside High School and with Mathnasium. Despite being the busiest I've ever been in my life, I find everything I'm doing from STEM, Music, and teaching, to be incredibly fulfilling and am excited to see where this next chapter will take me.
Project: A liquid building wrapping capable of dynamically sending heat to outer space
Mentors: Joanna Aizenberg, Raphael Kay
Karen Dan
Hello, my name is Karen Dan. I am majoring in Culinary Arts and Bachelor's of Science and Chemistry.
Project: Imaging of corn pollen and developing STEM lessons for the Magic 8 foods
Mentors: Thiagarajan Soundappan, Kathryn Hollar, Mac Hathaway
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
Tae Cooper
Tae is a physics and computer science double major at the University of Arizona. In Summer 2024, she was a Research Intern at the Stanford Compression Forum at Standford University and led a team that developed a computer vision model that detects firearms. Tae was selected as a 2025 Flinn Scholar, a full-ride scholarship awarded to 20 of the highest-achieving Arizona high school seniors.
Project: Radiactive cooling for atmospheric water harvesting
Mentors: Joanna Aizenberg, Michael Gee
Lynette Castillo
Hello! My Name is Lynette Castillo. I'm Navajo and I come from New Mexico.
Project: Imaging turquoise of different origins
Mentors: Thiagarajan Soundappan, Kathryn Hollar, Mac Hathaway
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
Jacob Cardenas
From Pima Community College located in Tucson, Arizona, I am pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at the University of Arizona. My academic background includes extensive calculus coursework in addition to self-initiated projects. Passionate about education and community engagement, I have led STEM outreach events, tutored college-level mathematics, and facilitated orientation programs to support student success.
Project: Sea ice concentration on Eastern Greenland
Mentors: Fiamma Stranneo, Margaret Lindeman
Khoi Bui
Khoi Bui is a sophomore at Orange Coast College, transferring to UC Berkeley in Fall 2025 to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His passion for aerospace began at a young age and solidified during high school while studying physics. He is particularly interested in the development of clean and sustainable aircraft technologies, and hopes to contribute to the future of environmentally responsible aviation.
Project: Analyzing structural contributions of 3D-printed porous electrodes
Mentors: Michael Aziz, Sofia Edgar
Funding: Aziz Group Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Aaron Bordeaux
Hello, my name is Aaron Bordeaux. I come from an Indigenous background—Navajo (Diné). I currently reside in Tsʼíhootso, on Diné Bikéyah (Navajo land), in St. Michaels, Arizona. I am enrolled at Princeton University, where I plan to study Computer Science. I graduated from Mesa Community College in the Maricopa District of Arizona with an Associate of Science degree. I am now transferring to my new home institution to restart my undergraduate studies.
Outside academia, I help organize and participate in an anarcho-feminist collective focused on the liberation of Indigenous peoples worldwide. Our work centers on advocacy and education around Indigenous rights, Black and Brown liberation, and land and water protection. We engage in mutual aid, host shows, and organize panel discussions. Currently, I am also the co-vice chairperson in the Student and Postdoc Leadership Council (SPLC) of the Center for Quantum Networks (CQN).
I also practice and play three instruments, intending to compose, produce, and release my music. I love attending live shows for their atmospheric energy and immersive entertainment. In my free time, I enjoy reading, drawing, and staying competitive in both video games and chess.
Project: Spontaneous parametric down-conversion in periodically poled thin-film lithium tantalate
Mentors: Marko Lončar, Anna Shelton
Funding: NSF Engineering Research Center for Quantum Networks | NSF EEC-1941583
Malcolm Bogroff
Malcolm Bogroff is a computer engineering student from Flemington, New Jersey. He wants to pursue a PhD in electrical engineering and research nanophotonics. He is passionate about learning the physics of light that couples to matter and helping to revolutionize the architecture of future computers. Malcolm chose Howard University to put himself at the hub of black excellence and to make a name for himself as an emerging researcher. He strives to understand the cutting-edge of technology in his field and is always excited to continue developing as a scholar.
Project: SNOM Characterization of BNNTs
Mentors: Bill Wilson, Eric Seabron, Ibrahim Abdelwahab
Funding: IBM Quantum Institute and Howard University
Wayant Billey
I am from Navajo Technical University currently on my 2nd year as a chemistry student and I am from a small community called Standing Rock, NM and I hope to use my chemistry degree to make a difference in my community.
Project: Portable ten channel high voltage power supply for HASEL actuators
Mentors: Rob Wood, Mady Corrigan
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
Michael Ballenger
Michael Ballenger was born and raised in Germany and moved to the United States in 2020. He served as a medic in the U.S. Army before transitioning to studying biotechnology at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston. Michael is passionate about studying the intricacies of molecular life and aims to use his knowledge to contribute to the eradication of diseases. In his free time, he enjoys riding his bike and going for walks with his dog, Heidi.
Project: Microvascularization of cardiac tissue
Mentors: Kit Parker, Giulio Ciucci, Anna Clouvel-Gervaise
Funding: NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center at Harvard (MRSEC) | NSF DMR-2011754
Lana Azar
Lana Azar is pursuing degrees in pure mathematics and computer science at UC Santa Barbara. Her research interests lie in quantum optics and topological quantum theory, and her experience spans various areas within quantum science, including quantum cryptography and topological quantum error correction. Lana aims to pursue a PhD in quantum science and engineering after she graduates, focusing on furthering research in the quantum field.
Project: Slow light cavities and diamond defects
Mentors: Marko Lončar, Evelyn Hu, Chaoshen Zhang
Funding: NSF Engineering Research Center for Quantum Networks | NSF EEC-1941583
Matthew Anthony
Hello! I’m a biomedical engineering student with academic interests in biomedical systems, early disease detection, and neural engineering. I have previously conducted research in the Biomedical Optics and Optical Measurement Lab at the University of Arizona, where I contributed to hardware integration and repository documentation.
Project: Advances in membrane dehumidification
Mentors: Joanna Aizenberg, Jack Alvarenga, Jonathan Grinham
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