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Dr. Nelson Oppong, Assistant Professor of Physics, California Institute of Technology
Dr. Nelson Oppong, Assistant Professor of Physics, California Institute of Technology
Nelson Darkwah Oppong is a physicist working at the intersection of quantum science and precision measurement. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Physics at Caltech in Pasadena, where he leads a research group, building new experiments that harness microscopic control for advanced quantum metrology.
Dr. Hiruy Meharena, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology and Molecular Biology,
Dr. Hiruy Meharena, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology and Molecular Biology,
University of California San Diego
University of California San Diego
Dr. Reginald Hill, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of Southern California, STEM Career Coach & Founder, Lab Lift-Off
Dr. Reginald Hill, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of Southern California, STEM Career Coach & Founder, Lab Lift-Off
I am an Adjunct Faculty member at USC and a STEM career coach with over 20 years of experience in cancer research. My work has focused on developing innovative cancer research models to accelerate the discovery of therapeutic strategies for patients affected by this devastating disease.
My laboratory research has centered on pancreatic cancer, the tumor microenvironment, and the development of translationally relevant model systems. Through this work, I have helped establish sophisticated biomimetic and organoid-based platforms that capture key features of tumor biology and treatment resistance, enabling deeper insight into the mechanisms that drive cancer progression and informing new therapeutic approaches.
Throughout my career, I have taught, trained, and supported scientists across multiple career stages. I am passionate about research, teaching, mentoring, science communication, and helping others think strategically about how their skills and experiences can open new professional pathways for themselves and others.
Dr. Tracee Jamison-Hooks, Associate Professor of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University
Dr. Tracee Jamison-Hooks, Associate Professor of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University
Dr. Jamison-Hooks' research focuses on the development of advanced mathematical algorithms— particularly in the domain of digital signal processing (DSP)—for implementation on digital hardware. These algorithms enable precision measurements in both astronomical and terrestrial environments. Whether observing a star, planet, volcano, or other phenomena, the objective of any remote sensing instrument is consistent: to capture and analyze incoming signals to determine abundance, frequency content, and signal strength.
Achieving this level of insight requires a real-time, high-throughput data acquisition system capable of operating reliably in extreme environments. Conventional computing platforms, such as laptops, are illsuited for such tasks due to their fragility and inability to perform deterministic, low-latency processing. Instead, FPGAs—reconfigurable digital hardware devices—offer the performance, flexibility, and resilience necessary for in-situ scientific analysis.
Programming FPGAs to perform complex mathematical operations is a highly specialized skill within Electrical Engineering. It demands the translation of high-level algorithms into efficient, low-level digital architectures capable of processing streaming data in real time. In this context, the FPGA becomes more than a tool—it becomes the nexus where mathematical theory meets hardware implementation. It is the beating heart of high-fidelity instrumentation across Astrophysics, Astronomy, and RADAR systems— where scientific discovery is made possible through the seamless co-design of algorithms and engineering.
Education
PhD Electrical Engineering North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University 2003
MS Electrical Engineering Michigan State University 1993
BS Electrical Engineering Howard University 1992
Dr. Tracy Johnson, Dean of Life Sciences, Professor of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology,
Dr. Tracy Johnson, Dean of Life Sciences, Professor of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology,
University of California Los Angeles
University of California Los Angeles
Dr. Tracy Johnson is a professor in the Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology at UCLA and is the Keith and Cecilia Terasaki Presidential Endowed Chair in Life Sciences. Since 2020, she has served as the Dean of Life Sciences at UCLA and Senior Associate Dean in the David Geffen School of Medicine.
Dr. Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree from UCSD in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley and was a Jane Coffin Childs postdoctoral research fellow at the Caltech. Dr. Johnson’s lab studies fundamental aspects of gene expression, including messenger RNA synthesis and processing. She has been a scientific leader throughout her career. She recently served as the president of the Genetics Society of America, has served on the National Cancer Institute Board of Scientific Counselors, the chair of the Molecular Genetics NIH study section, the Chair of the HHMI Professors Executive Board, and currently serves as a Trustee for the Cold Spring Harbor.
Dr. Johnson has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the NSF CAREER Award, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professorship, and the American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Ruth Kirschstein Maximizing Access in Science Award. She is not only recognized for her scientific leadership, but also for her contributions to evidence-based educational innovation. In 2025, she received the UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award.
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