The campus’s 2023 Grad Slam finalists are (listed alphabetically by last name):
Aneelman Brar
Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Title: "Recycling Carbon Dioxide; Fuel From Air"
Advisor: Professor Michael Findlater
Research: Aneelman is part of the Findlater group, where she is focused on developing the electrocatalyst based on pincer metal complexes for the direct reduction of captured carbon dioxide into renewable fuels and chemicals.
Fakhrul Bhuiyan
Mechanical Engineering
Title: "Innovation in Lubricant Addititves – Better Products, Greener Earth"
Advisor: Professor Ashlie Martini
Research: Fakhrul is a computational researcher in the Martini Research Group. He uses molecular dynamics simulations, computer programming, and data analysis techniques to study the mechanical and chemical processes that happen at a sliding interface. His research aims to answer cutting-edge research questions regarding the friction, lubrication, and wear of bulk and nanomaterials to improve their performance.
Mariela Colombo
Environmental Systems
Title: "Green Hydrogen for a Greener Future"
Advisor: Professor Sarah Kurtz
Research: Mariela is part of the CEC-LDES project, where we use a computational model to analyze the role of Long Duration Energy Storage as well as other technologies for meeting decarbonization targets in California’s grid.
Samuel Erickson
Physics
Title: "It's Full of Stars: Harnessing Light in Space"
Advisor: Professor Sayantani Ghosh
Research: Sam studies perovskite, a next-generation solar cell material. Through optical and electronic measurements, he is working to better understand how this semiconductor behaves in space and how it might be improved for future missions.
Abhishek Kumar
Mechanical Engineering
Title: "Electric Vehicle Greases: Road to Clean Future"
Advisor: Professor Ashlie Martini
Research: Abhishek is part of the Martini Research Lab, where he developed a novel technique in collaboration with Chevron Corporation to analyze the performance characteristics of electric motor greases. This research will improve energy efficiency of electric vehicles for a clean environment and a better future.
Dora Mendez
Quantitative and Systems Biology
Title: "A Diabetic Heart Hero - Thyroid Hormone"
Advisor: Professor Rudy Ortiz
Research: Dora is studying the effects of an exogenous thyroid hormone (thyroxine) treatment on substrate metabolism and redox biology in insulin resistant rat model of metabolic syndrome.
Edwin Rivas Meraz
Environmental Systems
Title: "Fishing for Solutions: A New Tool to Treat Mercury Contaminated Sediments in Water"
Advisor: Professor Peggy O'Day
Research: Edwin's research is focused on the development and testing of a solid-phase media that can be applied for environmental remediation of mercury contaminated sediments.
Muztoba Rabbani
Materials and Biomaterials Science Engineering
Title: "Understanding Nanoparticles Better for Improved Usage"
Advisor: Professor Ashlie Martini
Research: Studying the deformation mechanisms of metal nanoparticles with molecular dynamics simulation.
Jeremiah Reagan
Materials and Biomaterials Science Engineering
Title: "Shading Water for a Brighter Future"
Advisor: Professor Sarah Kurtz
Research: Jeremiah's work involves a variant design of solar canals using vertical bifacial solar panels. Instead of place solar panels directly over the water, a wall of vertical panels is placed along one side while a reflective tarp is stretched across the water. His research focuses on modeling the differences in energy output between designs, the suitability of different material to use for the tarp, and comparative cost effectiveness if scaled up.
Ambarish Varadan
Quantitative and Systems Biology
Title: "Viruses within the human gut: Friends or Foes?"
Advisor: Professor Juris Grasis
Research: Ambarish is part of the Grasis Lab, where he is investigating whether and by what mechanism(s) bacteriophages activate human intestinal epithelial cells.
