The campus’s 2026 Grad Slam finalists are (listed alphabetically by last name):
Zahra Alitaneh
Quantitative and Systems Biology
Advisor: Professor
Research:
Alberto Alves
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor: Professor Ashlie Martini
Research:
Alex Hartzler
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor: Professor Ashlie Martini
Research: I study how greases designed for combustion engines perform under electrified conditions similar to those in EVs. By understanding their behavior, we can develop better lubricants to extend EV longevity and contribute to cleaner air in the Central Valley and beyond.
Harleen Kaur
Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Advisor: Professor Rebeca Arevalo
Research:
Zoe Loh
Management of Complex Systems
Advisor: Professor Spencer Castro
Research:
Sarah Malone
Applied Mathematics
Advisor: Professors Shilpa Khatri and Roummel Marcia
Research: Sarah studies the fluid dynamics of pulsing soft corals to understand how their motion drives transport in the surrounding water. By combining computational modeling with data-driven methods, she builds surrogate models that reveal which biological and physical parameters enhance fluid flow.
Zachary Malone
Environmental Systems
Advisor: Professor Rebecca Ryals
Research: Zachary how organic materials, once turned into compos, can be used to improve soil health. His focus is on compost applied to city soils, and how this compost can impact soil carbon cycling and climate change mitigation in urban areas.
Emmanuel Rabago Moreno
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor: Professor Anna Nierenberg
Research:
Andrew Silverstein
Environmental Systems
Advisor: Professor Sarah Kurtz
Research: Andrew studies the impact of agrivoltaics on water use efficiency, plant phenology and soil properties in the Central Valley.
Tahirah Williams
Quantitative & Systems Biology
Advisor: Professor Clarissa Nobile
Research: Tahirah is interested in understanding the molecular and genetic regulation of Coccidioides, the fungal pathogen responsible for Valley fever, and its interaction with the mucosal immune system. Her work will contribute to a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions.
