UC Irvine Graduate Division

Beth Karlin

UCI/Stanley Behrens Public Impact Fellows

Degrees:

• Social Ecology, UCI, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Public Policy and Administration, CSU Long Beach, M.P.A, 2007
• Psychology / Spanish, University of Redlands, B.A., 1999

Research

The role of social scientists in contributing to the development and testing of interventions critical to the solutions in energy efficiency and conservation.

Biography

Beth is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Social Ecology, where she founded and directs the Transformational Media Lab within the Center for Unconventional Security Affairs. She studies the role of information and communication technology in promoting pro-environmental behavior; current projects investigate technology-enabled energy feedback and transmedia social action campaigns. She has presented her work to diverse audiences including the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences, International Studies Association, and the American Psychological Association. Before coming to UCI, Beth spent a decade years working in K-12 education, holding positions as a teacher, counselor, curriculum developer, and school administrator.

Ryan Schutte

UCI/Stanley Behrens Public Impact Fellows

Degrees:

• Biomedical Sciences, UCI School of Medicine, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Biological Sciences, UCI, B.S., 2007

Research

Modeling human genetic epilepsies using fruit flies.

Biography

Ryan is a doctoral candidate from the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology in the School of Medicine. His research focuses on a new approach to modeling human genetic epilepsies using fruit flies. These models will provide insight into the neural mechanisms underlying epilepsies associated with specific human mutations. In addition to his research Ryan is interested in education. For the past 5 years he has served as a TA for a large introductory biology course. He is a HHMI-UCI graduate fellow, a TLTC Pedagogical Fellow, and was awarded the Edward Steinhaus Teaching Award in Biological Science in 2011. He mentors undergraduate students in research and served as Dept. Journal Club Coordinator for the past 3 years.

Seema Ehsan

Public Impact Distinguished Fellow

Degrees:

• Chemical Engineering, UC Irvine, Ph.D., 2014 expected
• Chemical Engineering, UC Irvine, M.S., 2011
• Chemical Engineering, UC Berkeley, B.S., 2008

Research

Development of complex tumor models to enhance anticancer drug screening.

Biography

Seema is a Ph.D. candidate in the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Department at UC Irvine. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Irvine. Her research focuses on developing engineered tumor models that can be used for clinically relevant anticancer drug screening.

Scott Sellars

Public Impact Distinguished Fellow

Degrees:

• Civil and Environmental Engineering, UCI, Ph.D, 2014 expected
• Civil and Environmental Engineering, UCI, M.S. 2013 expected
• Climate and Society, Columbia University, M.A., 2009
• Meteorology, University of Utah, B.S., 2005

Research

Aims to identify the next generation of tools and approaches for developing seasonal climate predictions, which can be integrated into current operational methods for seasonal water supply forecasting and enhancing the options a water manager has at his or her disposal.

Biography

Scott is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in The Henry Samueli School of Engineering. He works at the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing on research applications of machine learning and pattern detection in hydroclimate, remote sensing and water resource management. Scott received a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from the University of Utah in 2005 and a Master of Arts degree in Climate and Society from Columbia University in 2009. Scott is particularly interested in developing methods and algorithms to better understand climate variability and climate change and its impacts on water resources.

Binbin Zheng

Public Impact Distinguished Fellow

Degrees:

• Education, UCI, Ph.D., 2014 expected
• Educational Technology, Beijing Normal University, M.A., 2009
• Educational Information and Technology, East China Normal University, B.S., 2006

Research

Research focuses on how schools can best make use of low-cost computers to help diverse learners, including English learners, underrepresented minorities, and low-income s students, learn to write well.

Biography

Binbin is a doctoral candidate in the School of Education with a specialization in Language, Literacy, and Technology. She holds an M.A. in Educational Technology from Beijing Normal University and a B.S. in Educational Information and Technology from East China Normal University. Binbin's current research investigates how K-12 schools can best make use of low-cost netbook computers and other digital tools to support academic achievement and literacy development among at-risk learners, including English language learners, underrepresented minorities, and students from low-income families. Her long-term goal is to bridge educational achievement gaps through high-quality research on promising educational reforms.

Alejandra Albarran Moses

Public Impact Fellow

Degrees:

• Education with a dual focus in Learning, Cognitions, & Development and Educational Policy and Social Context, UCI, Ph.D., 2012 expected
• Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education, M.A., 2008
• Psychology with a minor in Spanish, California Lutheran University, B.S., 2003

Research

The role of community-based organizations in improving school readiness through parent engagement.

Biography

Alejandra is a doctoral candidate in the School of Education with a dual specialization in Learning, Cognition, and Development & Educational Policy and Social Context. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from CLU and an M.A.’s from Cal State Northridge in Educational Psychology. She studies the role of community-based organizations in improving school readiness through parent engagement. In addition to research, she is active on campus as the co-chair of the Chican@/Latin@ Graduate Student Collective and as a graduate student representative on many boards. She looks forward to becoming a professor and engaging in research on children in natural contexts.

Joshua Gellers

Public Impact Fellow

Degrees:

• Political Science, UCI, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Political Science, UCI, M.A., 2009
• Climate and Society, Columbia University, M.A., 2007
• Political Science, University of Florida, B.A., 2005

Research

Research focuses on understanding why countries adopt environmental rights in national constitutions, especially in South Asia.

Biography

Josh is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Political Science. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida, where he graduated magna cum laude, an M.A. in Climate and Society from Columbia University, and an M.A. in Political Science from UCI. Josh has consulted for the United Nations Development Programme and Sierra Club Green Home. His research utilizes quantitative and qualitative techniques to understand why countries adopt constitutional environmental rights, especially in South Asia, where he has conducted field research. Josh hopes to continue his work as a professor and international development consultant.

Zoya Gubernskaya

Public Impact Fellow

Degrees:

• Sociology, UCI Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Demographic and Social Analysis, UCI, M.A., 2006
• Psychology, Lviv National University, Diploma, 2000

Research

Sociology and demography of health, aging, immigration, and family.

Biography

Zoya is a doctoral student in the department of Sociology in the School of Social Sciences. She holds an M.A. in Demographic and Social Analysis from UCI and a degree in Psychology from Ukraine-based Lviv National University. Her current research seeks to understand divergent health outcomes among the older foreign-born in the U.S. Using an interdisciplinary approach she investigates how incorporation experiences throughout the life course affect immigrants’ health and wellbeing in old age. While pursuing an academic career, she also expects her research findings to influence public policies aimed at reducing health disparities in old age.

Briana Hinga

Public Impact Fellow

Degrees:

• Education, UCI, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Education, UCI, M.A., 2010

Research

Classroom practices, teacher education, and student assessments that promote innovative and equitable schooling opportunities for underrepresented students.

Biography

Briana Hinga is a doctoral candidate in the UCI School of Education, specializing in Learning, Cognition, and Development and Educational Policy and Social Context. Briana researches classroom practices, teacher education, and student assessments that promote innovative and equitable schooling opportunities for underrepresented students. She grounds this research in partnerships with researchers, teachers, students, and community members. She plans to pursue a career as a university professor as a means to learn from and work with the academic academy and communities to create spaces of collaboration and movement toward social justice in education.

Tina Matuchniak

Public Impact Fellow

Degrees:

• Education, UCI, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Education, UCI, M.A., 2011
• Literacy Studies, CSULB, M.A., 2000
• English, CSULB, B.A. 1999

Research

Examining the writing practices and performances of high school English language learners as they transition to college.

Biography

Tina is a doctoral candidate in the School of Education at UCI specializing in language and literacy. As a multilingual immigrant to this country and a Lecturer at California State University, Long Beach, Tina has both a personal as well as professional interest in working with non-native speakers of English and other traditionally under-served and marginalized student populations. In addition to serving as a faculty mentor to 10 first-generation college students, Tina was also recognized for her excellence in teaching and awarded the prestigious “Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award” (2007) at CSU, Long Beach. In 2011, she received the UC ACCORD Dissertation Year Fellowship and was commended for “conducting ground-breaking work that will make a great contribution to equity and opportunity.” More recently (2012), she was awarded the Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Year Fellowship.

Dana Nakano

Public Impact Fellow

Degrees:

• Sociology, UCI, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Demographic and Social Analysis, UCI, M.A., 2010
• Asian American Studies, San Francisco State University, M.A, 2007
• Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 2004
• International Relations and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies – Japanese, University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 2004

Research

The intersections of race and politics.

Biography

Dana is a doctoral candidate in the UCI School of Social Sciences, with a concentration in physical chemistry. His overarching research agenda focuses on the intersections of race and politics. Dana broadly defines politics to include the standard forms of electoral politics, political participation, civic engagement, and mobilization, but also take as central the more mundane experiences of citizenship as community and senses of belonging. His dissertation, tentatively titled “Racialized Belonging and Substantive Citizenship Among Later Generation Japanese Americans,” examines the persistence and construction of racial and ethnic communities among third and fourth generation Japanese Americans in Southern California and the impact of such community building on extralegal aspects of citizenship. He has a planned completion date on June 2013.

Marisa Omori

Public Impact Fellow

Degrees:

• Criminology, Law and Society, UCI, Ph.D., 2014 expected
• Social Ecology, UCI, M.A., 2010
• Criminal Justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The City University of New York, M.A., 2007
• Economics, Occidental College, A.B., 2003

Research

Cumulative racial inequality in the arrest and court processes for drug offenders.

Biography

Marisa is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Criminology, Law & Society. Her work focuses on issues of race and punishment, drug policy, sentencing, and corrections. Marisa’s dissertation examines cumulative racial inequality in the arrest and court processes for drug offenders. Other projects include methamphetamine legislation, addiction and drug use over time, racial and gang violence in juvenile justice facilities, and drug offender sentencing. Marisa’s work has been published in Crime and Delinquency, Crime and Public Policy, and Theoretical Criminology. She is also the past recipient of the Newkirk Center for Science and Society Fellowship and the Debbie Davis Graduate Student Award for service and advocacy.

John Michael Ian Salas

Public Impact Fellow

Degrees:

• Economics, UCI, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Economics, University of the Philippines, M.A., 2004
• Economics, University of the Philippines, B.S., 2002

Research

Causal explanations for high fertility in developing countries.

Biography

Ian is a doctoral candidate in Economics at UCI. His research looks at demographic and economic issues that developing countries face, as demonstrated by Philippine experience. He has received many grants for his ongoing research on the impact of free contraceptives on birth rates and other health outcomes. His earlier publications looked at measuring the aggregate burden of providing for a relatively large young dependent population, tracing disparities in firm productivity and regional development to differences in investment environment, validating a central bank's adherence to its avowed goal of managing inflation, and detecting collusive behavior in setting gasoline pump prices.

Sepideh Sarachi

Public Impact Fellow

Degrees:

• Civil Engineering/water resources, UCI, Ph.D., 2014 expected
• Civil Engineering, UCI, M.S., 2010
• Civil Engineering, Sharif University of technology/Iran, B.S., 2009

Research

A probabilistic model for uncertainty associated with satellite precipitation products.

Biography

Sepideh is a doctoral candidate in water resources and hydrology at center for hydrometeorology and remote sensing (CHRS) in the Henry Samueli school of engineering at UCI. She holds her master’s from the same school and her bachelors from Sharif university of technology, Iran. She is interested in water resources and the quantification of how much water is available to communities to forecast disasters look flooding and drought. Currently, she is working on quantifying the uncertainty associated with precipitation data estimated from satellite products, and would like to propose a global uncertainty model which can be used as a side product with any available precipitation product to give us a better estimate of the available water. This uncertainty helps to conduct better strategic planning for natural resources in societies.

Maria Torres

Public Impact Fellow

Degrees:

• Neurobiology and Behavior, UCI, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Chemistry, UCSC, B.S., 2008

Research

Research focuses on the role of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), an astrocyte secreted protein, in dendritic spine morphogenesis and structural plasticity.

Biography

Maria is a doctoral candidate in the School of Biological Sciences with a focus in neurobiology and behavior. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is currently working under the supervision of Dr. Jorge Busciglio and is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in Down syndrome neuronal dysfunction. Upon completion of a Doctorate of Philosophy degree, she plans to pursue a medical degree in order to most effectively apply her research background in neurodevelopmental diseases to serve and educate the community through disease prevention.

Matthew Valasik

Public Impact Fellow

Degrees:

• Criminology, Law & Society, School of Social Ecology - UCI, Ph.D., 2014 expected
• Criminology, Department of Sociology - The Ohio State University, B.A., 2006
• History, Department of History - The Ohio State University, B.A., 2004

Research

Investigation of how the establishment and enforcement of civil gang injunctions disrupt the activity patterns of gangs, impacting their criminal opportunities.

Biography

Matt is a doctoral candidate in the UCI School of Social Ecology where he is in the department of Criminology, Law & Society. He holds a B.A. from The Ohio State University in Criminology and History as well as a B.S. in Zoology. In conjunction with his advisor, Matt has been participating on a large-scale, multiple university research project forecasting the structure and dynamics of evolving criminal networks. Matt has contributed to 2 published papers from this research initiative, and is currently working on several others. Matt’s dissertation research investigates how the establishment and enforcement of civil gang injunctions disrupt the activity patterns of gangs, impacting their criminal opportunities.

Jesse Catlin

Distinguished Fellow

Degrees:

• Management with a concentration in Marketing, UC Irvine, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Economics, California State University, Sacramento, M.A., 2007
• Economics, California State University, Sacramento, B.A., 2005

Research

Consumer behavior, with an emphasis on pharmaceutical marketing and sustainable consumption

Biography

Jesse is a doctoral candidate in the Marketing area of the Paul Merage School of Business at UCI and holds a B.A. and M.A. in Economics from California State University, Sacramento.  His primary research interest is in the area of consumer behavior, with an emphasis on pharmaceutical marketing and sustainable consumption.  Jesse’s research has been published in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing and Health Communication.  His dissertation research investigates the underlying reasons for the growing problem of consumer overdose on commonly used over-the-counter medications.  Jesse is also a past recipient of the Ray Watson and Newkirk Center for Science and Society Fellowships.

Cheng-Wei (Aaron) Chen

Distinguished Fellow

Degrees:

• Chemical Biochemical Engineering, UCI, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Chemical Biochemical Engineering, UCI, M.S., 2011
• Chemical/biochemical Engineering, UC Davis, B.S., 2001

Research

Chemical Engineering

Biography

Cheng-Wei (Aaron) is a doctoral candidate in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering. Aaron holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Davis. His area of focus is chemical engineering. Prior to beginning his doctoral studies, Aaron worked in field of biotechnology where he was awarded a patent in 2003 for his work on the creation of phthalate polymers to capture and compare protein profiles, which can then be used as a biomarker for identifying a specific disease. Aaron’s research has appeared in several academic journals including Advanced Materials and Biotechnology and Bioengineering.  In 2010, he was the recipient of the prestigious Edwards Lifesciences Training Fellowship.  Aaron’s current research explores the development of novel approaches to the treatment of heart attacks.

Laura Huang

Distinguished Fellow

Degrees:

• Management, UCI, Ph.D., 2012 expected
• Business Administration, INSEAD, MBA, 2005
• Engineering, Duke University, M.S., 2001
• Engineering, Duke University, B.S., 2000

Research

High-risk, complex decision-making and problem solving in a variety of different businesses that drive economies through job growth and technology growth

Biography

Laura is a doctoral candidate in the Paul Merage School of Business at UCI.  Laura holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Duke University, where she double majored in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, graduating with honors.  She also holds a Master of Science in Engineering from Duke University and an MBA from INSEAD.  Prior to starting her Ph.D., Laura worked in consulting and general management at IBM and Johnson & Johnson, and also advised a number of entrepreneurial start-ups on their management and product launch strategies.  Her current research investigates high-risk, complex decision-making and problem solving in a variety of different businesses that drive economies through job growth and technology growth, such as established firms like IBM and Johnson & Johnson, as well as early-stage entrepreneurial start-ups creating new technology markets.

Jessica Pratt

Distinguished Fellow

Degrees:

• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCI, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Zoology, North Carolina State University, M.S., 2005
• Biology, Grand Valley State University, B.S., 2003

Research

How plant responses to environmental change scale up to affect animal communities

Biography

Jessica is a doctoral candidate in the UCI School of Biological Sciences where she is concentrating on Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Grand Valley State University and an M.S. in Zoology from North Carolina State University where she studied the conservation value of shaded coffee plantations for resident birds in Puerto Rico. Jessica’s interests lie in the applied fields of habitat conservation and ecological restoration.  She is currently conducting research to assess how plant responses to environmental change scale up to affect animal communities. Jessica is also a founding member of the Orange County Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB), serves on the Chapters Advisory Commnittee for SCB, and as Interim Vice President of the Student Section for the Ecological Society of America.

Gobind Bisht

Degrees:

• Biomedical Engineering, UCI, Ph.D., 2012 expected
• Biomedical Engineering, UCI, M.S., 2009
• Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India, B.S., 2008

Research

Implantable Sugar Fuel Cell and High Precision Nanofiber Electro-writing

Biography

Gobind is a doctoral candidate in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering with a concentration focused on biomedical engineering. He holds an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from UCI and a B.S. in Biotechnology from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India.  Gobind has been involved in many entrepreneurial efforts to commercialize high impact technologies including Electroporation-based Non-deteriorative sterilization of foods and Diamond-like nanocomposite films for improving surgical tool performance, winning recognition at several competitions including the UCI Business Plan Competition. He is currently focusing on an Implantable Sugar Fuel Cell and High Precision Nanofiber Electro-writing.

Dana Garfin

Degrees:

• Psychology and Social Behavior, UCI, Ph.D., 2013 expected
• Social Ecology, M.A., UCI, 2010
• Sociology (major) and Political Science (minor), B.A., University of Colorado at Boulder 2002

Research

How early negative life events and community disasters are associated with physical and mental health outcomes

Biography

Dana is a doctoral candidate in the UCI School of Social Ecology where she is in the department of Psychology and Social Behavior.  She holds an M.A. from UCI in Social Ecology as well as a B.A. from the University of Colorado from which she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Dana’s current program of research focuses on how early negative life events and community disasters are associated with physical and mental health outcomes. She has worked with homeless populations in Denver, immigrant populations in Mexico, members of the Dine (Navajo) nation in Arizona, and Tibetan refugees in Northern India. Her research projects have included two studies that assess psychosocial reactions to the 2010 8.8 magnitude Chilean earthquake; a longitudinal study of psychosocial development in 2,232 British children; and a National Science Foundation-funded longitudinal study of how turbulent social events (e.g., terrorist attacks, the economic crisis) are associated with mental health outcomes in a nationally representative sample of Americans. Dana has presented preliminary findings of her research at the Ministry of Health and at the Presidential Palace in Santiago, Chile.

Alexis Hickman

Degrees:

• Planning, Policy and Design, UCI, Ph.D., 2012 expected
• Masters of Urban and Regional Planning, UCI, M.U.R.P., 2008
• Global Studies, UCSB, B.A., 2004

Research

Environmental management

Biography

Alexis is a doctoral candidate pursuing a degree in Planning, Policy and Design from the School of Social Ecology. She holds a B.A. from UCSB in Global Studies and an M.U.R.P. from UCI in Urban Planning. In conjunction with her advisor, Alexis recently completed a book about environmental governance of the regional seas. She has received several grants for her work on coastal cities and climate change adaptation including the renowned Newkirk Grant.  Her main focus now is to further the knowledge and innovative work being done in environmental management.

Jordan Kraemer

Degrees:

• Anthropology, UCI, Ph.D., 2012 expected
• Social Sciences, University of Chicago, M.A., 2005
• Medieval Studies, Wesleyan University, B.A., 2000

Research

The role of new media technologies in the geographic organization of everyday life, particularly how social and mobile media are shaping lived experience in the European Union

Biography

Jordan is a doctoral candidate in the Anthropology Department in the School of Social Sciences. She holds an M.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in Medieval Studies from Wesleyan University. Jordan’s research addresses the role of new media technologies in the geographic organization of everyday life, particularly how social and mobile media are shaping lived experience in the European Union.   Her work has been supported in part by DAAD as well as the Institute for European Studies, the Intel/UCI initiative PAPR@UCI, UCI's Department of Anthropology, and the School of Social Sciences. 

James Leak

Degrees:

• Education, UCI, Ph.D., 2012 expected
• Education, UCI, M.A., 2010
• Public Policy and Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 2006

Research

Education Policy and Social Context

Biography

James Leak is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Education. He is specializing in Education Policy and Social Context. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and Public Policy, with a focus in Education Policy, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  While at UCI, James has worked as a TA and a graduate student researcher for the past 4 years on a meta-analysis for the National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs.

Aleksandr Pevzner

Degrees:

• Neurobiology and Behavior, UCI, Ph.D., 2012 expected
• Biopsychology and Cognitive Science, U Michigan, B.S., 2006

Research

Investigation of molecular processes underlying learning and memory

Biography

Aleksandr is a doctoral candidate in the school of Biological Sciences with a focus on  neurobiology and behavior. He holds a B.S. in Biopsychology and Cognitive Science from the University of Michigan. Currently, he is investigating the molecular processes underlying learning and memory, with the goal of understanding the basis of neurological diseases.   Aleksandr is an active instructor in the Gifted Student Association program here on campus.

Courtney Reynolds

Degrees:

• Medicine, UCI M.D., 2014 expected
• Social Ecology, UCI Ph.D., 2012 expected
• Molecular Biology, UCI, M.S., 2009
• Biochemistry, UCSB, B.S., 2004

Research

How infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus spread in hospitals and nursing homes

Biography

Courtney is a sixth-year student in the MD/PhD program and a third-year doctoral student studying the epidemiology of infectious diseases through Social Ecology. She holds an M.S. in molecular biology from UCI’s School of Biological Sciences. Courtney decided to pursue her PhD in epidemiology to integrate her clinical and research interests. Courtney has published 2 papers, given oral presentations at the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America conferences in 2010 and 2011, and is the recipient of an F30 NRSA training grant through the National Institute on Aging. She is interested in how infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus spread in hospitals and nursing homes.

Nayssan Safavian

Degrees:

• Education, UCI, Ph.D., 2012 expected
• Education, UCI, M.A., 2010
• Psychology, UCLA, B.A., 2004

Research

The role of motivation in improving students' proficiency in mathematics and the impact of teachers' motivation on student achievement

Biography

Nayssan is a doctoral candidate with an emphasis in Learning, Cognition, and Development in the Department of Education at UCI.  She holds an M.A. in Education from UCI and a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA. Currently, she is project manager for the California Motivation Project where she studies the role of motivation in improving students' proficiency in mathematics and the impact of teachers' motivation on student achievement. As a first generation American, her experiences inspire her to study cultural differences in motivation among immigrant minority youth and she looks forward to a research and teaching career dedicated to understanding the impact of achievement motives on student success.

Yixin Shi

Degrees:

• Biomedical Engineering, UCI, Ph.D., 2012 expected
• Biomedical Engineering, UCI, M.S., 2009
• Bioengineering, Beihang University, B.S., 2008

Research

Development of non-invasive techniques to improve the diagnosis and management of asthma in children

Biography

Yixin is a doctoral candidate in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering with a focus on Biomedical Engineering. She holds an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and a B.S. in Bioengineering from Beihang University.   She is particularly interested in developing several non-invasive techniques to improve the diagnosis and management of asthma in children. In collaboration with Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Yixin led a research team in collecting first-hand clinical data in an indigent population designed to help with assessing and treating asthma in high-risk populations.

Wenbo Yan

Degrees:

• Physical Chemistry, UC Irvine, Ph.D., 2013 in expected
• Inorganic Chemistry, Nanjing Univ., M.S., 2008

Research

Research and development of new cathode materials to meet society’s growing need for clean, cheap, and renewable energy sources

Biography

Wenbo is a doctoral candidate in the UCI School of Physical Sciences, with a concentration in physical chemistry. She holds an M.S. in inorganic chemistry from Nanjing University. Currently, her area of research is related to develop new cathode materials to meet society’s growing need for clean, cheap, and renewable energy sources, such as lithium ion batteries and supercapacitors. Wenbo’s goal is to understand what are the key parameters that limit the energy delivery rate for lithium ion batteries based on nanostructured materials. In addition to research, Wenbo is a Teaching Assistant in the General Chemistry labs here at UCI.