2025 awards and accolades
An ongoing list of fall 2025 accolades and research awards given to Baskin Engineering faculty, students, and staff.
Baskin Engineering Communications
Kamran Hussain: Undergraduate Student
Kamran Hussain is a second year electrical engineering student. He is part of the Braingeneers Group, where he leads an innovative project studying the electrical activity of neurons, using AI to predict the activity of neural circuits.
Salma Qadiri: Undergraduate Student
Salma Qadiri is a third year UC Santa Cruz computer science student, minoring in applied mathematics. She gained support and resources at Baskin Engineering through the MESA Engineering Program and found community with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).
Qingyuan Cao: Undergraduate Student
Qingyuan Cao is a fourth year robotics engineering student who is passionate about aerospace engineering. After joining the UC Santa Cruz Rocket Team in 2021, Cao has played a crucial role in the club’s success.
Shourya Bose: Graduate Student
Shourya Bose is completing his last year as an electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. student and is one of three recipients of the Dissertation-year Fellowship. Drawn to Baskin Engineering for its proximity to Silicon Valley and focus on innovation for social good, Bose’s research applies machine learning and artificial intelligence to optimize power grids.
Katia Avila Pinedo: Undergraduate Student
Katia Avila Pinedo is in her final year pursuing a bachelors in networks and digital technology at UC Santa Cruz. As a dedicated member of the Baskin Engineering community, Pinedo has actively engaged in initiatives supporting underrepresented students in engineering. She is passionate about education and mentorship, and hopes to continue inspiring students in rural, low-income school districts to pursue pathways in STEM.
Emily Lovell: Postdoctoral Fellow
Double UC Santa Cruz alumna Emily Lovell joined Baskin Engineering’s Computer Science and Engineering Department in 2022 as a postdoctoral fellow. Lovell focuses on open source software contribution and teaching open source as a way to support broader participation in computing.
Alonzo Lee: Alumnus
Baskin Engineering alumnus Alonzo Lee (B.S., Bioengineering, ‘16) was co-captain of the 2015 UC Santa Cruz Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team, called Cellulose to Butanol.
Claire Bispo: Alumna
Baskin Engineering alumna Claire Bispo (B.S., Biomolecular Engineering, ‘19) was a part of 2018 UC Santa Cruz International Genetic Engineering Machine (iGEM) team, called Poppy.
Nina Sardesh: Alumna
As a Baskin Engineering student, Nina Sardesh (B.S., Bioengineering, ‘16) was one of two team leads for the 2016 UC Santa Cruz International Genetic Engineering Machine (iGEM) team, called Sugar Slugs.
Aren Pageler: Alumnus
Baskin Engineering alumnus Aren Pageler (B.S., Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics, ‘19) played a key role on the 2019 UC Santa Cruz International Genetically Engineering Machine (iGEM) team, called Vitrium.
Emily Mount: Alumna
Baskin Engineering alumna Emily Mount (B.S. Biomolecular Engineering, ‘19) was captain of the 2018 UC Santa Cruz International Genetic Engineering Machine (iGEM) team, called Poppy.