Baskin Engineering Communications 
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Baskin Engineering alumna Melody Azimi (B.S., Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics, ‘21) was a co-captain of the 2020 UC Santa Cruz International Genetic Engineering Machine (iGEM) team, called Komaplastics.
Double Baskin Engineering alumnus Stephen Hwang (B.S., Biomolecular Engineering, ‘21; M.S., Biomolecular Engineering, ‘22) was co-captain of the 2021 UC Santa Cruz Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team, called Progenie.
Graduate Institution: Towson University, Teaching, M.A.; University of Washington, Educational Psychology, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: Washington State University, Mathematics, B.S.
Department: Baskin School of Engineering
“I study what is needed in our division and respond with evidence-based approaches. It often involves building a program, a report, an experience, a communication, or a collaborative meeting to close gaps and help students succeed.”