Voices of Baskin

Kaleen Shrestha: Graduate Student

by
Portrait of Kaleen Shrestha

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.”

Maryam Siddiqui: Undergraduate Student

by
Maryam Siddiqui: Undergraduate Student

Degree Program: Computer Science, B.S.; Electronic Music, minor
Department: Computer Science and Engineering

“There’s a lot of intersection between electronic music and computer science. In one of my classes, we’re using a specific music programming language to program our own sounds and electronic instruments. Doing these types of projects heightens my interest because I never thought I could blend those two fields and passions of mine together.”

Selin Ovali: Graduate Student

by
Selin Ovali: Graduate Student

Degree Program: Human Computer Interaction, M.S.
Undergraduate Institution: Purdue University, Computer Science B.S.
Department: Computational Media

“I specifically chose this program because I really liked the people involved and the research currently being done at Baskin Engineering in the HCI field.”

Justin Grant: Graduate Student

by

Degree Program: Human Computer Interaction, M.S.
Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Los Angeles, Philosophy, B.A.
Department: Computational Media

“My goal is to build on my undergraduate philosophy degree to develop technology that is useful and accessible to everyone.”

Harika Dechiraju: Ph.D. Student

by
Harika Dechiraju: Ph.D. Candidate

Degree Program: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli (India), Instrumentation and Control Engineering, B.S.
Advisor: Marco Rolandi
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering

“I’ve been working on developing bioelectronic devices for wound healing applications and tissue regeneration.”

Adeel Akhtar: Postdoctoral Scholar

by
Adeel Akhtar: Postdoctoral Scholar

Graduate Institution: University of Waterloo, Electrical and Computer Engineering, M.S. & Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Mechatronics, B.S.
Advisor: Ricardo Sanfelice
Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering

“I am not thinking too far ahead, but instead trying to live in the present. I am more concerned about making meaningful contributions and learning as many things as possible in my postdoc appointment at UC Santa Cruz.”

Kunal Garg: Postdoctoral Scholar

by
Kunal Garg: Postdoctoral Scholar

Degree Program: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Graduate Institution: University of Michigan, Aerospace Engineering, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Aerospace Engineering, B.S.
Advisor: Alvaro Cardenas and Ricardo Sanfelice

“One of the things that attracted me to Baskin Engineering was the opportunity to do an interdisciplinary project that blends the topics of security of cyber physical systems and control theory.”

Gerrald Lodewijk: Postdoctoral Scholar

by
Gerrald Lodewijk: Postdoctoral Scholar

Graduate Institution: Utrecht University, Neuroscience and Cognition, M.S., and University of Amsterdam, Molecular Neuroscience, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: Utrecht University, Biomedical Sciences, B.S.
Advisor: Ali Shariati
Department: Biomolecular Engineering

“It’s been nice to establish a research network at UCSC and outside of the UCSC research community, which has allowed me to secure new project collaborations and expand my research scope.”

Andi Peeters: Staff

by

Graduate Institution: Loyola Marymount University, M.A. Counseling & Capella University, Ph.D. Education
Undergraduate Institution: Washington State University
Department: Undergraduate Advising

“My two favorite days of the year are the first day of the academic year and commencement. To see students walk across the stage with the world at their fingertips is just rad!”

Zia Isola: Staff

by
Isola Zia

Graduate Institution: UC Santa Barbara, English Literature and Writing, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Institution: UC Berkeley, English Language and Literature, B.A.

“So many of our students have the challenge of being the first in their family to go to college, the first to consider graduate school, or of being the first to be in a STEM field. It’s intimidating to leave what is familiar and step into new territory. They embrace that challenge with such heart, commitment, determination, and passion. It’s completely inspiring.”