Why did you choose to study MSE?

I love that MSE is at the interface of engineering and basic science. You get to work on real world applications while also looking and tinkering underneath the hood at the molecular/ crystal structure level.

 What do you like most about MSE? 

I like that you can pretty much work on anything you want. MSE is such an expansive field that you can find projects in energy, machine learning and recycling all in the same group.

 Any interesting projects/research you are working on now that you’d like to share?

Right now I'm working on improving cobalt-free lithium ion battery chemistries. Cobalt is an element that is widely used in batteries but is connected to serious human rights abuses. Developing alternatives to cobalt based batteries is important to allow us to make our energy systems greener and not increase harm in other parts of the world while we do it.

 What do you enjoy doing outside of school?

I'm interested in local politics. I'm working on a few local races here in the East Bay. I envision a world where everyone has affordable housing near where they work, no one is forced to buy a car to get around, and everyone can live free of police violence.

 What are your future plans? 

I'll most likely pursue a job related to energy, housing or transit -- probably data science oriented. I would love a job that required me to live abroad and move around where I could learn new languages and meet new people.