News & Events

07-19-19

Manuel P. Soriaga, Research Professor of Applied Physics and Materials Science, passed away on July 17, 2019. As a principal investigator in Caltech's Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP), Soriaga studied electrochemical reactions that make artificial photosynthesis possible. "Manny’s accomplishments as a surface scientist were peerless and of the highest quality, and he made essential and indispensable contributions to JCAP’s mission," says Professor Harry Atwater. "All who knew him well will also remember with fondness the warmth and humor that he brought to his work and life." [Caltech story]

Tags: APhMS EAS history Harry Atwater JCAP Manuel Soriaga

07-15-19

Mechanical engineering student Timothy Chen, advised by Professor Melany Hunt, is a recipient of the 2019 Henry Ford II Scholar Award. Timothy is drawn to mechatronics, primarily to robotics and autonomy. The Henry Ford II Scholar Award is funded under an endowment provided by the Ford Motor Company Fund. The award is made annually to engineering students with the best academic record at the end of the third year of undergraduate study.

Tags: honors MCE Henry Ford II Scholar Award Melany Hunt Timothy Chen

07-10-19

A team of researchers including Noah Olsman (PhD ’19), John Doyle, Jean-Lou Chameau Professor of Control and Dynamical Systems, Electrical Engineering, and Bioengineering, and Richard Murray, Thomas E. and Doris Everhart Professor of Control and Dynamical Systems and Bioengineering, has developed a set of guidelines for designing biological circuits using tools from mechanical and electrical engineering. Like electric circuits—but made out of cells and living matter—biological circuits show promise in producing pharmaceuticals and biofuels. [Caltech story]

Tags: research highlights CMS John Doyle Richard Murray CDS

07-08-19

Austin Minnich, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics and Thomas Vidick, Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences are recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. This is the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. [White House Release] [Caltech Release]

Tags: honors CMS PECASE Austin Minnich Thomas Vidick

07-08-19

Electrical engineering student Ray Sun, advised by Professor John Doyle, is a recipient of the 2019 Henry Ford II Scholar Award. His varied research interests encompass the union of hardware and software with particular emphasis on the intersection of digital systems, robotics, control systems, and aerospace. The Henry Ford II Scholar Award is funded under an endowment provided by the Ford Motor Company Fund. The award is made annually to engineering students with the best academic record at the end of the third year of undergraduate study.

Tags: EE honors Henry Ford II Scholar Award John Doyle Ray Sun

07-02-19

Katie Bouman, Assistant Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, creates images from nonideal sensor data and mines for information from images using techniques that can be applied to everything from medical imaging to studying the universe. She likes to search for information hidden in images, imperceptible to humans, that she can use to learn about the environment around us. [Profile of new EAS faculty member Professor Bouman]

Tags: research highlights CMS Katie Bouman

07-01-19

Computing and mathematical sciences student James R. McLaughlin, advised by Professor Peter Schroeder, is a recipient of the 2019 Henry Ford II Scholar Award. James has a strong interest in cyber security, machine learning, and augmented reality. He will be working as a software engineer for Citadel (a global hedge fund) during the summer of 2019. The Henry Ford II Scholar Award is funded under an endowment provided by the Ford Motor Company Fund. The award is made annually to engineering students with the best academic record at the end of the third year of undergraduate study.

Tags: honors CMS Henry Ford II Scholar Award James R. McLaughlin Peter Schroeder

06-25-19

Through TechReach, a new student club, Caltech undergrads aim to use tech skills to address social problems. Among people who are homeless, lack of connection to family and friends poses an often-overlooked obstacle to stability and well-being. Nivetha Karthikeyan, Myra Cheng, and Andrew Hess address the problem by developing new technological tools for Miracle Messages, a nonprofit that helps reunite homeless people with friends and relatives. Miracle Messages helps homeless individuals record video or audio messages to loved ones they have lost all contact with, and then volunteers scour social media and other digital platforms to find those loved ones and deliver the message. They hope to expand TechReach to five or six new projects involving larger numbers of computer science volunteers and a broader range of issues.

Tags: CMS Nivetha Karthikeyan Myra Cheng Andrew Hess

06-24-19

Julia R. Greer, Professor of Materials Science, Mechanics and Medical Engineering, has received the American Association for Advances in Functional Materials (AAAFM) Heeger Award for her pioneering research in creating and applying multi-scale 3D architected materials in chemical and biological devices, ultra-light weight energy storage systems, damage-tolerant fabrics, and additive manufacturing. [Award announcement]

Tags: honors MCE Julia Greer MatSci

06-24-19

Applied physics student Harel Dor, advised by Professor Oskar Painter, is a recipient of the 2019 Henry Ford II Scholar Award. This summer he is going to work on navigational software for the upcoming Mars Science Helicopter, which will enable scientific exploration of Mars environments previously thought inaccessible at unprecedented speeds. The Henry Ford II Scholar Award is funded under an endowment provided by the Ford Motor Company Fund. The award is made annually to engineering students with the best academic record at the end of the third year of undergraduate study.

Tags: APhMS honors Henry Ford II Scholar Award Oskar Painter Harel Dor