REU Student Profiles
Summer 2022
Jeremiah Viera
Current University: The University of Texas at El Paso
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Mentor: Kiruba Haran
Chukwuma "Chuck" Alilonu
Current University: University of Houston
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Mentor: Nenad Miljkovic
Matthew Norris
Current University: University of Arkansas
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Mentor: David Huitink
William Chong
Current University: Role Hulman Institute of Technology
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Mentor: H. Alan Mantooth
Thomas Patane
Current University: Cañada College
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Mentor: Jeff Dix
Jon "Joan" Matutes
Current University: University of Indianapolis
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Mentor: David Huitink
Summer 2021
Sydney Hemenway
Current University: UC Berkeley
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Mentor: Paul Braun
Priyanka Sarangabany
Current University: University of Illinois
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Mentor: Kai James
Jarod King
Current University: University of Arkansas
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Mentor: Morgan Ware
Joshua Mitchener
Current University: University of California-Irvine
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Mentor: Yarui Peng
Jonathan Simcoe
Current University: University of Alabama
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Mentor: Alan Mantooth
Fatima Dorvelus
Current University: Howard University
POETS Institution: Stanford University
POETS Research Mentor: Debbie Senesky
Michael Riddick
Current University: Howard University
POETS Institution: Howard University
POETS Research Mentor: Sonya Smith
Summer 2020
Tyler Turman
Current University: Clemson University
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Mentor: Professor Kai James
Trinity Wilkens
Current University: San Antonio College
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Mentor: Professor Kiruba Haran
Carlos Santana
Current University: Canada College
POETS Institution: Stanford University
POETS Research Mentor: Professor Debbie Senesky
Linda Godinez
Current University: Los Angeles City College
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Mentor: Professor Paul Braun
Eric Allee
Current University: University of Arkansas
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Mentor: Chris Farnell
Elynn Jensen
Current University: University of Illinois
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Mentor: Professor David Cahill
Summer 2019
Brandon Colon
Current University: San Antonio College
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Group: Professor Kiruba Haran
Shayne Erickson
Current University: Clemson University
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professor Yarui Peng
Quinton Ford
Current University: Virginia State University
POETS Institution: Howard University
POETS Research Group: Professor Sonya Smith
Mike Galdamez
Current University: The University of Texas at Austin
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Group: Professor Joe Lyding
Aijalon Kilpatrick
Current University: University of Miami
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professor Yarui Peng
Finnegan Lynch
Current University: Loyola Marymount University
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professor Fang Luo
Eric Patterson
Current University: Morehouse College
POETS Institution: Howard University
POETS Research Group: Professor Thomas Searles
Jia Pelpa
Current University: Canada College
POETS Institution: Stanford University
POETS Research Group: Professors Debbie Senesky and Eric Pop
Michaela Perez
Current University: University of Texas at Dallas
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Group: Professor Nenad Miljkovic
Samanta Rodriguez
Current University: Florida International University
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Group: Professor James Allison
Micah Thorpe
Current University: University of Maryland-Baltimore County
POETS Institution: University of Illinois
POETS Research Group: Professor Paul Braun
Jose Veliz
Current University: San Antonio College
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professor Morgan Ware
Travis Welch
Current University: Canada College
POETS Institution: Stanford University
POETS Research Group: Professor Debbie Senesky, Professor Ken Goodson and Dr. Mehdi Asheghi
Quinton Williams
Current University: Canada College
POETS Institution: Stanford University
POETS Research Group: Professor Debbie Senesky, Professor Ken Goodson and Dr. Mehdi Asheghi
Rachael Young
Current University: University of Nevada-Reno
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professor Alan Mantooth
Summer 2018
ERIC ALLEE
Current University: San Antonio College
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professors Yue Zhao, Fang Luo, David Huitink and Juan Balda
JULIO BANDA
Current University: San Antonio College
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professors Yue Zhao, Fang Luo, David Huitink and Juan Balda
LAURA BRANDT
Current University: UC Berkeley
POETS Institution: Stanford University
POETS Research Group: Professor Debbie Senesky
KATTIA CHANG-KAM
Current University: Cañada College
POETS Institution: Stanford University
POETS Research Group: Professors Eric Pop and Debbie Senesky
DANIEL HUERTA
Current University: Texas A&M University
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professor Chris Farnell
CHASE JOSEPH
Current University: Virginia State University
POETS Institution: Howard University
POETS Research Group: Professor Sonya Smith
KWAN LIM
Current University: Cañada College
POETS Institution: Stanford University
POETS Research Group: Professor Kenneth Goodson
ISAAC MEDINA
Current University: San Antonio College
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professors Yue Zhao, Fang Luo, David Huitink and Juan Balda
ALEXANDRA MOORE
Current University: San Antonio College
POETS Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
POETS Research Group: Professor Nenad Miljkovic
FAVOUR OBUSEH
Current University: University of Texas at San Antonio
POETS Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
POETS Research Group: Professor Paul Braun
DUSTIN PENSE
Current University: University of Arkansas
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professor David Huitink
ANDREW READER
Current University: Kansas State
POETS Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
POETS Research Group: Professor Joseph Lyding
IAN RIVERA-COLON
Current University: Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
POETS Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
POETS Research Group: Professor James Allison
JULIETTE ROBINSON
Current University: Foothills College
POETS Institution: Howard University
POETS Research Group: Professor Thomas Searles
YUEYING WU
Current University: College of San Mateo
POETS Institution: Stanford University
POETS Research Group: Professor Debbie Senesky
Summer 2017
MICHAEL ALLEN
Current University: University of Utah
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professor Simon Ang
POETS Research Mentor: Errol Porter
Michael is a rising senior in Materials Science at the University of Utah, with minors in Nuclear Engineering and Chemistry. He spent last Summer at Northwestern University implementing new techniques for manufacturing polymer thin films, and is currently working with Dr. Ang and POETS to design power modules that can operate under exceptionally high temperatures. After the Summer, Michael will continue research at his home university focused on driving down the cost of manufacturing Cadmium Telluride solar cells. In his free time, Michael reads, runs, and goes to concerts.
JOHN ALUMBAUGH
Current University: University of Arkansas
POETS Institution: University of Arkansas
POETS Research Group: Professor Yarui Peng
ZACHARY BOLDS
Current University: Tuskegee University
POETS Institution: Howard University
POETS Research Group: Professor Sonya Smith
POETS Research Mentor: Darryl Jennings
Zachary Bolds is a rising sophomore at Tuskegee University. He is majoring in mechanical engineering and plans on obtaining a PhD. Zachary is a part of the SGA Events Committee and NSBE. He wants to have his own engineering company or firm later in his career.
ALEXANDRA BRUEFACH
Current University: Temple University
POETS Institution: Stanford University
POETS Research Group: Professor Debbie Senesky
POETS Research Mentor: Ananth Yalamarthy and Miguel Munoz-Rojo (Pop Lab)
Alex Bruefach is a rising senior at Temple University studying Chemistry and Biology. She is a MARC U* STAR Awardee, and has previously worked with Let’s Get Ready to mentor low-income students entering college in the Philadelphia area with the hope of easing the high school-college adjustment. Additionally, she is an executive board member of the Temple University Chemical Society (TUCS), one of the top ranked American Chemical Society chapters in the country. In the future, Alex plans to pursue a PhD in materials science and engineering.
ADAM CASTANEDA
Current University: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
POETS Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
POETS Research Group: Professor Nenad Miljkovic
POETS Research Mentors: Thomas Foulkes and Junho Oh
Adam is entering his senior year in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He enjoys rock climbing and building his own computers. Adam is very interested in learning more about heat transfer, as knows first hand how important it is with regard to high power computers and electronics.