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June 26, 2006 - The California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) announces the selection of ten undergraduate students who participated in a competition for the CNSI Summer 2006 Research Fellowship Program. Each student will receive a $5,000 stipend for research work conducted in the lab of a CNSI faculty member.
“We would like to thank all who participated in this year’s competition. It was a very difficult selection process as we received applications from many truly talented candidates.” Said CNSI Director Fraser Stoddart. The following undergraduate students are awarded a $5,000 summer research fellowship by the CNSI:
| Student |
CNSI Faculty Mentor |
| Adriana Anavitarte |
Professor Bill Gelbart, Chemistry & Biochemistry |
| Donald Chang |
Assistant Professor John Miao, Physics & Astronomy |
| Benjamin Chiang |
Professor Yong Chen, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science |
| Tobias Falzone |
Assistant Professor Delores Bozovic, Physics & Astronomy |
| Korey Kam |
Professor Bruce Dunn, Materials Science & Engineering
/Professor Owen Witte, HHMI, Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics
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| Kunal K. Mehta |
Assistant Professor Jacob Schmidt, Bioengineering |
| Michael Miller |
Assistant Professor Eric Hoek, Civil & Environmental Engineering / Professor Ric Kaner, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Materials Science & Engineering |
| Richard Rodriquez |
Professor Miguel Garcia-Garibay, Chemistry & Biochemistry |
| Audrey Ross |
Professor Ken Houk, Chemistry & Biochemistry |
| Adam Secousse |
Assistant Professor Chris Regan, Physics & Astronomy |
The students selected represent a wide range of disciplines including: Chemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Physics; Biophysics; Electrical Engineering and Bioengineering; Materials Science and Engineering. All of the students are highly motivated and enthusiastic about working in multidisciplinary areas. Meet the exceptional young scholars who have been selected for the CNSI 2006 Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program:
 Adriana Anavitarte, Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
“Understanding the basis of medicine along with the future of medical research is vital. I have taken some amazing courses, including Virology, Human Genetics, and Bacterial Pathogenesis, that discussed how diseases affect humans and expected us to demonstrate that knowledge through experimental techniques. As a result, my goal is to become a pediatric geneticist, participating in both research and a clinical practice.”
 Donald Chang, Biophysics
A reason I chose UCLA physics department over UC Berkeley’s is because of the new major: biophysics. I was the second person in the entire school to declare this as my major. Now after two years, I want to conduct research and publish a paper. I have already started experiments in this project, synthesizing nanocrystals on biomaterials such as calcium in different concentrations and observing the morphology of crystals using light microscopy.”
 Benjamin Chiang, Electrical Engineering
My major is technical, Electrical Engineering with a biomedical emphasis. I have been actively involved in Alzheimer’s disease research for over two years. And now I have endeavored into the burgeoning field of nanotechnology, itself a subject reliant on multidisciplinary study.”
 Tobias T. Falzone, Biophysics
“The CNSI Summer Research Fellowship allow me to take a step towards my eventual goal of independent research by providing me the opportunity to not only obtain valuable research experience, but also would allow me to contribute significant work to the field of sensory neuroscience.”
 Korey Kam, Materials Science and Engineering
“My personal and professional goals revolve around a career in research. The most exciting research to me is being done at the interface of nanomaterials and regenerative medicine. CNSI is the only organization that effectively enables the merging of these fields here at UCLA.”
 Kunal Mehta, Bioengineering
“I have recently become very interested in the field of single molecule sensors and research into the magnetically controlled, rapid sequencing of DNA using biological nanopores.”
 Michael Miller, Physics
“Now scientists are beginning to look at how energy and water are interdependent. This energy-water nexus is a fundamental point to have sustainable energy. With an increasing population, especially in arid locations of the U.S., the need for water efficiency is acute. With nanotechnology, the possibility for energy-efficient “smart membranes” has not only become an attractive option to create more efficient treatment processes, but a sustainable requirement to meet the world’s future water resource needs.”
 Richard Rodriguez, Chemistry
”From photonic materials to biochemistry, chemistry is a part of everyday life for everyone. Not only is chemistry relevant to our lives but conducting chemistry research provides the entertainment and intellectual stimulation that I have experienced but on few occasions else where.”
 Audrey Ross, Chemistry
“Learning about the cutting-edge of chemical theory and the techniques necessary to perform both theoretical and physical experiments will form a valuable basis of skills to be used in further studies and in my future career.”
 Adam Secousse, Physics
“Through the science of physics, we can help to create instruments and tools, particularly on the Nano-technical level, that can make the growth of efficiency in our world exponential. The capabilities that lie in this field are endless. This aspect is the key that fuels my interest to tap into the power that we hold as physicists.”
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