STEM DIVERSITY PROGRAMS

Panathda Bayrasy

UC LEADS Scholar - Senior

Lab Group:  Professor Singaram Lab 

Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BS.

Research: The selective and partial reduction of aromatic and aliphatic nitriles, halides, and carbonyl compounds through the generation of dichloroindium hydride (HInCl₂) from indium trichloride (InCl₃) and various reducing agents.

Internships/ Presentations/ Awards:

The selective and partial reduction of nitriles. Generation of HInCl₂ via the reduction of InCl₃ with either: NaBH₄, DIBAL-H, or LAB reagent, Panathda V, Bayrasy, Singaram Bakthan,The University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA. 2011 Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium. Aug. 12, 2011. University of California, Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. Poster Presentation.

Michael J. Flores

UC LEADS Scholar- Senior

Lab Group: Professor Nobuhiko P. Kobayashi

Major: Electrical Engineering

Research: I have been working in Professor Nobby Kobayashi lab developing a Thermoelectric Characterization system for semiconductor thermoelectric nano-scale devices. 

Internship/ Presentations/ Awards:  

CHARACTERIZATION SYSTEM FOR SEMICONDUCTOR NANOWIRE THERMOELECTRIC DEVICES. Michael J. Flores, Andrew J. Lohn, Nobuhiko P. Kobayashi. The University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA. 2010 Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium. Aug. 12, 2011. University of California, Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. Poster Presentation.

CHARACTERIZATION SYSTEM FOR SEMICONDUCTOR NANOWIRE THERMOELECTRIC DEVICES. Michael J. Flores, Andrew J. Lohn, Nobuhiko P. Kobayashi. Nanostructured Energy Conversion Technology and Research (NECTAR), Advanced Studies Laboratories, Univ. of California Santa Cruz – NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035 USA. Summer Research Symposium. Aug. 10, 2001. 

UC LEADS Summer Research Experience. University of California, Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. June 20, 2011 - August 12, 2011.

Donez Horton-Bailey

UC LEADS Scholar - Senior

Lab Group: Professor Arthur P. Ramirez

Majors: Applied Physics & Linguistics

Research: Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) are emerging as a viable, low-cost alternative to current solar energy conversion technologies, because they diffuse light, eliminating the need for expensive tracking systems.  LSCs concentrate light onto smaller photovoltaic cells than are currently used in traditional concentrating systems. We have constructed thin-film LSCs for comparative studies of the performance of red-emitting and near-infrared (NIR) emitting polymers.  We have done studies of the key factors that affect the efficiency of LSCs, which are quantum yield and self-absorption effects. Thin films used in these systems were fabricated by first dispersing these materials into a host matrix, and then doctor-blading the solutions onto glass substrates.  We did concentration studies by varying the ratio of dye in the host matrix. Quantum yield studies were done both in liquid solution form, and as a film with different background matrices. These key factors help optimize the absorption and photoluminescence of the materials, which help determine which combination of materials is best for LSC efficiency. Based on data collected so far, the optimal concentration for the Red Dye #1 (RD1) film is 5% in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Also, the 18.5% concentration in poly(vinyl carbazole) (PVK) is optimal for Red Dye #2 (RD2). Producing high efficiency LSCs is an important step towards a future of low-cost sustainable energy.

Internships/ Presentations/ Awards:

RESISTIVITY OF ION-BOMBARDED CHROMIUM THIN FILMS. Donez J. Horton-Bailey, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA; David W. Cooke, Ph.D., Zoe Boekelheide, Ph.D., Frances Hellman, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA. 2011 Cal NERDS Summer Research Symposium. Aug. 11, 2011.  University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, CA. Poster Presentation.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PERFORMANCE OF LIGHT-EMITTING POLYMERS IN LUMINESCENT SOLAR CONCENTRATORS. Donez Horton-Bailey, Yvonne Rodriguez, Jeremy Olson, Glenn Alers, Sue Carter.  University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA. 2011 UC LEADS Symposium. Mar. 5, 2011. University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, CA. Poster Presentation.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PERFORMANCE OF LIGHT-EMITTING POLYMERS IN LUMINESCENT SOLAR CONCENTRATORS. Donez Horton-Bailey, Yvonne Rodriguez, Jeremy Olson, Glenn Alers, Sue Carter.  University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA. 2011 California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) Symposium.  Feb. 26, 2011.  University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA. Poster Presentation.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PERFORMANCE OF LIGHT-EMITTING POLYMERS IN LUMINESCENT SOLAR CONCENTRATORS. Donez Horton-Bailey, Yvonne Rodriguez, Jeremy Olson, Glenn Alers, Sue Carter.  University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA. 2010 Society for the Advancement of Chicanos latinos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference, Anaheim, CA. Poster Presentation Award Winner.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PERFORMANCE OF LIGHT-EMITTING POLYMERS IN LUMINESCENT SOLAR CONCENTRATORS. Donez Horton-Bailey, Yvonne Rodriguez, Jeremy Olson, Glenn Alers, Sue Carter.  University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA. 2010 Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium.  Aug. 20, 2010. University of California, Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. Poster Presentation

UC LEADS Summer Research Experience. University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, CA. June 20, 2011 -  August 12, 2011

UC LEADS Summer Research Experience. University of California, Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. June 25, 2010 - August 20, 2010

Nissa Kreidler

UC LEADS Scholar - Senior 

Lab Group: Croll-Tershy

Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Research: Assessing health and abundance of seagrass beds surrounding small islands in the Philippines under Angela Lopez Quiros

Presentation/ Internships/ Awards: 

UCSC Undergraduate Research Symposium, UCSC SCUBA Club 

Kavit Kumar

UC LEADS Scholar - Senior

Lab Group: Professor Holger Schmidt

Major: Electrical Engineering

Research: My research interests include the characterization of optical waveguides, optofluidics, and automation of optical spectroscopy setups.

Internships/ Presentations/ Awards:

TEMPERATURE GROWTH INFLUENCE ON SOLID-CORE OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE TRANSMISSION. Kavit Kumar, Holger Schmidt. University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA. 2010 Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium. Aug. 20, 2010. University of California, Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. Poster Presentation.

UC LEADS Summer Research Experience. University of California, Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. June 25, 2010 - August 20, 2010 

Linda Munoz

UC LEADS Scholar - Senior

Lab Group: Yat Li

Majors: Chemistry & Earth Science 

Research: My research is on titanium dioxide dye-sensitized solar cells. We are working on an alternative, efficient, and environmentally friendly way of converting sunlight into energy.

Internships/ Presentations/ Awards

UC LEADS Summer Research Experience. University of California, Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, CA. June 20-August 12.

Sophia Petraki

UC LEADS Scholar - Senior

Lab Group: Professor Amy Ralston

Major: Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology

Research: My research focuses on the development of the mouse embryo, specifically on the role of FGF signaling at the blastocyst stage.  We hope by understanding what molecular cues cause cells to specialize we can develop methods to direct pluripotent cells toward certain cell fates for both experimental and therapeutic endeavors.

Zachary Wells

UC LEADS Scholar - Senior

Lab Group: Professor Jacob Rosen

Major: Bioengineering

Research: I am currently researching the way that a person moves their joints and how they can be retrained through the use of motor learning.

Internships/ Presentations/ Awards:

Amanuel Zeryihun

UC LEADS Scholar - Junior

Lab Group: Kobayashi Lab 

Major: Electrical Engineering

Research: Nasa Ames Advanced Studies Labaratory Nectar Division, Nanoscale Semiconductor Thermoelectric Characterization

Internships/ Presentations/ Awards: