2022 Sandia Graduate Fellows

The 2022 Summer Fellows

Universities Research Association (URA) is pleased to announce the seven outstanding graduate students selected for 2022, the inaugural year for the URA Sandia Summer Graduate Fellowship.

The annual URA Sandia Summer Graduate Fellowship is aimed at providing graduate student research experience in the science, technology, and engineering areas that support Sandia National Laboratories’ research and development programs.

Broeren PhotoTheodore Broeren
University of Arizona, Department of Applied Mathematics
I am studying Applied Math because I love solving complex problems. My current work is the development of mathematical techniques which will be used to extrapolate physical quantities from the data collected by the NASA mission HelloSwarm. In the past I have put my effort into the design and manufacture of a CubeSat and multiple formula style race cars. After graduate school I hope to continue solving space, physics, and engineering problems using math and numerical simulations.

K. de la O photo Katy De La O
University of Houston, Public Policy
Hello! My name is Katy De La O. I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Public Policy at the University of Houston. I am interested in pursuing a career in Intelligence Analysis and National Defense. I have a background in political science, history, research, and statistical analysis. I am Salvadoran American and very proud of my culture and family. I am originally from Los Angeles, CA, but consider myself a Houstonian. I consider myself a life-long learner. I am fascinated by new topics, and I am always eager to learn and listen. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, yoga and running.

Adam Gross PhotoAdam Gross
University of California, Davis, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Adam Gross is a Ph.D. candidate in Condensed Matter Physics at the University of California, Davis and an affiliate of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In his Ph.D. studies, he utilizes synchrotron facilities and different materials characterizations to study the properties of quantum materials. At Sandia National Laboratories, he will be studying 2D materials for electronic memory applications using the ion irradiation facilities at Sandia. In his free time, Adam enjoys running and taking the scenery wherever he is. He received a BA and MS in Physics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016.

Michael Jin photoMichael Jin
The Ohio State University, Department of Electrical Engineering
I am a Ph.D. student majoring in Electrical Engineering. My current research work is focused on Silicon Carbide device reliability, performance, and design. I also have some experience at Ohio State’s cleanroom lag in device fabrication for process steps including but not limited to: lithography, etching, and material deposition. When I have free time, I really enjoy fishing, hammocking, cooking, and watching Ohio State football.

P. Rao photoPranav Rao
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Physics Department
I have a wide variety of interests spanning condensed matter physics, quantum information and machine learning. The bulk of my work has been on treating responses to geometric deformations of topological materials, with a focus on effects that occur with discrete rotational and/or translational symmetry. More recently, I have been interested in approaches to machine learning optimized to science for application in condensed matter and beyond. I also have interests in quantum computing and optimization approaches to improving machine learning for science.

A. Stats photoAmelia Staats
The Ohio State University, Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity
I am a 4th year Microbiology Ph.D. candidate in the lab of Dr. Paul Stoodley studying the mechanisms of bacterial survival and proliferation in the context of prosthetic joint infection development. My research centers around characterizing the formation of synovial fluid-induced aggregates of Staphylococcus aureus and understanding the pathogenic implications of their presence in the postsurgical joint environment. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to cultivate new partnerships and contribute to the exciting research taking place at Sandia National Laboratories.

Williamson PhotoWalker Williamson
University of New Mexico, Water Resources & Community and Regional Planning (Dual)
I’m pursuing a dual master’s degree in Water Resources and Planning at the University of New Mexico. I am interested in models integrating social and hydro-ecological relationships. My current academic research looks at adaptive water transfer institutions in the Middle Rio Grande. I’ll be working with the Energy and Water group on the Integrated Multisector Multiscale Modeling project. I live in Albuquerque and relish its access to wild places. I also play music and love history and archeology. I’m fortunate to participate in the URA-Sandia Fellowship and look forward to advancing my understanding and assisting in real-world applications