Pabita Dhungel is a Vision Science PhD candidate at UC Berkeley whose research spans ocular pharmacology, scleral lens biomechanics, and translational myopia control in both animal and human models. As a first-generation international scholar from Nepal, she is deeply committed to creating accessible and empowering research spaces for students, especially those who may not see themselves represented in academia. She has mentored dozens of undergraduates, pre-optometry, and pre-vet students in hands-on lab skills, imaging analysis, scientific writing, and career development, and she actively welcomes curious, motivated mentees who value learning, collaboration, and community as much as science.

Schedule a session with Pabita or email at [email protected]

Owen’s work spans bionanotechnology and data science. His work focuses firstly on quantifying data misrepresentations in bar graphs and colormaps in biological research, as well as analyzing proteomics data of proteins adsorbed onto nanoparticle surfaces, and characterizing the kinetics of the physical interactions between lipid nanoparticles and model membranes. Owen is also passionate about curating open-source learning resources, including course notes, equation sheets, scientific computing tutorials, and instructional videos. In his free time, Owen enjoys running by the water.

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I am originally from Tokyo, Japan, and I am fortunate to be a STEM*FYI Ambassador because community building and mentoring is very close to my heart. My research interests lie in pure mathematics, particularly mathematical logic (model theory). In my free time, I like to cook, bake, and hike 🙂

Schedule a session with Yuki

Hey! Before coming to Berkeley, I did my undergrad and masters at Arizona State University where I worked as an RA with University Housing, and also conducted undergraduate research.
Academically, I’m broadly interested in investigating the interactions between disease-causing and drug-resistant microorganisms, the environment, and global health. Outside of grad school, I love to run, read (my favorite genre is literary fiction!), try out restaurants, and play games.

Feel free to talk to me about all kinds of topics related to grad school! I’m newer to Berkeley but still have lots of experience getting involved, building community, and keeping up with work, school, social life, and health and wellness.

Schedule a session with Vishnu

Andrea Naranjo-Soledad is a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley, where she studies electrochemical approaches for water treatment. Her work focuses on groundwater remediation and disinfectant generation for resource-constrained communities. She is passionate about mentorship, community outreach, and supporting students as they navigate their own STEM journeys.

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Nandini PS is a PhD student in the UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Bioengineering Graduate Program and her research focuses on brain stimulation in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. She holds an MS in Neuroscience from Berlin, Germany and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. She is from Chennai, India. Apart from academics, Nandini is also a Carnatic vocalist, Veena player, and painter.

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I’ve worked on research ranging from atmospheric water harvesting to flexible magnetic materials, combining hands-on experiments with computer simulations. Now at Berkeley, I’m excited to deepen my understanding of materials and turn scientific ideas into practical solutions. My current work develops “memory-sensing” materials that record and retrieve environmental histories.

Beyond the lab, I care deeply about education and community, and have led outreach programs, mentored students, and organized events. I also love photography, hiking, and playing badminton.

Schedule a session with Anthony

I am interested in modeling and simulation of advanced manufacturing systems for research. Prior to UC Berkeley, I worked in manufacturing hardware design and have tons of experience in the real world. I am thrilled to connect with rising students to help them navigate through their education and professional career.

Schedule a session with Abdullah

Sarah is a PhD student in Earth and Planetary Science, who studies volcanoes to understand the triggers of eruption and drivers of explosivity. Sarah is passionate about mentoring students in STEM and broadening participation in the geosciences.

Schedule a session with Sarah