Work with thought leaders and academic experts from University of California, Davis

I am a personality researcher with extensive expertise in data analysis and quantitative methodology. I have 7+ years of research experience, and have performed a wide range of analyses including: structural equation modeling, multilevel modeling, factor analysis, (logistic) regression, and ANOVAs.

Paul Cisneros is a highly accomplished mid-career scholar with a Ph.D. in Political Studies. He has a strong background in research and teaching, having served as an Associate Professor at Instituto de Altos Estudios Nacionales and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of California, Davis. His research interests include State theory, comparative politics, and Latin American policy. Dr. Cisneros has published numerous articles and book chapters on topics such as environmental conflicts, social movements, and environmental politics. An active member of multiple international scholarly associations and networks, Paúl looks forward to expanding his research agenda by working with rigorous researchers.

I have waited my whole life to write a cover letter like this. I have reached a time in my life where I feel I can suddenly see my path illuminate and the future course of my career come into focus. Since beginning my career working on a Material Science and Engineering Bachelor’s degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), I felt that I have been getting a sense for what areas in the field of materials engineering are important, which I am interested in, which are progressing excitingly, and which could use more focus. I have worked on many different projects and materials throughout my diverse career including engineering phosphors for use in lighting applications, a 3.5-year stint at Intel, working as a yield engineer for the production of a wide variety of semiconductor chip technologies, and a brief time as a fractography intern for Corning glass. It was not, however, until I worked with a little battery startup called BESS Tech in upstate New York that I really felt my career click into place. Hired as the fifth employee of a nascent battery-tech startup, I was, like everyone else, wearing a lot of hats. While the premise of the project seemed simple; test new anode morphologies to ascertain if performance can be improved, it sent me on many little journeys such as learning to chemically vapor deposit thin films, building coin cells in a glovebox, and analyzing cycle, efficiency, capacity, charge time and lifetime. This also led me to have the life-changing realization that the improvements we were observing in the data could have an incredible ripple effect of worldwide improved energy and environmental impact. This was when I decided I would get a PhD and dedicate the rest of my career to tackling the energy storage crisis that our planet finds itself in. At the University of California, Davis I once again furthered my education in Material Science and Engineering and focused my research on electrochemistry for energy harvesting and storage. Though, during my degree, I was not building battery cells per say, I *was* using three-electrode systems to either produce alternative fuels like hydrogen gas or liquid formate in the presence of an iron-based catalyst or to electrochemically deposit antimony selenide films onto a substrate for use as the absorber layer in PV solar cell devices. As I worked to perfect these electrochemical bench-top sized experiments, I kept in mind how these systems would scale up. I felt that the technology can be incredibly promising as small lab-sized batches, but it won’t make a difference to the public if it can’t be elegantly scaled-up to commercial manufacturing scale. Even at the academic lab scale, I utilized the lean six sigma yellow belt training I received at Corning and Intel to optimize my processes to save time, resources, waste, etc. I have developed a skill for optimizing systems as a whole and I use these tools to better my everyday life. With my newly acquired PhD knowledge and credentials I hope to spend the next 10 to 30 years of my career working toward greener, cleaner battery technologies. I believe that new battery and energy storage capabilities in general hold the secret to healing our environment and utilizing the incredible amounts of solar and wind energy that we have become so good at harvesting. I hope to experiment on and perhaps invent novel energy storage solutions such as easier-to-recycle batteries with longer lifetimes, greater capacity, and greener manufacturing methods because I believe that it is the best way to use my material science talent and passion to help the greatest amount of people. I hope that my passions align well with the goals of your company and that together we might truly leave a positive impact on the market, society, and the environment overall. We have the ability to save the planet and I would like to help. Sincerely, Dr. Cassondra Brayfield *Material Science and Engineering*            *[Cassie.brayfield@gmail.com                            ](mailto:Cassie.brayfield@gmail.com)* *(860) 620-7042*

Dr. Joss Greene received his Ph.D. in Sociology from Columbia University in 2021. Dr. Greene has focused his research on various aspects of gender and sexuality, including trans and nonbinary lives, the experiences of currently and formerly incarcerated people, and gender-based violence. His work has been published in numerous academic journals and he has presented at conferences around the world. Dr. Greene is also passionate about bringing academic insights beyond the academy; he was recently interviewed for a PBS Newshour special, and meets regularly with stakeholders ranging from grassroots community organizations to elected officials. He is currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at University of California, Davis.

I am interested in new technology in optics, photonics, and quantum systems. I am motivated to find new solutions and develop new applications, constantly learning and improving my skills. I have a strong background in Physics and experience solving Multiphysics problems numerically with commercial software and using in-house code. I have experience with experimental equipment and automation. • Optics and Photonics. Design, modeling, and theoretical simulations and experiments for photonics components from UV to IR (high-speed photodetectors, metasurface structures, APD, SPAD, laser, VCSEL, lenses, interconnectors, sensors, fibers) for communications, sensors, image sensors, and quantum applications. Signal and image processing, temporal and special noise, stochastic process, stochastic resonance. Digital holography, wavefront reconstruction. Digital holography. Multi-physics simulation, non-linear optics. • Numerical methods (Monte-Carlo, FDTD, FEM, FFT, RCWA, BPM, TMM) for modeling complex multi-physics simulations, sparse matrices, ordinary and partial differential equations. Signal processing algorithms, machine learning, optimization, modeling probability distribution, time-dependent density functional theory, non-equilibrium Green’s functions. C++, Python, Matlab , Commercial software: Lumerical, Comsol, Zemax, Silvaco, LabVIEW, computer clusters parallel coding with CPU, parallel programming with CUDA and GPU. • New materials: quantum dots, photonic crystals, 2D materials, negative index materials, chirality, broken RT-symmetry, and non-Hermitian structures. Si, Ge, and III-V semiconductors. Turbulence, Mie and Raman scattering. • Quantum communication and quantum computing. Quantum to a classical interface. Quantum networks and Quantum Key Distribution system with noise and crosstalk. Quantum communication protocoles. • Experience with optical lab equipment, experiment automation, experimental setup, and alignment, data processing. Electrical and optical testing and data analysis. • Automation of a variety of systems, optical, cryogenic fuel loading, and storage systems. Physics-based models for a variety of physical systems (optics, photonics, fluid and gas dynamics, two-phase flow, cavitation). Prognostics for automated systems for NASA, using machine learning in combination with physics-based models. • Patents and publications in peer-reviewed journals: over 150 publications, conferences presentations at IEEE, APS, Optics https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=wpEXwjwAAAAJ&hl=en • Supervising students

Junshan Zhang's research interests fall in the general field of information/data science and ML/AI, including edge AI, reinforcement learning, self-supervised learning, world model, continual learning, network optimization and control, with applications in connected and automated vehicles,  5G and beyond, wireless networks,  Internet of Things (IoT), and smart grid. He is a Fellow of National Academy of Inventors (class of 2024) and Fellow of the IEEE (class of 2012). He is a recipient of the ONR Young Investigator Award in 2005 and the NSF CAREER award in 2003. He co-founded Smartiply Inc in 2015, an edge computing startup company delivering boosted network connectivity and embedded AI for IoT applications, which was acquired by a Global Fortune 500 company.

Roger Sparks is a Professor of Economics at Mills College, Oakland, CA. He earned his PhD in Economics from the University of California, Davis and has been at Mills College since 1989. Professor Sparks is currently director of the Master of Applied Economics program at Mills and chair of the Economics Department. He has more than 20 research papers published in economics journals, has refereed many paper submissions to professional journals, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation. Professor Sparks’ research applies game theory and the economics of information to a variety of topics, including the theory of unemployment, efficiency wages, employee stock offerings, cyclical changes in labor productivity, the determination of mortgage rates, mortgage securitization, environmental policy, utility regulation, psychiatric decision-making, the energy paradox, and the price impacts of low-carbon fuel standards. This research agenda has allowed him to incorporate into his teaching first-hand knowledge about a variety of topics and techniques of analysis, which in turn has enhanced his students’ curiosity and learning.

I am a lecturer at the University of California, Davis, teaching undergraduate students in physics and engineering basic and advanced physics. I also collaborate with several experimental and theory groups in condensed matter physics all over the globe focussing on critical phenomena, quantum magnetism, topological materials, transport properties, and driven quantum systems. My current interests lie in Hilbert Space fragmentation and associated critical phenomena for systems with subsystem symmetries. Additionally, I use the numerical linked cluster expansion to study heavy fermion compounds of interests to groups in John's Hopkins and Princeton Universities.

Experienced in international supply chain from R&D, Procurement to last mile distribution. Sr. Project Manager responsible for implementing $35 million USD capital investment successfully from installation of ice cream Glacier equipment, roast and ground coffee lines and soda/water fillers in South America and U.S. Courses from Harvard, Columbia and Georgia Tech. Experienced in Supply Chain network optimization. MS in Food Engineering from UC Davis. Sr Program Manager certification from Coca-Cola. Instructor in Lean, Corporate Finance and Project Management. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and acceptable French.

Successful, high-capacity global business leadership experience in food quality, food safety, laboratory, scientific and regulatory affairs for manufacturing, distribution, retail and food service. * Global food quality, safety, scientific and regulatory executive leadership and services for businesses and investors.  Services also include expert witness and M&A due diligence. * Expertise in negotiating and executing complex issues with top management, industry vendors, regulators, investors and key decision-makers; fully familiar with P&L, strategic planning, budgeting and cost reductions. * Developed comprehensive risk management strategies for complex farm-to-table food chain issues. * Effective hiring, management, deployment and development of top-notch teams at supervisory, staff and field levels in food manufacturing and food service settings. * National speaker on food safety, food defense and public health topics; appointed by top government officials and industry leaders to special teams and committees.

As a Doctor in Food Science and a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Food Science and Technology, my main research interests are to investigate the mechanisms involved in the health benefits associated with functional foods, mainly probiotics. My research is focused on understanding how fermented food matrices may impact the survival, gastrointestinal stress resistance, and functional potential of probiotics.

I am a sociological researcher with experience in data-driven policy analysis and community impact, particularly in the areas of health, education, and animal welfare. I am completing my Master’s in Sociology this term and currently pursuing a Master’s in Applied Information and Data Science as well as a professional certificate in data science. This combination of sociology and data science uniquely positions me to bridge the gap between social research and data analytics, allowing me to apply cutting-edge methods to address pressing social issues. My work spans sectors such as education, healthcare, and agricultural policy, where I have collaborated with stakeholders to develop actionable insights and evidence-based recommendations. I am passionate about using research and data to drive innovation and support organizations in creating meaningful social change.

Alexa D'Ambra is a highly dedicated and accomplished neuroscientist with a strong background in both research and academia. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Cornell University in 2014 and obtained her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of California, Davis in 2023. Additionally she has worked in research labs at Cornell University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Throughout her academic career, Alexa has been actively involved in research, with a focus psychology and neuroscience. She has performed experiments to investigate neural underpinnings of learning and motivation, attention, and language acquisition. She has developed analytical tools, performed statistical analyses on large electrophysiology, anatomical, and histological datasets, and is an expert in creating robust and aesthetic visualizations of results. She excels in in-depth literature review, documentation, and developing and editing communications for various audiences. She prides herself on remaining up-to-date on the latest neuroscience technology and keeping her thumb on the pulse of the biotech industry while keeping ties with her academic roots. Additionally, Alexa has had extensive experience advocating for and organizing DEIJ efforts in academia, including engaging in mentorship and developing workshops and seminars.

Dr. Jessica Lumian is a bioinformatics scientist specializing in microbiome and metagenomics. She earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of California, Davis in 2022 and a Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from Michigan State University in 2015. Dr. Lumian's research focuses on the intersection of microbial communities and computional analysis. She specializes in using k-mer based methods to identify strains and pathogens of interest in metagenomic data sets.

Error control coding, signal processing algorithms, iterative and classical codes, LDPC codes, turbo codes, BCH, Reed-Solomon, min-sum, belief propagation, soft output Viterbi, BCJR, detection, equalization, coding for storage systems (HDD and SSD)

J. Antonio Gomez is a highly educated and experienced microbiologist and immunologist with expertise in epigenetics of development and cancer. He earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Stanford University. His research at Stanford focused on the role of the immune system in inflammatory diseases. After completing his Ph.D., Gomez pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at UC Davis, where he specialized in developmental and cancer epigenetics. During this time, he gained a deep understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in cancer development and how they can be targeted for potential treatments. Following his postdoc, Gomez joined the faculty at Pepperdine University as an Assistant Professor of Biology. Here, he teaches courses in advanced cell biology, the biochemical basis of disease, and genetics while conducting research in cancer immunotherapy. His work has been published in numerous prestigious scientific journals and has received recognition from the scientific community. In addition to his academic career, Dr. Gomez also serves as an independent consultant, offering his expertise to various organizations and companies in biotech, pharmaceutical industries, and higher education. He is known for his innovative thinking and ability to bridge the gap between basic research and its practical applications. Overall, Antonio is a dedicated and accomplished scientist with a strong passion for understanding and combatting diseases, particularly cancer and inflammatory diseases. His education, experience, and contributions to the field make him a highly respected figure in the scientific community.

Danica Loralyn Taylor is a highly educated and experienced nurse and healthcare leader. She holds a PhD in Nursing Science and Healthcare Leadership from the University of California, Davis, which she earned in 2020. Prior to this, she completed a Master of Public Health degree from Touro University California in 2015. With her extensive education and training, Danica has developed a deep understanding of the healthcare industry and the complex issues that nurses and healthcare leaders face. She has a strong foundation in nursing theory and practice, as well as a solid understanding of healthcare administration, policy, and research. In addition to her academic achievements, Danica has also gained valuable experience in the field. She has worked as a lecturer at the University of California Davis, where she has taught nursing students and shared her knowledge and expertise with the next generation of healthcare professionals. Danica is passionate about improving the quality of healthcare and promoting evidence-based practices. She is a dedicated and compassionate leader who is committed to making a positive impact in the healthcare industry. With her strong educational background and practical experience, she is well-equipped to make a difference in the field of nursing and healthcare leadership.

Dr. Karinna Hurley is a professional in the field of child development. She completed her PhD in Human Development from the University of California, Davis in 2013, after obtaining her MA in Education with an emphasis on Child and Adolescent Development from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2002. Dr. Hurley has a deep understanding of the various developmental stages and processes that individuals go through from childhood to adulthood. She has conducted research in this field and has published several journal articles. Dr. Hurley also has years of experience teaching and mentoring students. She has served as a Lecturer at the University of California Berkeley, the University of California Irvine, and the University of California Davis where she taught courses on developmental psychology and human development. Dr. Hurley is interested in applying her expertise with educational institutions or organizations.

History, Public Policy, Education, Advising

Mary-Francis LaPorte is a plant biologist with a passion for genetics, high performance computing and plant breeding.

Kris Vossough is an accomplished professional with a strong background in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He earned his degree in 2000 from the University of California, Davis. He joined Sony SEC, about 5 years ago where he served as the R&D Strategy and Planning Manager in the Strategy and Planning Office (SPO). In this role, Kris was responsible for developing and implementing strategic plans for the company's research and development projects. Prior to his time at Sony, he worked at Merck KGaA-Innovation Hub as an Innovation Expert. In this role, he utilized his expertise in electrical and computer engineering to drive innovation and develop biosensing opportunities for the company. In addition to his corporate experience, Kris also has experience as a Principal and Sole Proprietor at Nano and Micro Tech Consultants. In this role, he provided consulting services to various clients in the field of nanotechnology and microtechnology. Kris is a highly skilled and knowledgeable professional who is passionate about using his expertise to drive innovation and make a positive impact in the world of technology. His education and diverse experience make him a valuable asset to any organization.

I co-founded the Sensory and Consumer Sciences Division of IFT (Institute of Food Technology), served on the Board of Directors and as President of IFT. I served as Editor of the Journal of Food Science for 10 years. I am the recipient of numerous awards including the Sensory Lifetime Achievement Award and elected a Fellow of the International Food Science and Technology Society.

Neuroscience, neuroimaging, EEG, ERP, brain-computer interface, ML

Hi, I am a recent graduate from University of California, Davis. I am looking to further develop my own skills as I explore my options going into further education.

I am a mechanical/biomechanical engineer with special expertise in human performance, Sports and rehabilitation research. • Highly experienced in modelling musculoskeletal models in Simm and Open sim • Highly skilled in developing biomechanical 3D models • Highly experienced in programming with Labview and MATLAB • Highly experienced in designing and installing experimental test • Highly experienced in programming with Visual 3D and Vicon Nexus • Highly experience in MOCAP using IMUs and Camera systems