MEGA | MECHANICAL ENGINEERING GRADUATE AMBASSADORS
STUDENT MENTORS AND OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES
HAILEY SUMMERS
ENERGY RESEARCH
Hailey is a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering researching sustainability of agriculture, bioprocessing and food-related systems through life cycle and techno-economic analyses. She is interested in determining environmental trade-offs of centralized versus decentralized food systems as well as the economic implications to all parties involved. Additionally, she is interested in food-related policy and the associated downstream effects, both environmentally and economically. When she is not working, she enjoys hiking, biking, climbing, skiing and especially, spoiling her dog.
VIGNESH MANIVASAGAM
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
Vignesh joined the department as a PhD student in 2018 under the guidance of Prof. Ketul Popat. His doctoral research investigates the influence of different nano surface topologies on biocompatible materials for cardio vascular applications. He has developed different surface topologies and sizes to understand the impact of these factors towards protein adhesion. He later plans to test these surfaces on dynamic flow chambers replicating real life (In-Vivo) situation where blood flows over these implants. He also serves as a graduate academic coach at Engineering residential learning community.
MITCHELL PAGE
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
Mitchell is a Ph.D. student who joined Dr. Christian Puttlitz’ group in the Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Lab in August 2016. He completed a BE(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury in his home country, New Zealand, and worked at a medical device startup for six months before moving to the U.S. Page’s current research focuses on the mechanics of 3-D printed resorbable scaffolds for regenerative tissue engineering. This includes developing printing techniques, mechanically testing printed constructs, and finite element modelling. In his spare time, he enjoys going to the gym, sports, traveling, hiking, camping, and exploring the local brewing scene.
SETH THOMPSON
ENERGY RESEARCH
Seth joined Dr. Williams’s Electric Propulsion and Plasma Engineering Lab in the spring of 2015 as an Undergraduate Research Assistant. He worked on several projects involving electric propulsion, plasma processing, and joint research ventures with the Next Generation Photovoltaic Center. After receiving his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from CSU in 2017, Seth decided to pursue a master’s degree to further his research interests in applied plasma processes. He spent the first year of his master’s research traveling to NASA research facilities working on plasma diagnostics and components for electric propulsion devices. His current research involves developing a cost-effective, high quality, thin film deposition system. In his free time, Seth enjoys endurance obstacle races, backpacking, and mountain biking.
ADAM FRISS
RESEARCH: ENERGY
IMPACT: TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND AEROSPACE
KEVIN WESTHOFF
RESEARCH: ENERGY
ADVISOR: TODD BANDHAUER
KELSEY BILSBACK
RESEARCH: ENERGY
IMPACT: HEALTH AND WELLNESS | ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
ADVISOR: JOHN VOLCKENS
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