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People Spotlights

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  • Joining 2025

Angkur Shaikeea

We aim to unite designers, material scientists, and mechanicians to foster innovation in the creation of new materials. Our goal is to develop cutting-edge experimental tools, particularly using X-rays, to understand material behavior in 3D and apply this knowledge to design new materials and products. We are in pursuit of building a unique laboratory that integrates tomography, ptychography, EDXRD, and 3DXRD for in-situ measurements under mechanical loading, for metals to biological samples. By extracting detailed 3D stress and strain data, we are in pursuit of building the largest database for data-driven mechanics, enabling machine learning and AI analysis. With a strong foundation in solid mechanics, our research tackles complex challenges across disciplines while also prioritizing sustainable innovations.

Adrián Lozano-Durán
  • Associate Professor of Aerospace

Adrián Lozano-Durán

The overarching theme of my research is fluid dynamics, with an emphasis on turbulence through theory, numerical simulation, and experiments. My work includes causal inference, reduced-order modeling, and the control of turbulence using information theory. I am also interested in machine-learning closure models for computational fluid dynamics, specifically oriented towards aerospace applications ranging from low-speed aerodynamics to supersonic and hypersonic flows.

Mizuki Ohno
  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Applied Physics and Materials Science

Mizuki Ohno

I am a postdoctoral scholar in the Falson Lab. I received my PhD at the University of Tokyo in March 2024 and joined Caltech in April. My research focuses on the fabrication of “atomically controlled thin-film interfaces” by molecular beam epitaxy to clarify underlying technologies for designing and controlling quantum phenomena. I'm also dedicated to exploring novel materials using epitaxial stabilization techniques. Recently, I’ve concentrated on the La-Ag-Ge system, where hexagonal LaAgGe and tetragonal LaAg₂Ge₂ phases are stabilized under silver poor and rich conditions, respectively. Interestingly, at intermediate Ag/La ratios, a new tetragonal phase emerges. I plan to investigate the fundamental electronic properties of these phases at low temperatures. Outside of research, I enjoy training at the gym, hiking, watching MLB and NBA games, and exploring movies.

Adriana Daca
  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Mechanical and Civil Engineering

Adriana Daca

Hi! I’m Adriana, a postdoc in Mechanical & Civil Engineering working with Professor Andrade. I’m interested in understanding how granular materials behave in low-gravity environments, including the surfaces of the Moon, Mars, and small bodies like rubble-pile asteroids. My PhD at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada focused on how gravity shapes interactions between robotic systems and granular materials, centering on planetary rover wheel–soil interactions. Before joining Caltech in May 2024, I worked at JPL, contributing to projects ranging from mobility concepts for future rovers to robotic sampling and manipulation systems. Currently, I’m contributing to a Caltech-led mission that would rendezvous with rubble-pile asteroid Apophis during its close Earth approach in 2029 (it will come 10x closer than the Moon!) Through numerical simulations, I’m investigating Apophis’ granular mechanics and implications for planetary science and planetary defense. In my spare time, I enjoy rock climbing, hiking, and flying small aircraft.

Miles Ross Johnson
  • Graduate Student, Applied Physics and Materials Science

Miles Ross Johnson

My name is Miles Ross Johnson, and I am entering my fourth year as a PhD student in the Applied Physics department. My research interests are centered around investigating the fundamental optical and electrical properties of novel materials, with a focus on applications in sustainability. I use both computational and experimental techniques, attempting to predict phenomena from first-principles quantum mechanics (i.e. Density Functional Theory and more advanced techniques), and then fabricating devices centered around the novel material to test my prediction. For the past year or so I’ve been focused on NiPS3, a material which is interesting for a variety of reasons, but most prominently for its unique optical properties which are tied to its magnetic structure. Outside of my research, I spend a lot of time rock climbing, and I also play the Tenor Saxophone in the Caltech Jazz Band and the Caltech Wind Ensemble.

Pau Batlle
  • Graduate Student, Computing and Mathematical Sciences

Pau Batlle

Hey there! I am a G5 in the Computing and Mathematical Sciences Department, working with Houman Owhadi. My PhD research has focused on developing mathematical tools and algorithms for robust uncertainty quantification and certification in inverse problems. I strive to use mathematics as a common language for diverse applications and I have deeply enjoyed collaborating in different domain areas during my PhD, including earthquake prediction modeling, particle physics, and atmospheric remote sensing. In my free time, I enjoy playing team sports and engaging in creative endeavors, mainly photography and game design. I enjoy thinking and engaging in games and sports partly because they are interesting models of more complicated life situations. Understanding player behavior, cooperation, and strategic thinking in situations with clear rule sets and goals can then be used to understand situations where goals and rules are not as well-defined.