Team Members | Cal State LA

Meet our team!

	Barnabas Novak Club President Barnabas Novak is the club's president and communications lead for the California State University, Los Angeles -Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and a third-year student at CSULA majoring in computer science and minoring in real estate. What excites him the most about the BattChallenge is the college level competition and building a battery pack of their own for EV. He believes that the Charging Eagles will create something special.
	Luis Arias Vehicle Systems Integration Lead Luis Arias is the vehicle systems integration lead for the California State University, Los Angeles -Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and a third-year student at CSULA studying mechanical engineering. What excites him the most about the BattChallenge is being able to go through the engineering design process, collaborate and work as a team as we design and build an EV battery pack. Arias wants to explore and learn what it takes to build a battery pack and integrate it into a vehicle.
	Katherine Bonomo BattScholar Funding Kat Bonomo is the funding BattScholar for the California State University, Los Angeles-Cerritos College's Battery Workforce Challenge team and a senior at CSULA majoring in civil engineering and minoring in sustainable marketing. What excites her the most about the BattChallenge is being part of a beginning initiative to connect students with the opportunity to learn important skills and push energy-efficient technology in our future. Bonomo is excited to document our growth throughout the year!
	Isabel Builes Project Manager Isabel Builes is the project manager for the California State University, Los Angeles-Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and a first-year master's student at CSULA studying mechanical engineering. She holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and a graduate degree in business and innovation. Builes brings industry experience to her studies, with previous jobs as a design mechanical engineer for energy systems, field engineer in the automotive industry and a coordinator of new engineering businesses department in the energy industry. What excites her the most about this challenge is the opportunity to manage a diverse and large team, aiming to achieve the best outcome in the design process.
	Brian Castillo Engineering Manager Brian Castillo is the engineering manager for the California State University, Los Angeles-Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and a second-year graduate student at CSULA, where he’s pursuing a master's degree in electrical engineering. He also holds a bachelor's from CSULA. What excites him the most about the BattChallenge is that it has given him the opportunity to work on EVs and be part of the change of a carbon-neutral future. Castillo is eager to learn many skills that will help him professionally in the future.
	Erick Gross Thermal Lead Erick Gross is the thermal lead for the California State University, Los Angeles-Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and a senior at CSULA studying mechanical engineering. His interests are in thermal systems, renewable energy and system engineering. Gross has gained some valuable leadership and research skills and a better understanding of how electric vehicles work. He is also excited to be working with multiple teams to achieve the same goal.
	Manuel Haro Vocational Liaison Manuel Haro is the vocational liaison for the California State University, Los Angeles-Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and senior at CSULA studying electrical engineering, specializing in power systems. What excites Haro about the BattChallenge is being part of a group of engineers who are making a battery pack module for EVs that will impact peoples’ daily lives.
	Mario Medina Lead Faculty Advisor Mario Medina is the lead faculty advisor for the California State University, Los Angeles-Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and a CSULA Department of Mechanical Engineering professor. What excites him about the Battery Workforce Challenge collegiate competition is the opportunity to work on such a complex problem with a giant team. He considers it both scary and exciting. Medina is excited to see what his team creates.
	Joe Mulleary Vocational Faculty Advisor Cerritos College Joe Mulleary is the vocational faculty advisor for the California State University, Los Angeles-Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and an instructor and co-chair for Cerritos College’s Automotive Technology Department. Mulleary holds an associate’s from Cerritos College in automotive technology, a bachelor’s from California State University, Chico in recreation administration, and a master’s from Humboldt State University (Arcata, Calif.) in education. He is committed to providing students with learning experiences that further skills development and learning. Mulleary looks forward to the BattChallenge, particularly Cerritos College’s partnership with CSULA. He shared that this partnership is a great opportunity for the students.
	Nidavone Niravanh Lead Safety Advisor California State University, Los Angeles Nidavone Niravanh is the lead safety advisor for California State University, Los Angeles-Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and the faculty executive director of Risk Management and Environmental and Health and Safety for CSULA. Niravanh is responsible for overall Environmental Health and Safety program management, risk exposure assessment, regulatory interface, construction RMEHS management, strategic planning and program development, asbestos and lead program, and building inspection program. She is most excited to see a safe work environment for the BattChallenge.
	Masood Shahverdi Co-Lead Faculty Advisor California State University, Los Angeles Masood Shahverdi is the co-lead faculty advisor for the California State University, Los Angeles-Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and an associate professor at CSULA. He specializes in supervisory control and battery optimization for hybrid EVs. During his doctoral work and his post-doctoral fellowship, Shahverdi led a team that created a full-scale hybrid EV emulator and hybrid lithium-ion battery system. He advised the EcoCAR3 team. Shahverdi's recent work involves deep-learning-based power management systems for grid-tied batteries, which is sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. His impact on vehicle electrification and power systems is evident in numerous publications and patents.
	Cao Tran Battery Pack Software Lead California State University, Los Angeles Cao Tran is the battery pack software lead for the California State University, Los Angeles-Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and is a part time CSULA graduate student in his third year. He specializes in embedded and power systems. Tran holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from CSULA. His interests are in renewable energy, storage and renewable energy management systems. Tran is excited to be part of the BattChallenge alongside his peers who share the same goals and passion. He sees his time in the BattChallenge as an opportunity to be part of a future that helps the environment and builds a sustainable future.
	Raymond Tran Battery Pack Hardware Lead Raymond Tran is the battery pack hardware lead for the California State University, Los Angeles-Cerritos College Battery Workforce Challenge team and a senior at CSULA studying electrical engineering and specializing in power. What excites him about the BattChallenge is the opportunity to build a battery pack that is being used in an EV.