Dr. Lexi Hwang (PI)
Dr. Lexi Hwang is an Associate Professor in the College of Education at California State University, Los Angeles. She earned a Ph.D. in Special Education with an emphasis in math education and educational statistics at The Pennsylvania Sam is to transform K-postsecondary STEM education to stop leakage in the STEM pipeline. Her research intends totate University. The primary goal of her research progr diversify and increase the participation of underrepresented students in STEM by promoting educational opportunities and equal access. Currently, Dr. Hwang is a PI on the project entitled “Simulation-Based Pedagogical Approach in Chemistry Education for All Students to Succeed in STEM (SPACE),” funded by the National Science Foundation (2023-2025; $300K) that supports improving undergraduate STEM education. She is also a PI on the project entitled “Education Reform in Food and Agriculture Using Reactive Molecular Dynamic Simulations and Science Pedagogy (e-FARMS),” funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (2023-2027; $1,000,000). Dr. Hwang was a former NSF fellow of STEM education research (2020-2023).
Dr. Sungwook Hong (PI)
Dr. Sungwook Hong is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Engineering at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB). Before joining CSUB, Dr. Hong was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Southern California, focusing on research topics in computational materials chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering at Penn State. He is an expert in atomic-scale modeling and simulations of chemical/physical processes of complex nanostructured systems using reactive and quantum molecular dynamics simulations. His current research interests include an improved combustion performance of metal nanoparticles using organic coatings and STEM education using his computational skills.
Dr. Jeffrey Santner (Co-PI)
Dr. Satner joined Cal State LA’s Mechanical Engineering department in the Fall of 2017. As with any faculty, he has interests in teaching, research, and service to the university. He teaches courses on thermodynamics and fluid mechanics at the undergraduate and graduate level. His research mainly focuses on combustion chemistry, pollutant formation, and flame dynamics. Additionally, he is the principal undergraduate advisor for the mechanical engineering department. Before joining Cal State LA, he earned his Ph.D. from Princeton University and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Argonne National Laboratory, performing combustion chemistry research.
Marlen Trigueros
I am delighted to introduce myself as Marlen Trigueros, currently in my third year pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering at Cal State LA. I take great pride in being a first-generation college student, hailing from the vibrant culture of Guatemala. Despite facing various hurdles, including growing up in a low-income community, I have channeled these experiences to shape my academic and professional aspirations. My overarching ambition is to leverage my Civil Engineering degree to contribute meaningfully to improving infrastructure in underserved communities. While this is my primary focus, I remain open to expanding my horizons in other areas, such as pursuing a minor in Mathematics and Physics. I am passionate about diversifying my knowledge base and continuously seeking opportunities for growth. Beyond academics, I enjoy prioritizing my well-being by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I enjoy hitting the gym, engaging in sports, and immersing myself in music. These activities help me unwind and energize me to pursue my academic and professional goals. Thank you for your time, and have a good one!
Priyuanshu Luhar
Priyanshu Luhar is a sophomore in the Department of Computer & Electrical Engineering & Computer at California State University, Bakersfield. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He is assisting Dr. Sungwook Hong in researching the combustion of metal fuels using ReaxFF simulations. He has been very curious with the current hashing and compression algorithms and is researching them to improve their efficiency. He is currently focusing on his research, both formal and informal, and his undergraduate studies with intentions to apply the knowledge gained to mainstream software.
Karen Flores
Karen Flores is a third-year international student-athlete in the School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering (NSME) at California State University, Bakersfield, majoring in Engineering Sciences with a minor in Management. She is currently working on two research projects with two of her professors at CSUB. In addition to being an engineering major, she is also part of the women's soccer team at CSUB.
Arpit Vaishya
Arpit Vaishya is a Graduate Student in Computer Science with a focus on Computer Graphics from California State University and is currently pursuing a Master's degree. Engaged in a STEM-based research project, he collaborates with Dr. Hwang and Dr. Hong, contributing his Simulation and Modeling skills. Arpit's primary expertise and passion lie in the realm of Augmented and Virtual Reality. With a solid background as a Full-Stack Developer in the XR domain for three years, he has been instrumental in crafting applications for enterprise companies. Currently, his research is centered around WebXR, aiming to seamlessly integrate XR applications into web browsers, enabling users to experience immersive worlds without the need for additional installations.