2025 Perpall SURF Speaking Competition | Semi-Final Round Session C
The Doris S. Perpall SURF Speaking Competition was endowed by Robert (Bob) C. Perpall (BS ‘52 Mechanical Engineering; MS '56 Mechanical Engineering) in memory of his late wife as an incentive for Caltech students to give excellent oral presentations. Mr. Perpall strongly believed that effective communication skills were critical to one's future success.
For over thirty years, the Perpall SURF Speaking Competition has developed into an incredible force for improving the oral presentation skills of Caltech undergraduates.
The Student-Faculty Programs Office is proud to announce the Semi-Final Round of the 2025 Perpalls, featuring 27 Caltech undergraduates who were selected for their outstanding presentations during Fall Seminar Day. These semi-finalists, representing a wide range of research disciplines, were chosen by judges and session chairs for their clarity in communicating complex scientific ideas.
Session C is dedicated to projects within the Department of Physics. The schedule of presentations is below, organized by time of presentation, name of the semi-finalist, and their mentors:
- 2:00 PM to 2:20 PM: Katia Avanesov with Harvey Newman (Professor of Physics) and Kiley Kennedy (Associate Research Scholar and Dicke Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton University)
- 2:20 PM to 2:40 PM: Sujay Champati with Maria Spiropulu (Shang-Yi Ch'en Professor of Physics) and Raju Valivarthi (Research Scientist on Quantum Science and Technology)
- 3:00 PM to 3:20 PM: Ai-Dan Le with Susan Gardner (Arts & Sciences Endowed Professor of Physics, University of Kentucky)
- 3:20 PM to 3:40 PM: Tuyen Nguyen with Maria Spiropulu (Shang-Yi Ch'en Professor of Physics), Jennifer Ngadiuba (Associate Scientist, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory), and Raghav Kansal (Postdoctoral Researcher in Physics)
- 3:40 PM to 4:00 PM: Shrishti Pankaj Kulkarni with Frank Lee (Professor of Physics, George Washington University) and Mark Wise (John A. McCone Professor of High Energy Physics)
- 4:00 PM to 4:20 PM: Avi Vadali with Jason Alicea (William K. Davis Professor of Theoretical Physics) and Pablo Sala (Postdoctoral Research Associate in Physics)