WAVE Council

The WAVE Council is a group of senior graduate students, postdocs, and research staff who serve as non-research mentors to WAVE Fellows over the summer.

The 2025 WAVE Council members are:

Isaac Aguilar Rivera - Graduate Student in Geobiology
Isaac Aguilar (he/they) is a Geobiology PhD student in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, where they study the co-evolution of the geosphere and biosphere, with a focus on fire ecology and paleoecology. They earned their undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley, where they participated in field expeditions across a range of ecosystems—from California's wildlands to the Arctic and the global tropics. A first-generation Mexican-American from Southern California, Isaac is passionate about Mesoamerican cultural revitalization and enjoys exploring the outdoors, roller-skating, and community-centered science.. Click here to contact Isaac.

Luis Burgos - Graduate Student in Chemical Engineering
Hello! I am a rising G2 student (ChE option) working in the Manthiram Lab. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and did my undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez. As an undergraduate, I had the opportunity to participate multiple research experiences, among them a summer that I spent as a WAVE Fellow at Caltech. Throughout this summer, I managed to see what Caltech offers and how I could visualize carrying out my PhD studies here. As a graduate student here, my work has focused on the intersection of the microbial world with electrochemistry. This includes the study of how protein structure is dependent on electrochemical potentials, how genes can be regulated with external electron sources (electrodes), and novel bioelectrochemical applications. My interests outside of the lab span involve any sports related event, reading, trying new coffee shops, and visiting places around LA. Click here to contact Luis.

Jessica Gonzalez - Graduate Student in Applied Physics
Hi! I'm going to be a second-year PhD student in Applied Physics working with Professor Paul Bellan. My research is in experimental plasma astrophysics and nuclear fusion energy. For undergrad, I went to UCLA for Astrophysics and did research at JPL, the Plasma and Space Propulsion Laboratory, and the Basic Plasma Science Facility. Outside of my research I love cars, painting, playing the drums, doing outreach with the CTLO, and playing tennis and volleyball. Click here to contact Jessica.

Emanuel Green - Graduate Student in Applied Physics
Emanuel is currently a third year PhD student in the Applied Physics Department at Caltech. He was originally born in Chicago, but mostly grew up in Atlanta, GA. He attended the University of Chicago for his undergrad where he grew and studied quantum materials. Now at Caltech, his research focuses on fabricating and characterizing devices for quantum network applications using rare earth ions. Outside of lab, Emanuel is an avid sports fan and loves to cook and try new foods. Click here to contact Emanuel.

Manuel Holguin - Graduate Student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
I'm a rising G3 in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics (BMB). I was born and raised in LA, and am a first-gen college student in my family that started off at East Los Angeles Community College, before transferring to UC Irvine to finish my B.S. in BMB. While at Irvine, I also spent a summer as a WAVE fellow in Bil Clemons' lab in 2022. My general interests involve protein evolution and structural biology, but I've had a wide range of research experiences, from organic chemistry synthesis to insect behavior. Currently, I'm in Joe Parker's lab, where I study the protein-level evolution that gave rise to a chemical defense system in rove beetles. Click here to contact Manuel.

Katelyn Horstman - Graduate Student in Astrophysics
Hi, my name is Katelyn Horstman! I attended UCLA, where I graduated with departmental honors and received a Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics in 2021. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD in Astrophysics at Caltech, working with Professor Dimitri Mawet in the Exoplanet Technology (ET) lab. My research interests include exomoon detection, exoplanet detection and characterization, and near-infrared instrumentation. Outside of research, I enjoy hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and drinking boba. Click here to contact Katelyn.

Naiara Lebron Acosta - Graduate Student in Chemistry
Naiara graduated from the University of Puerto Rico–Río Piedras in 2024 with a B.S. in Chemistry. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted research in Dr. Eduardo Caro's lab, synthesizing analogs of the marine natural product Majusculamide D. She also worked in Dr. Duconge's Pharmacogenomics Lab, conducted microbiology research as a summer intern at the FDA, and was a 2023 WAVE Fellow in Hosea Nelson's lab. In 2024, she joined Caltech as a graduate student, where she is currently developing lipid–protein interaction profiling methods in the Morstein Lab. Click here to contact Naiara.

Naiara Munich - Graduate Student in Chemical Engineering
I am a second year chemical engineering graduate student in the See group researching solid-state synthesis of new cathode materials and their potential for commercialization. I actually grew up around Pasadena, before I moved to NYC to pursue my undergraduate degree in chemistry at Barnard College. While at Barnard I participated in the Science Pathways Scholars Program (similar to WAVE!), which enabled me to do battery research at Columbia's engineering college. I love to read, do pottery, go to the beach, camp, rock climb, and watch soccer (mostly when Argentina is playing :)!). Click here to contact Naiara.

Noor Naji - Graduate Student in Chemistry
My name is Noor Naji, and I'm a physical chemistry G3 in Lu Wei's lab. I work on expanding microscopy tools for bio-imaging. I'm an LA native, and went to Cal Poly Pomona before coming to Caltech! I'm excited to get to know my students, and am looking forward to help any way I can! Click here to contact Noor.

Micah Nishimoto - Graduate Student in Aerospace Engineering
My name is Micah Nishimoto and I am a 3rd year graduate student in GALCIT. Click here to contact Micah.

Adriana Pina Paez - Graduate Student in Geology
Hello there! I am a marine geologist doing my PhD in Geology in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at the California Institute of Technology from México. My research focuses to solve problems related to the evolution of plate boundaries and the analysis of oceanic basins using geophysical and geochemical techniques. I completed my B.S. (with highest honors) in Geology at the University of Sonora, México in 2020 and my M.Sc. in Geology at the California Institute of Technology on 2023. For my B.S. thesis I was awarded with the Francisco Medina Martinez prize granted by the Mexican Geophysical Union for the best Earth and Planetary Sciences bachelor's thesis in Mexico in 2020. Click here to contact Adriana.

Alex Ramirez - Graduate Student in Physics
Hi! My name is Alex Ramirez and I am finishing my second year as a Physics PhD student here at Caltech. I work in multiple areas including quantum optics, LIGO, and single photon detectors and wavefront sensing at JPL. Outside of research I enjoy playing soccer, snowboarding, music and exploring new places to eat. Congrats on your acceptance and I look forward to meeting you! Click here to contact Alex.

Omar Salah - Graduate Student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
Omar Salah is a first-year PhD student in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics option. He studied chemistry during his undergraduate years at the University of Southern California, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of GPCR activation. In 2023, Omar interned at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as an Amgen Scholar. Omar graduated from USC in 2024 and in his spare time, he enjoys running, exploring Los Angeles, and reading science fiction. Click here to contact Omar.

Tristan Villanueva - Graduate Student in Mechanical Engineering
Tristan grew up in San Diego, California. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree at UC Berkeley where he majored as a mechanical engineering and studied mathematics and physics for a semester at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). He is a second year graduate student working with Professor Adrián Lozano Durán on developing methods to control high dimensional chaotic dynamical systems using information theory and causality. His research is supported by the Caltech Graduate Presidential Fellowship, GEM Fellowship, and the NSF GRFP. In his free time, Tristan enjoys running, bouldering, and swimming. He was a UC Berkeley McNair Scholar in 2021 and a Caltech Wave Fellow in 2022. Click here to contact Tristan.

Audrey Washington - Graduate Student in Chemistry
Hello! I am a physical chemistry PhD Candidate in the Cushing Group, where we focus on ultrafast spectroscopy development, and the study of solid-state material properties. I went to San Diego State University for my undergrad, and during that time I was also a WAVE student where I worked in the very group I am in now, the WAVE program provided a safe space to explore my interests and meet amazing people that I am still friends with today. So, if you want any advice on making the most of the program, please don't be afraid to ask. Outside of the lab I enjoy doing ceramics, reading, yoga, and crocheting. I'm also from LA and love finding new eats, if you need any recommendations let me know. Click here to contact Audrey.