Department Representatives Fall 2024
Han Yong Wunrow (Lead DR)
About Me
I am a fourth-year PhD student in Applied Mathematics advised Jeffrey Shaman, Marc Spiegelman, and Sen Pei. My research interests include data assimilation, Bayesian inference, and probabilistic machine learning applied to modeling infectious disease dynamics. Outside of mathematics, I am interested in pedagogy, cross-country skiing, and running.
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Sangjoon Bob Lee
About Me
I am a second-year MS student in Materials Science and Engineering at Columbia. Previously, I studied Chemical Engineering with minors in Computer Science and Chemistry at The Cooper Union, located in the East Village. During my time there, I held leadership roles in the Engineering Student Council and an honor society. I enjoy leading and participating in group activities that offer professional development opportunities.
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Gigi Bond (Lead DR)
About Me
Hi! I am a third-year PhD student in Nadeen Chahine’s lab in the orthopedic department. I work on the intervertebral disc and am coming up with tissue engineering and small molecule solutions for disc degeneration. I am the GoBME president for 2024! In my free time, I love exploring the city for new restaurants and bars! I also have an AMC pass and love going to see new movies in the theater (usually while smuggling dinner in with me lol).
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Lucy (Lu) Chen
About Me
Hihi guys! My name is Lulu and I am a first year BME MS student. My undergraduate research heavily focused on psycholinguistic but now I am working on MRE projects. My home town is Shenzhen, China though I spent more time living in Irvine, CA. I am a sucker for good food and tiramisu! Outside of class, you can always find me at a blue bottle cafe or MoMa! I love making friends so if you see me walking around campus please say hi!
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Salma Elhassa
About Me
Hey y’all! I am currently a first year MS/PhD student in the Nuttida lab studying the neural mechanisms of perceptual and cognitive flexibility. Outside of the lab I enjoy reading, writing creative pieces, and exploring places in my hometown in Queens.
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Jonovan Osorio
About Me
As a first-year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering, I look to bridge the gap between my personal experiences and my passion for science. In the Thomopoulos Lab, my research focuses on orthopedic challenges, particularly the attachment of tendon and ligament to bone—a topic close to my heart after two knee surgeries ended my young career as an aspiring baseball player. While my playing days are behind me, I'm thrilled to contribute to innovative solutions that could help future athletes and patients. When I'm not in the lab, you'll find me watching baseball games (Go Giants!) or exploring New York's diverse culinary scene!
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Jenny Gao
About Me
I spend a non-zero amount of time cooking, planning what to cook, or grocery shopping. I love trying new recipes or eating at new restaurants with friends. Outside of cooking, I like to dabble in lots of different things like ice skating, crocheting, video editing, calligraphy, etc.
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Esha Uddin
About Me
Hi friends! I'm a first-year PhD student in Ricardo Cruz-Acuña's lab studying ECM biomechanics and tumorigenesis. I'm originally from Massachusetts and love being outside in all seasons. In my free time I like exploring live music around the city, reading (getting into new genres!), and finding the next best Thai spot :)
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Brittany Pitt (Lead DR)
About Me
I’m a third-year ChemE PhD student in the Obermeyer Group. My research is focused on protein engineering and sustainable materials. I was born and raised in St. Catherine, Jamaica and I love painting, makeup, photography, and pretty much anything “artsy”!
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Alexia Yun
Alexia is a Chemical Engineering Ph.D. candidate and NSF fellow at Columbia University, and she earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley. My research focuses on nanomaterials, DNA origami, and self-assembly. Outside of the lab, Alexia enjoys eating her way through nyc.
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Chanakya Akhil Vijay Kumar Dowluru
About Me
I'm an MS student in Chemical Engineering with an interest in connecting Engineering and Entrepreneurship to scale up viable innovations to fruitful products. I am exploring various concentrations in Chemical Engineering ranging from soft matter, nanotechnology, biotechnology and climate solutions. Outside of my academics, I love spending an hour in Dodge Fitness Centre every day, walking around from one end of Central Park to the other while listening to some music.
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Aditi Raut
About Me
Hello! I’m Aditi Raut, a graduate student in Chemical Engineering who loves exploring new places and having fun. As your department representative, I’m here to support you—feel free to reach out anytime!
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Chi Hin Tam (Lead DR)
About Me
Hi, my name is Chi, I'm a first-year Civil Engineering M.S. student from Hong Kong, the land of dim sum and "silk-stocking" milk tea. I studied Mechanical Engineering at Rutgers for my B.S. and recently I picked up photography as a hobby and have been taking pictures of all sorts of public transits and cityscapes around the world!
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Saitejasvi Deshmukh
About Me
Hi! I’m Saitejasvi Deshmukh, currently pursuing my master's in Civil Engineering. Professionally, I worked as a project engineer with a renowned Japanese consulting firm, and academically, I have completed my bachelor's in civil engineering along with an MBA in finance from India. I’m also the proud founder of the YASHASWINI Foundation, which focuses on empowering women and youth in rural India, helping them achieve financial independence, and teaching them skill development through innovative campaigns.
When I’m not working on social initiatives, you’ll find me enjoying diverse culinary experiences, exploring new places, and pampering my dog!
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Vandan Darji
About Me
Greetings! I’m Vandan Darji, hailing from the vibrant land of Gujarat, India, and currently navigating the world of academia while pursuing an MS in Civil Engineering. When I’m not buried in textbooks or solving complex equations, you’ll find me diving headfirst into adventure sports or wandering through the eclectic streets of New York City—where every corner offers a new experience, and every skyline inspires.
But there’s more to my journey than just academics and adrenaline. I’m deeply connected to the BAPS temple, where I love contributing to seva through decorative work—bringing beauty and spirituality together. And if there’s one place in the U.S. that captures my heart, it’s Akshardham, my favorite sanctuary of peace, culture, and inspiration
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Sofia Eleonor Kheddam
Hi, my name is Sofia Eleonor but you can call me Sofia, I’m a Civil Engineering M.S. student from Algeria, a fabulous country with an amazing couscous and a great passion for soccer.
However, I am also doing a Master of Science in Construction Engineering at « ESTP Paris » so I would not say no to a café and croissant.
In my free time, you’ll find me in a boxing club or just discovering new restaurants with my friends and of course at a soccer match!
Thank you for choosing me as a Department Representative, i will do my best to meet your expectations.
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Rattandeep Singh
About Me
Hello everyone! I'm Rattandeep Singh, a second-year MS in Computer Science student at Columbia University. Hailing from India, I completed my bachelor's studies in Computer Science at Netaji Subhas University of Technology, Delhi, and then worked as a Software Engineer at Intuit, India. I am enthusiastic about using technology to build automated solutions to solve real-world problems. I enjoy playing cricket and board games, capturing the beauty of nature through my camera lens, and reading about space missions. I truly value connecting with people and learning about diverse backgrounds and cultures. As the MS in Computer Science Department Representative (DR), I am looking forward to supporting and guiding fellow students in making the most of their time at Columbia University and in vibrant New York City.
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Aurghya Maiti
About Me
Hi, I’m Aurghya Maiti, a third-year PhD student in Computer Science. When I’m not knee-deep in research, you’ll find me reading or chatting about books — or, let’s be real, anything at all. I like to spice things up by picking a new hobby each semester. After testing my hands with origami and my legs with dancing, this semester, I decided to brave the slippery world of ice skating (send help!). Oh, and here’s a fun party trick—I can write in a mirror image. Can’t wait to meet you all!
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Tom Xu (Lead DR)
Hi, my name is Tom, a first year MSCS student with a focus on VGIR. Come talk to me and let's connect on Linkedin
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Raman Odgers
About Me
Hey y'all, I'm a second-year MSCS student in the machine learning track and I'm currently working full time in the Zemel Group on ML interpretability. Most of my work experience has been in startups across both strategy and technical roles but I recently worked in consulting. Outside work, I read widely about politics, futurism, and "big ideas". I also love to take photos, make music, and create stuff - if you want to make a music video I'll be there. I'm from Sydney, Australia, but the accent only comes out behind closed doors. Other than that, Department Reps are meant to collect feedback from the student body so feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Happy studying!
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Sophia Yao
About Me
Hi! I'm a first-year MS CS student in NLP track and have spent three years working & living in the bay area before returning to Columbia. I'm interested in cybersecurity, nlp, entrepreneurship, and squash :))
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Sarah Korb
About Me
Hi! I'm a first-year MS CS student from New Jersey. I’m currently a part of in the CRIS Lab on campus, and I have personal interests in explainable AI, AI ethics, and tech policy. Outside of academics my hobbies include guitar, rugby, and cooking.
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Kiki Wei
About Me
I am a first-year graduate student majoring in Carbon Management under Earth and Environmental Engineering. I am an international student who completed both high school and my undergraduate degree in Canada, where I also worked in two research labs. My hobbies include watching anime and playing video games. I am passionate about making the world a better place, starting with improving the things around us.
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Neha Gosula
About Me
Neha is a first-year graduate student in EEE with a focus on Carbon Management. Her interest lies in solving key climate challenges that lie at the nexus of energy, water, and climate change. As a Department Representative at EGSC, she is committed to improving the student experience at EEE dept. You can reach out to her for any concerns or questions, she would be more than happy to listen to you and take action. When she's not in class or at work, you can find her painting, listening to music, or heading out for a sprint. She is usually adventurous and looks for opportunities to step out of her comfort zone.
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Arielle Joasil (Lead DR)
About Me
Hi! I'm a 4th year EE PhD candidate in Prof. Christine Hendon's Structure Function Imaging Lab. I use AI, computer vision, and signal processing techniques to gain insights from optical biomedical data of the heart, uterus, and breast. Outside of research, I love watching live music, practicing my bass, singing, and spending quality time with my loved ones. Whenever I'm able, I try and visit new restaurants! NYC has so much to offer.
I serve as co-social chair on GEEC's board and thoroughly enjoy planning events for the EE grad students. I'm excited to serve as lead DR and interface the EE department and EGSC. Please reach out if you'd like to chat!
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Priyanka Dilip
About Me
Hello! I'm a second-year EE PhD candidate in Prof. Keren Bergman's Lightwave Research Laboratory. I love integrated circuits of all kinds! It’s been great meeting the graduate students here at Columbia, and I look forward to many more interactions. Outside of research life, I enjoy going out with friends to explore the sights and foods of the City, and playing either an FPS or with my friends' pets ^_^
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Manas Pange
About Me
Hi! My name is Manas Pange. I'm from Mumbai, India. I am a second-year Master's Student in Electrical Engineering. I completed my undergraduate degree in 2022 from KJSCE, Mumbai. I like to hang around with my friends, watch movies, and listen to music.
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Jacklyn Zhu
About Me
I'm a 1st year PhD student in Prof. Savannah Eisner's lab working on wide bandgap semiconductor devices! I did my undergrad at UCLA. In my free time, I enjoy figure skating.
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Garvit Vyas
About Me
Hey everyone, I’m Garvit Vyas, a first-year Master’s student in Computer Engineering, with a strong interest in hardware engineering and semiconductors. If you’ve got any hidden gems for food or travel spots in NYC, let me know—I’m always up for new adventures!
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Swethaashri Ramesh
About Me
I am a first-year Master's student in Electrical Engineering with a background in software development, where I focused on improving the retail experience through technology. I completed my undergraduate degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. Originally from Bangalore, India, I believe a good dosa can fix any problem. In my spare time, I enjoy playing tennis, exploring, and trying new cuisines.
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Anne Rose Sankar Raj
About Me
I am a 1st year MS student in Electrical Engineering. My academic focus lie in the areas of Embedded Systems and Control Systems. I am an Automotive enthusiast. My hobbies include dancing and reading. I love to connect with people and share the fun! Always ready for a coffee chat 🤓☕️
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Summer Yu
About Me
I am Summer Yu, originally from Beijing, China. After completing my undergraduate studies, I gained valuable experience working as a consultant for nearly two years. As a first-year student in the MS&E program, I am eager to apply my skills to enhance student welfare and foster greater engagement within the EGS community. In my free time, I enjoy a range of outdoor activities, with skiing being my latest passion.
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Wei Qu
About Me
Hello! My name is Wei Qu, and I'm a first-year master's student in Financial Engineering. I completed my undergrad degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, beside the spectacular Rocky Mountains. During my free time, I enjoy training in Muay Thai and reading literature and philosophy. I am also a film enthusiast and art lover.
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Vinit Juneja
About Me
Hey, my name is Vinit Juneja. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Management Science and Engineering. I did my undergraduate in Computer Science from India.
Born and brought up in India, I love to play all kinds of sports especially cricket and badminton. I love outdoor activities and I like to engage in meaningful discussions and network with individuals.
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Andrea Cuadros Vera
About Me
Hi! My name is Andrea Cuadros, and I am a first-year MS Business Analytics candidate. I am originally from Lima, Peru so my native language is Spanish!
I obtained my Bachelor of Science at SUNY Plattsburgh and I worked for a biotech startup in Cambridge MA before diving into my graduate studies.
I am a Hackathon enthusiast and I am always looking to explore opportunities related to tech, incubators and entrepreneurship.
Outside of school, you can find me trying out restaurants, at pop-up events and taking my film camera around on a sunny day. I will also be sharing fun facts about the Peruvian cuisine.
As a DR, I am eager to be the bridge between my peers and the school. My goal is to ensure your ideas have a voice and to make sure your experience at Columbia is one you will enjoy looking back on. If you have any questions, suggestions or would like to meet for a casual coffee chat don’t hesitate to reach out!
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Manasa Murthy
About Me
Hello everyone, I am Manasa Murthy, a graduate student at Columbia University, where I began my studies in Fall 2023. I hold an undergraduate degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering and previously worked as a Software Engineering Analyst at Accenture before pursuing my Master's in Management Science and Engineering.
I aspire to be a Product Manager or take on similar roles that involve operations, strategy and management after graduation.
In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, and have recently taken up playing squash.
Feel free to reach out if you need anything!
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Divyadarshini Thirugnanasambandan
About Me
Heyy! I'm Divya, a first year MSBA student. I did my undergrad in Data Science & Analytics at NUS (National University of Singapore). After graduating, I worked at VISA (the credit card company) for 2 years before I came to Columbia to pursue my masters.
I'm a lover of the arts, so NYC is the perfect place for me! I did art for my IGCSEs and I was teaching art to kids as a side hustle for three years since December 2020. Fun fact, I did a minor in Theatre Studies at NUS, and I love performing! I'm also a musician, and I've been learning Indian classical music since I was 10. I play a string instrument called Veena, and I absolutely love it! I can't wait to catch all the different art museums and theatre/music shows around the city!
Feel free to reach out to me if you need anything, or you just want to have a coffee chat!
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Saum Kothari
About Me
Hi, I'm Saum! I am a final year MS Business Analytics student at IEOR, and have a background in statistics and quantitative finance. I enjoy talking about ideas in finance (eg: cracking the code to the Medallion Fund). Outside of academics, I am very interested in hiking, Formula1 & learning about new cultures and cuisines!
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Daksh Garg
About Me
Hello!!!
I am a second year MechE grad student. I have a keen interest in Machine Design and robotics. Outside of the MechTech Lab, you can spot me playing squash or exploring this beautiful city. Looking forward to making new connections!!!
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Bex Pendrak
About Me
Bex is a 2nd year PhD in mechanical engineering studying biomaterial mechanics in the Myers Soft Tissue Lab. They are passionate about lifting up marginalized voices in STEM through their research and an active involvement in their community. Outside of work, you can find Bex rock climbing, skateboarding, or playing with their cat Tortellini.
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Kim Kroupa
About Me
Kim is a PhD student in the Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab where she studies the material properties of cartilage and how to prevent osteoarthritis. Kim’s longstanding passion for building community and driving positive change for Grad SEAS students led her to serve as MEGA president in 2022 and EGSC president in 2023. Kim’s hobbies include cooking, eating, and puzzling. Please feel free to reach out with questions, comments, concerns, or ideas!
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Dhruv Bhatt
About Me
Hello everyone! I'm Dhruv Bhatt, a first-year Master's student in Mechanical Engineering, focusing on Energy Systems and Engineering Mechanics. I earned my bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering in India.
When I'm not buried in assignments, you'll likely find me at the Dodge Fitness Center, either on the basketball court or in the weight room. I'm also passionate about cinematography and photography, which I enjoy while exploring new places.
As a Departmental Representative, I'm committed to amplifying your voices, addressing your concerns, and driving meaningful change through close collaboration with EGSC and the university. I strongly believe in the principle of "of the people, by the people, and for the people," and I'm dedicated to actively representing our student body.
If you have any ideas for improvements or initiatives you'd like to see implemented, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to serve you and will work tirelessly to make our department and university a better place for all.
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Jaclyn Vu (Lead DR)
About Me
Hello! My name is Jaclyn Vu, and I am a second-year MS Data Science student. I am originally from Oregon, but I lived in Texas as well. I earned an Honors Bachelor of Science in Biological Data Sciences with a concentration in Genomics and a minor in Computer Science from Oregon State University, and I decided to continue my education at Columbia.
Upon beginning my journey here, I joined the Data Science Institute Student Council and EGSC to become more involved with the community and meet more people. Looking forward to this year!
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Sophie Wagner
About Me
Hi!! I’m Sophie Wagner, a second-year MS Data Science student. I enjoy soccer, politics, and running (@bbqtrackclubnyc). I am passionate about using data science to inform public policy - specifically in health and urban planning.
I did my undergrad at the University of Virginia, earning a BA in Statistics and Global Development Studies. After graduating, I moved to NYC and have been working full-time at Columbia Medical Center for the last two years. I began the MSDS part-time last year, and am excited to serve as DR!
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Pranav Bidve
About Me
Hello! My name is Pranav Bidve. I am a first-year MS Data Science student, having completed my Bachelor of Computer Science at VIT Vellore in India. I love sketching, gaming, and watching movies in my free time.
As a representative of graduate engineering students, I will serve to address their issues and concerns. I aim to foster interaction, friendship, and respect among students by sponsoring events of interest to them.
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Iram Kamdar
About Me
Hi! I am Iram Kamdar, a Data Science student!
I did my undergrad in Computer Science. I love playing tennis, eating sushi and drinking tea:)
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Pooja Desur
About Me
Hi! I’m Pooja Desur, a Data Science Grad student. I’m super passionate about using tech for positive social impacts and getting more girls excited about STEM! I studied Computer Science at IIIT Hyderabad in India.
I’m a trained classical Bharatnatyam dancer but any kind of dance makes me really happy. The thing I love most about Columbia are its huge beautiful libraries, and it being in such a vibrant place as New York. My goal as a DR is to represent my Data Science cohort as best as I can and help make this a great academic year for everyone! :)
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Jose Miguel Luna Mugica
About Me
Hola everyone! My name is Jose Miguel Luna and I am a first-year dual MS/MBA candidate from Mexico. My MS in Engineering will be focused on AI and Machine Learning.
When not at school, I love to play with my dog Quinoa, travel, eat delicious food and learn new languages. I also love to scuba dive, play squash and play Mahjong.