Kayla Fericy
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Gabriela Gonzalez
Chemistry
Gabriela Gonzalez is a Ph.D. student in Chemistry at Duke University. Her research focuses on determining the best antibiotics to treat sepsis with. She does this by quantifying the number of outer membrane vesicles released with different antibiotics. She received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Summa Cum Laude, from Rochester Institute of Technology. She really enjoys music and plays the bass in her free time.
Sontee Irvin
Chemistry
Sontee Irvin is a Ph.D. student in Chemistry at Duke University. Her undergraduate research explored the use of excitation-emission matrices (EEM) to identify dissolved organic matter in rivers and lakes around Greenwood, South Carolina. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, summa cum laude, from Lander University. Passionate about inclusivity, Sontee is dedicated to increasing the participation of underrepresented individuals in STEM fields.
Jabari Kwesi
Computer Science
Jabari Kwesi received his B.S. in Computer Science from Duke University in May of 2023, and returned to Duke to join the Interdisciplinary Security, Privacy, and Interaction Research Lab as a Ph.D. student in the Fall of 2023. His research explores how security and privacy concerns and understandings shape user interactions with emerging technologies. He aims to guide the development of novel technical systems and regulatory policies to ensure these technologies are both effective and equitable. In Jabari’s free time, he enjoys playing and watching basketball, as well as spending time with friends and family.
Courtney Martin
Physics
Courtney Martin is a Ph.D. candidate in Physics at Duke University, specializing in nuclear physics. Her research centers on characterizing the energy spectra of delayed neutrons from photon-induced fission to enhance detection methods for fissile materials. She conducts much of her work at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratories (TUNL) and using the High Intensity Gamma-ray Source (HIGS). Courtney holds a B.S. in Physics from North Carolina Central University. Committed to outreach, she actively promotes STEM opportunities for women and minorities. Outside the lab, she enjoys playing musical instruments, painting, rock climbing, and family time.
Mark Ochoa
Biomedical Engineering
Mark Ochoa is a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. His research focuses on the engineering of viral vectors for gene delivery and modulating their interaction with the immune system. Mark received a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology and Chemistry, from the University of California San Diego. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, watching baseball, and hiking.
Allen Pierre-Louis
Physics
Allen Andrew Pierre-Louis is an Alfred P Sloan Fellow, NSF GRFP fellow, and first year PhD student at Duke University in the physics department. He received his BS and MA in Physics from Stony Brook University. As a master’s student, Allen was a GEM fellow and built a cosmic ray tracker used to characterize the efficiency of detectors to be used in Jefferson Laboratory’s MOLLER experiment. His previous research with the Center for Frontiers in Nuclear Science (CFNS) and Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) covered feasibility studies for the Electron ion Collider to be built at BNL.
Currently, Allen is part of the ATLAS group at Duke which studies high energy particle physics with the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Allen also serves as a leader in the national student council for the National Society of Black Physicists.
Victor Moncada
Chemistry
Victor is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry at Duke University researching protein design. In this field, new cellular machinery can be computationally designed then produced in the laboratory that can help our cells perform new tasks — such as enhancing our biology or treating disease.
Victor received his Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Florida. He has a faithful Havanese pup named Randy and loves collecting vintage audio equipment. In his free time, Victor enjoys playing new instruments, cooking new foods, and watching Florida Gator Football.
Alex Wright
Biomedical Engineering
Alexandra Wright is a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Engineering specializing in neural engineering at Duke University. Their research interests center on designing and fabricating soft, flexible microelectronics for neurological disorders, including seizures. Alexandra’s interest in seizure detection and biomedical technologies began after their sister experienced a febrile seizure, motivating them to pursue college at an early age. At 15, they began studying biology and physics as part of the Program for the Exceptionally Gifted at Mary Baldwin University. Their academic journey expanded through research experiences at Johns Hopkins University and Virginia Commonwealth University, where they explored the material properties of soft biomaterials. Outside of research, Alexandra enjoys painting, dancing, spending time in nature, roller skating, and thrifting.
