NewFoS Who's Who in REM
Program Leads
Kasi Kiehlbaugh, PhD
Director of Health Sciences Design,
University of Arizona;
REM Program Lead
kkiehlbaugh@arizona.edu
Derrick Hylton, PhD
Associate Professor of Physics,
Spelman College;
REM Program Lead
dhylton@spelman.edu
Education and Broader Participation Staff
Sara Chavarria, PhD
NewFoS Co-PI & Human Resource Development Lead;
Assistant Dean, College of Education
University of Arizona;
Education Lead
spchavar@arizona.edu
Grant Batchelder, MS
Administrator of Academic Programs,
University of Arizona;
REM Coordinator
gbatchelder@arizona.edu
2026-2027 Faculty Research Mentors
Andrea Alù, PhD
Einstein and Distinguished Professor, Physics
Director, Photonics Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center
City University of New York Graduate Center
aalu@gc.cuny.edu
Alexander Khanikaev, PhD
Cobb Family Eminent Scholar Chair & Professor, Optics & Photonics
University of Central Florida
alexander.khanikaev@ucf.edu
Affiliate Faculty
Photonics Initiative at the Advanced Science Research Center, CUNY
alexander.khanikaev@qc.cuny.edu
Pierre Lucas, PhD
Professor of Material Science & Engineering
Professor of Optical Engineering
University of Arizona
pierre@arizona.edu
Zafer Mutlu, PhD
Assistant Professor
Materials Science & Engineering,
University of Arizona
zmutlu@arizona.edu
M. Arif Hasan, PhD
Assistant Professor,
Mechanical Engineering
Wayne State University
hasan.arif@wayne.edu
Mohammad Bukhari, PhD
Assistant Professor,
Mechanical Engineering
Wayne State University
bukhari@wayne.edu
2025-2026 Faculty Research Leads
M. Arif Hasan, PhD
Assistant Professor,
Mechanical Engineering
Wayne State University
hasan.arif@wayne.edu
Derrick Hylton, PhD
Associate Professor of Physics,
Spelman College;
REM Program Lead
dhylton@spelman.edu
Michael Leamy, PhD
Director of Graduate Studies,
Professor of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Tech
michael.leamy@me.gatech.edu
Pierre Lucas, PhD
Professor of Material Science & Engineering
Professor of Optical Engineering
University of Arizona
pierre@arizona.edu
Zafer Mutlu, PhD
Assistant Professor
Materials Science & Engineering,
University of Arizona
zmutlu@arizona.edu
2025-2026 Postdoctoral & Research Scientist Mentors
Samarjith Biswas, PhD
Research Scientist,
NewFoS Center,
University of Arizona
samarjithbiswas@arizona.edu
Farrukh Najmi, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate,
University of Arizona
farrukhnajmi@arizona.edu
Wataru Takeda, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar,
University of Arizona
wtakeda@arizona.edu
Kentaro Yumigeta, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate,
Material Science & Engineering,
University of Arizona
kyumiget@arizona.edu
2025-2026 Graduate Student Mentors
Dmitriy Bayko, PhD
PhD Student, (has since graduated)
University of Arizona
Tanvir Mahtab Shuvo
PhD Student,
Materials Science & Engineering,
University of Arizona
Howard Yawit
PhD Student,
Materials Science & Engineering,
University of Arizona
2025-2026 REM Participants
Gotibeh Alhady
Home Institution: Wayne State University
REM Summer Site: Wayne State University
Catherine "Cate" Campbell
Home Institution: University of Arizona
REM Summer Site: Wayne State University
Anwar Gatto
Home Institution: University of Arizona
REM Summer Site: University of Arizona
Khalil Gatto
Home Institution: University of Arizona
REM Summer Site: University of Arizona
Ture Gustafson
Home Institution: University of Arizona
Summer Site: University of Arizona
Snihith John
Home Institution: Wayne State University
REM Summer Site: Georgia Tech
Yousif Kandelchy
Home Institution: Wayne State University
REM Summer Site: University of Arizona
Kevin Kraseman
Home Institution: University of Arizona
REM Summer Site: University of Arizona
Arturo Whipple
Home Institution: University of Arizona
REM Summer Site: Georgia Tech