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NewFoS Who's Who in REM

Program Leads

Kasi

Kasi Kiehlbaugh, PhD

Director of Health Sciences Design
University of Arizona; 
REM Program Lead
kkiehlbaugh@arizona.edu

Hylton

Derrick Hylton, PhD

Associate Professor of Physics, 
Spelman College; 
REM Program Lead
dhylton@spelman.edu

Education and Broader Participation Staff

sara

Sara Chavarria, PhD

NewFoS Co-PI & Human Resource Development Lead; 
Assistant Dean, College of Education
University of Arizona;
Education Lead
spchavar@arizona.edu

Grant

Grant Batchelder, MS

Administrator of Academic Programs, 
University of Arizona;
REM Coordinator
gbatchelder@arizona.edu

2026-2027 Faculty Research Mentors

Andrea Alu

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

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

Pierre Lucas, PhD

Professor of Material Science & Engineering
Professor of Optical Engineering
University of Arizona
pierre@arizona.edu

Zafer

Zafer Mutlu, PhD

Assistant Professor
Materials Science & Engineering,
University of Arizona
zmutlu@arizona.edu

Arif

M. Arif Hasan, PhD

Assistant Professor, 
Mechanical Engineering
Wayne State University
hasan.arif@wayne.edu

Mohammad Bukhari

Mohammad Bukhari, PhD

Assistant Professor, 
Mechanical Engineering
Wayne State University
bukhari@wayne.edu


 

 

2025-2026 Faculty Research Leads

Arif

M. Arif Hasan, PhD

Assistant Professor, 
Mechanical Engineering
Wayne State University
hasan.arif@wayne.edu

Hylton

Derrick Hylton, PhD

Associate Professor of Physics,
Spelman College;
REM Program Lead
dhylton@spelman.edu

MICHAEL

Michael Leamy, PhD

Director of Graduate Studies, 
Professor of Mechanical Engineering,
Georgia Tech
michael.leamy@me.gatech.edu

Pierre

Pierre Lucas, PhD

Professor of Material Science & Engineering
Professor of Optical Engineering
University of Arizona
pierre@arizona.edu

Zafer

Zafer Mutlu, PhD

Assistant Professor
Materials Science & Engineering,
University of Arizona
zmutlu@arizona.edu

2025-2026 Postdoctoral & Research Scientist Mentors

Samarjith Biswas

Samarjith Biswas, PhD

Research Scientist,
NewFoS Center,
University of Arizona
samarjithbiswas@arizona.edu

Farrukh Najmi

Farrukh Najmi, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate,
University of Arizona
farrukhnajmi@arizona.edu

Wataru cropped

Wataru Takeda, PhD

Postdoctoral Scholar,
University of Arizona
wtakeda@arizona.edu

Kentaro Yumigeta

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

Tanvir Mahtab Shuvo

PhD Student,
Materials Science & Engineering,
University of Arizona

Howard Yawit

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 Campbell

Catherine "Cate" Campbell

Home Institution: University of Arizona
REM Summer Site: Wayne State University

Anwar Gatto Lab small

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

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

Yousif Kandelchy

Home Institution: Wayne State University
REM Summer Site: University of Arizona

Kevin Kraseman cropped

Kevin Kraseman

Home Institution: University of Arizona
REM Summer Site: University of Arizona

Arturo Whipple

Arturo Whipple

Home Institution: University of Arizona
REM Summer Site: Georgia Tech