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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

MICHAEL

Michael Leamy, PhD

Professor and Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dorothean Chair of Engineering and Science

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

Professor and Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dorothean Chair of Engineering and Science

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