Introducing the 2026 Berkeley Engineering Design Scholars

One of the highlights of summer at the Jacobs Institute is hosting the Berkeley Engineering Design Scholars.This year, seven outstanding undergraduates are engaging in engineering design research and learning research methodologies, under the guidance of faculty and graduate student mentors. They are exploring various topics such as human-computer interaction, bio-mechanics, robotics, and microfluidics, often constructing physical prototypes as part of their research.

Learn more about the cohort below and RSVP for the Poster Exhibition on Friday, August 7th from 12-1 PM in 310 Jacobs Hall, at which the Scholars will present the results of their summer work.

2026 Berkeley Engineering Design Scholars

Name: Ash Sanjeev

Major: Rising Senior, Mechanical Engineering

Faculty Advisor: Hannah Stuart

PhD Mentor: Nimran Shergill

Bio: My name is Ash Sanjeev, and I’m a rising senior Mech E major. I’m interested in bio-mechanics, and am working in Prof. Hannah Stuart’s lab with the Embodied Dexterity Group. I have always loved the process of coming up with a design, iterating, prototyping, and learning from the design process, and hope to lean more about the design field through this program. In my free time, I enjoy rock climbing, painting, and cooking.

 

 

 

Name: Christy Chuting Huang

Major: Rising Senior, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

Faculty Advisor: Kosa Goucher-Lambert

PhD Mentor: Juliana Covarrubias

Bio: Hi! My name is Christy, and I’m a rising senior studying EECS. I’m broadly interested in human-computer interaction, creative technology, and the ways design can make technology feel more interactive, tangible, and human. I love tinkering at the intersection of software and hardware, especially when it leads to immersive, playful experiences that can bridge digital ideas with our physical world! When I’m not designing, you’ll often find me climbing, cafe hopping, spending time in nature, and exploring creative spaces.

 

 

 

Name: Kate Chier

Major: Rising Senior, EECS

Faculty Advisor: Bjoern Hartmann

PhD Mentor: Shm Almeda

Bio: I’m Kate, a rising senior majoring in EECS and minoring in Creative Writing. As both an artist and engineer, I wonder how technology can help create, grow, and share artistic worlds as communal spaces on the internet. My research interests are in human-computer interaction, especially interactive narratives and online creative ecosystems. I’m motivated by design as a medium for shaping more meaningful, expressive, and human technologies. In my free time, I enjoy writing short stories, drawing original characters, and reading East Asian fiction. 🙂

 

 

 

Name: Madison Bryna Lee

Major: Rising Senior, Cognitive Science, Interdisciplinary Studies Field

Faculty Advisor: Kosa Goucher-Lambert

PhD Mentor: Juliana Covarrubias

Bio: Hi, I’m Madison, a rising senior studying Cognitive Science and Design Innovation. I’m interested in the intersection of visual art and emerging technologies, UX/UI design, and tangible embodied computing. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, museum hopping, crafting, and skiing. What draws me most to design is its human-centered nature, especially the opportunity to design with people rather than simply for them. I’m passionate about creating work that balances aesthetics and functionality while fostering meaningful everyday experiences. Ultimately, I hope to design products and experiences that not only solve problems but also grow with the people who use them.

 

 

Name: Sampurn Bhowmick

Major: Senior, Computer Science and Data Science

Faculty Advisor: Amy Pavel

PhD Mentor: Mina Huh

Bio: Hi, I’m Sam! I’m a senior studying Computer Science and Data Science at UC Berkeley. I’ve always loved creating and designing new things as a way to bring my many ideas to life. My research interests are in human-computer interaction, AI/ML, and visual computing, especially systems that connect perception and interaction. I’m excited by fields like graphics, computer vision, human perception, AR/VR and brain-computer interfaces as ways to expand how we create, experience, and interact with digital worlds, with long-term applications ranging from fully immersive virtual experiences to restoring and augmenting human vision. I’m drawn to design because it lets me combine technical problem-solving with creativity, turning abstract ideas into tools, products, and experiences that people can actually use. Outside of academics, I enjoy creative hobbies like digital art, 3D modeling, writing, and cooking. I also love story-based and VR games, going to movie theaters, binge-watching TV shows, following Formula 1 and soccer, playing card games like poker, and anything involving cats, fluffy dogs, or sweets.

 

Name: Yumi Zhao

Major: Senior (Fall 2027), Bioengineering

Faculty Advisor: Hayden Taylor

PhD Mentor: Atulit Dasaratha

Bio: Hello! My name is Yumi, I am a Bioengineering major at UC Berkeley preparing to apply for an EECS minor. My primary research interests lie in robotic embedded systems, hardware control, and bio-inspired robotics. Previously, I worked as a URAP apprentice in the Ornithopterus Lab, where I assisted in the fabrication and system integration of bio-inspired robotic prototypes. This summer, I am thrilled to join Professor Hayden Taylor’s lab, working alongside PhD mentor Atulit Sridhar Dasaratha to research and solve engineering challenges in 3D-printed microfluidic substrates. What motivates me in the design field is a deep fascination with bio-electrically controlled robotics. I think the concept of using biological signals to command mechanical interfaces is incredibly powerful, and I love the challenge of engineering the precise embedded electronics and digital-to-hardware architectures needed to make these intelligent, hybrid systems a reality.

 

Name: Yunosuke Nakamura

Major: First-year, Mechanical Engineering

Faculty Advisor: Lining Yao

PhD Mentor: Tianyu Yu

Bio: I am a first-year Mechanical Engineering student with research interests spanning soft robotics, dexterity, innovative mechanical design, and mechatronics. Over the past two semesters, I worked at the Mechanical Systems Control Lab developing hydraulic grippers. This experience solidified my fascination with creative hardware and my belief that complex robotic challenges can be solved through embodied intelligence. Beyond research, I am a member of the Formula Electric at Berkeley Dynamics subteam and work on mechatronics projects as an engineer for Engineering Solutions at Berkeley. My ultimate goal is to pursue a PhD in mechanical engineering, robotics, or a related field.

 

 

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Meet the 2026 Engineering Design Scholars at the Poster Exhibition!
RSVP

Interested in being a Scholar? Sign up for the Jacobs Student Newsletter to receive next summer’s application information.