Our Team 2020-2021

Our Team [2020-2021]

Who are the Project Advisors?

Our Project Advisors are Carnegie Mellon students who have a passion for their work and who are excited to inspire students in the Pittsburgh community. They have a wide range of specific skills gained through their own project based work at CMU. They are a wonderful and enthusiastic group of people who can't wait to get to work with you! .

Executive Board

**Name:** Christina Ma
**Graduation year:** 2022
**Major:** Cognitive Science
**Interests:** A better question would be if there’s something I have no interest in. To name a few, EduTech in academics, figure skating, cooking, and chorus for 'out of school' interests.
**Project areas:** Project related to CS, education, psychology, neuroscience, and art.
**Fun fact:** My mom’s name is Tina and, as you may expected, my dad’s name is Chris. What a perfect combination!

**Name**: Nila Ramaswamy
**Graduation year:** 2021
**Majors:** Business & Statistics and Machine Learning
**Interests**: Playing tennis, puppies, trying out my friends’ recipes, and hiking.
**Project Interests:** Medical technology, food, psychology, but I’m down to try anything!
**Fun fact**: Favorite emoji — 🦧

**Name**: Michelle Tse
**Graduation** **year**: 2023
**Major**: Business Administration
**Interests**: Music (I play the violin and ukulele), games (video and tabletop), Youtube, and of course food
**Project** **area**: I'm interested in doing a project related to the social sciences (psychology, sociology, etc), music, design, or food. I'm down to try new things and step out of my comfort zone as well!
**Fun** **fact**: I'm left-handed

**Name:** William Fahy
**Graduation year:** 2021
**Major:** Chemistry
**Interests:** Music (I play flute and saxophone), robotics, game design, hiking and cooking.
**Fun fact:** I own and play 16 different musical instruments (mostly flutes)

Project Advisors

**Name**: Jonathan Huang
**Graduation** **year**: 2022
**Major**: Statistics and Machine Learning/Computer Science
**Interests**: I like how seeing technology in our modern society is evolving and how can we make sure that we are actually using it for the betterment of society. I enjoy tackling difficult problems and want to use my skills in order to change the world for the better. In my free time I like to read, play video games, and also watch anime
**Project** **Interests**: Any project where the students are having fun and are excited to come to the workshop sessions is a project that I am glad to be a part of. I want to do my best to make sure that everybody in the group is actually enthusiastic about what we are trying to achieve and guide them towards our goal.
**Fun** **fact**: I grew up in Taipei, Taiwan and I lived there for 15 years.

Name: Mahima PannalaGraduation year: 2023Major: Computer ScienceInterests: I'm interested in using programming and software engineering to solve problems. I also love math and anything engineering related, so I would love to learn more about anythin… — **Name**: Mahima Pannala
**Graduation** **year**: 2023
**Major**: Computer Science
**Interests**: I'm interested in using programming and software engineering to solve problems. I also love math and anything engineering related, so I would love to learn more about anything new or creative! Outside of academics, I like to bake, dance, and watch football.
**Project Interests:** I would love to have a chance to finish working on my group's project from last year - building a garbage collecting device for use in oceans - when we go back to being in person.
**Fun** **fact**: I used to have two pet parakeets!

**Name**: Tyler Sikov
**Graduation year:** 2021
**Majors:** Information Science, Minors in Computer Science and Psychology
**Interests**: Within Information Science I love to make websites, apps, but most of all I like to code fun projects. Outside of IS I like to play and sing music, play video games, write satire and perform stand up and improv, and spend time with my cats.
**Project Interests:** My dream project is one that combines music, video games, and creativity.
**Fun fact**: I was a student in Project Ignite for 2 years and this is my fourth year as a project advisor.

**Name**: Jacky Liang
**Graduation year:** 2022
**Major(s):** Robotics
**Interests**: My research interests are in using machine learning to make robots more adaptable in the real world. In my spare time I enjoy improvising on the piano, playing basketball, and planning my next vacation.
**Project Interests:** Anything that improves the accessibility of STEM for high school students.
**Fun Fact**: I'm an Eagle Scout!

**Name**: Ankita Bhanjois
**Graduation** **year**: 2022
**Major**: Electrical and Computer Engineering
**Interests**: Within my major, I am interested in software engineering, signals and systems, and cybersecurity. Outside of school, I like traveling and making fun art projects.
**Project** **Interests**: I would love to be part of a project that will impact the greater community and is related to programming and robotics. I am also interested in working with app development.
**Fun** **fact**: I played the violin for about 12 years and now am trying to write my own music!

**Name**: Steven Zhang
**Graduation** **year**: 2023
**Major**: Mathematical Sciences
**Interests**: I enjoy learning about computer science
**Project** **Interests**: To create some program that simulates some real world problem
**Fun** **fact**: I love working on personal projects and I am glad I have this opportunity to lead the development and execution of one.

**Name**: Caleb Koo
**Graduation** **year**: 2024
**Major**: Biology
**Interests**: I'm interested in lots of areas - molecular bio and research, psychology, computer science, and history. Outside of college I like parkour, stories, social deduction games, and guitar.
**Project** **Interests**: Honestly for me, it's less about the project and more about the people that'll really make it for me. I do love psychology though.
**Fun** **fact**: I did a backflip successfully once, but after hurting myself I'm way too scared to ever try again.

**Name**: Snigdha Agarwal
**Graduation** **year**: 2021
**Major**: Computational Biology
**Interests**: Using computational biology to solve relevant biological problems like finding treatments for diseases and understanding our bodies better. Outside of college, I like to read, dance, sing, cook and avid movie watching.
**Project** **Interests**: Something that brings people closer in this highly polarized world.
**Fun** **fact**: I don't repeat restaurants and write a review of every place I visit :P

**Name**: Michael Nguyen
**Graduation** **year**: 2024
**Major**: Electrical & Computer Engineering
**Interests**: Rock Climbing, Scuba Diving, Microelectronics, Space Exploration, Robotics, Computer Systems
**Project** **Interests**: Satellite Systems Development
**Fun** **fact**: One day I'd like to climb the seven summits

Name: Joe Kopko

Graduation year: 2021

Major: Educational Technology and Applied Learning Sciences

Interests: Technology, Cognitive Science, Long-Term Memory, Computational Cognitive Modeling, Motivation, Game Design, Running, and the limits and optimization of oreo consumption.

Project Interests: My dream project is one where all of us, high-schoolers and mentors, are so excited by what we create, that we don't want to stop working on it after we 'finish' - we are drawn by curiosity to new goals beyond what we imagined.

Fun fact: People used to say I look like Jon Snow. They don't do that anymore since the Game of Thrones finale was a dumpster fire.

**Name**: Nina Fisherman
**Graduation** **year**: 2024
**Major**: Chemistry
**Interests**: I am interested generally in the natural sciences and maybe want to work in a public health field in the future. I also love cooking, doing jigsaw puzzles, and dancing!
**Project** **Interests**: My dream project would be something that combines biology or chemistry with statistics but mainly engages the students and gets them excited about science!
**Fun** **fact**: I love peanut butter!

**Name**: Anoop Bhat
**Graduation** **year**: 2022
**Major**: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Minor in Robotics
**Interests**: Within my course of study, I'm interested in sensor fusion and control for robotic systems. Outside of school, I like to read, play piano, and practice parkour.
**Project** **areas**: Perhaps a cool visualization project, or something related to robots.
**Fun** **fact**: One of my favorite novels is The Name of the Wind. It's really good. Read it.

**Name**: Caleb Lille
**Graduation** **year**: 2024
**Major**: Materials Science and Engineering
**Interests**: I enjoy learning about electronic materials with a focus on chip development. Outside of school, I really enjoy video games and card games as well as soccer and percussion.
**Project** **area**: I would like to do a project related to video game sound design, RAM research, Game Theory, or circuit design. Really down to try anything new as well!
**Fun** **fact**: I've performed in the Pasadena Rose Parade.

Name: Emily Jordan

Graduation year: 2024

Majors: Psychology and Biological Sciences; Pre-med track

Interests: I am interested in learning about how specific biological processes affect observable and psychological such as gene expression and genetic disorders. I am also interested in social psychology and perception; what causes people to act and react the way they do. Outside of school, I enjoy swimming, art, and trying new food!

Project Interests: I would love to aid in leading a project that focuses on mentoring high school students and encouraging interests in STEM related fields, specifically biology and psychology. This project would incorporate high school students working with Project Ignite advisors and other CMU students in conducting research.

Fun fact: Some fun facts about me: I am on the varsity swim team at CMU, my favorite color is yellow, and I love cats :)

Contact Us

Project Ignite

Our Team 2020-2021

Our Team [2020-2021]

Who are the Project Advisors?

Executive Board

Project Advisors