Graduate Advising Contacts

Associate Professor Roopali Kukreja                    
Graduate Program Chair
2013 Kemper Hall
[email protected]

Professor Kukreja received her B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in 2008, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University in 2011 and 2014, respectively. She arrived at UC Davis in 2016. She loves how bike-friendly both the university and the City of Davis are. Through her experiences as a doctoral student and postdoctoral scholar, Professor Kukreja understands the importance of mentorship and hopes all of her advisees successfully transition to graduate school and beyond. Her decision to pursue an academic career was greatly inspired by her own graduate mentor, who encouraged free-thinking and allowed her to make her own mistakes and discoveries. In her free time, Professor Kukreja enjoys cooking. She tries both old and new recipes, though they don’t always turn out as well as she would like.

Associate Professor Erika La Plante
Graduate Advisor
2021 Kemper Hall
[email protected]

Prof. La Plante applies her expertise in the kinetics of low-temperature aqueous processes at mineral-fluid interfaces to address the many research questions in the field of climate, sustainability, built environment, and energy. Prior to joining UC Davis, she held positions at the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Professor Sabyasachi Sen                               
Graduate Advisor
3011 Ghausi Hall
[email protected]

Professor Sen received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Presidency College in Calcutta, India before moving to the U.S. to complete another M.S. degree at the University of Houston. Though he started his Ph.D. at Princeton University, he moved to California after his first year and finished the degree at Stanford University. He joined UC Davis in 2004 after two years in academia in the U.K. and six years in industry. He greatly enjoys the department’s collegial, collaborative and friendly work environment. Graduate mentoring is very important to Professor Sen. He thinks it is the most effective way of sharing knowledge with young minds and preparing future generations to meaningfully contribute to human knowledge. Though he says he is not familiar with the concept of spare time, his hobbies include gardening, reading and traveling

Assistant Professor Seung Sae Hong                               
Graduate Advisor
2017 Kemper Hall
[email protected]

Professor Hong received his B.S. in Physics from Seoul National University and Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Stanford University. He joined UC Davis in 2019 after completing his postdoctoral research at Stanford University and the SLAC national accelerator laboratory. He is interested in helping students to student explore and develop their own careers via the graduate program. In his free time, he spends time with his family and loves to see his kids growing up.

Professor Yayoi Takamura
Graduate Advisor
2015 Kemper Hall
[email protected]

Takamura studies the growth of complex oxide thin films, heterostructures and nanostructures, as well as the characterization of the new functional properties that emerge at the interfaces between two dissimilar materials. Her work uses laser-assisted growth to control interfacial properties with atomic-layer precision, combined with state-of-the-art synchrotron radiation-based characterization techniques in order to develop a fundamental understanding of the interplay between a material’s structural, chemical, magnetic and electronic properties. Understanding this interplay will enable the design of new materials with properties tailored for next-generation spintronic and electronic devices.

Assistant Professor Mingwei Zhang
Graduate Advisor
2019 Kemper Hall
[email protected]

Zhang Research Group employs cutting-edge multiscale mechanical testing techniques and electron microscopy to investigate the structure-property relationship in structural materials operating under extreme conditions. The primary focus of the Zhang group lies in combining advanced manufacturing and processing, mechanical testing, and characterization to develop next-generation structural materials. Key research thrusts include high-temperature multiple principal element alloys for space and aeronautical applications, additively manufactured refractory alloys for fusion energy applications, and alloys with hierarchical structures for higher strength and ductility.

Ryan Gorsiski
Student Services Manager 
3049 Ghausi Hall
[email protected]
530-752-7952

Ryan was born in Petaluma, California and raised in towns around the Bay Area. He is a proud alumni of Sacramento State after transferring from Santa Rosa Junior College. He graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and then with an M.A. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies. He previously worked as an advisor at Sacramento State’s College of Engineering and Computer Science and as the Undergraduate Programs Coordinator for the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering Departments at UC Davis. Ryan is passionate to work with Engineering students by providing them with the tools and resources for self-discovery and pursue of their degree. Fun Fact: Ryan owns a one-eyed cat named Odin.

Maria Arellano
Graduate Programs Coordinator 
[email protected]
530-752-6038

Maria was born in Mexico and her family immigrated when she was very young. She grew up in the tiny town of Tulelake in Northern California. Maria is a first-generation college student and proud alumna of UC Davis. She graduated with a double major in International Relations with an emphasis on peace and security and Spanish. Maria is passionate about assisting students in their pursuit, transition, and journey through UC Davis and to provide them with the tools and resources to start and continue their education and careers. Fun fact: Maria traveled to Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2011.