The ÌÇĐÄvlogÊÓÆ” School of STEM is excited to welcome four new talented faculty members into the Department of Computing & Software Systems.

They join three other new faculty members at UW Bothell in the School of Business and School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences. Welcome to all the new faculty joining our community! We’re excited to have you here.

Murat Seçkin Ayhan

Assistant professor

Department of Computing & Software Systems

Dr. Murat Seçkin Ayhan (he/him) has both a doctorate and master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and master’s and bachelor’s in Computer Engineering from BaƟkent University. He worked as an assistant professor at the Department of Computer Engineering at Isik University in Istanbul, Turkey and joined the University of TĂŒbingen in Germany as a researcher, developing deep learning solutions within the context of ophthalmology. After five years, he moved to London and joined University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital as a senior research fellow.

Contact: msayhan@uw.edu

Research focus: machine learning, medical image analysis, medical AI

Courses taught at UW Bothell:

• CSS 342 Data Structures, Algorithms, and Discrete Mathematics I 
• CSS 343 Data Structures, Algorithms, and Discrete Mathematics II 

Kaylea Champion

Assistant professor

Department of Computing & Software Systems

Dr. Kaylea Champion (she/her) has a doctorate in Communication from the University of Washington, a master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Chicago, and a background in Information Technology. She is a postdoctoral scholar in the Community Data Science Collective, working at the intersection of human-computer interaction, empirical software engineering, cybersecurity, privacy, and organizational communication. Her research investigates how people cooperate to build and maintain public goods like software and knowledge.

Contact: kaylea@uw.edu

Research focus: computer-supported cooperative work, empirical software engineering, human-computer interaction, applied machine learning, cybersecurity

Courses taught at UW Bothell:

• CSS 350 Management Principles for Computing Professionals
• CSS 360 Software Engineering

Mia Champion

Assistant teaching professor

Department of Computing & Software Systems

Dr. Mia Champion (she/her) holds a Ph.D. in Genomics from the University of California, Davis, and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Michigan. She has previously taught graduate-level classes at the University of Washington and worked at Amazon Web Services in leadership roles overseeing Health AI products like Amazon HealthLake, Amazon Genomics CLI, and AWS HealthOmics. Additionally, Dr. Champion conducted bioinformatics research at the Mayo Clinic, ASU, and the Broad Institute. She is also the founder of consulting firm Unalomia LLC where she supports innovation across industries.

Contact: miachamp@uw.edu

Research focus: cloud computing, deep learning, explainable AI, bioinformatics, product management

Courses taught at UW Bothell:

• CSS 142 Computer Programming I
• CSS 350 Management Principles for Computing Professionals
• CSS 581 Introduction to Machine Learning
• CSS 586 Deep Learning
• CSS532 Internet of Things
• CSS 382A Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
• CSS 566A Software Management

Zachery (Zak) Rubin

Assistant teaching professor

Department of Computing & Software Systems

Dr. Zachery (Zak) Rubin (they/them) has a doctorate in Computer Engineering from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. They are currently the director of the network engineering programs at Renton Technical College in Renton, Washington. Outside of academics, they have nearly 20 years of experience in the games and entertainment industry, working with major musicians including BeyoncĂ© and Gogol Bordello, and AAA titles including World of Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo.

Contact: zarubin@uw.edu

Research focus: human computer interaction, assistive technology, signal processing, human factors

Courses taught at UW Bothell:

• CSS 301 Technical Writing 
• CSS 350 Management Principles for Computing Professionals 

Learn more about all of the 27+ faculty in the Department of Computing & Software Systems.

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Bringing together innovation, excellence, and impact, the School of STEM held its 2nd annual award recognition ceremony, applauding students, faculty, and community partners who exemplify our dedication to solving the pressing problems and confronting challenges that shape our communities, region, nation, and world.

Today, we come together to recognize those who have gone above and beyond, those who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, DEIJ values, innovation, service, and a deep commitment to their disciplines and communities. These awards are more than just honors; they reflect the values we hold dear in the School of STEM.

Jennifer McLoud-Mann, dean, School of STEM

Faculty awards

Sr. Chief Ronald G. Gamboa Endowed UW Bothell STEM Faculty Fellowship Award

In recognition of outstanding contributions in undergraduate research mentorship, broadening participation from underserved communities and inspiring the next generation of UW Bothell School of STEM graduates to make a positive impact in their broader community and the world.

Recipient: Dr. Afra Mashhadi, assistant professor, Computing & Software Systems Division

Michelle Gamboa created this endowment in honor of her father, Sr. Chief Ronald G. Gamboa. Discover the story behind the STEM faculty fellowship Michelle founded and find out how you can establish a fellowship to support the next generation of STEM leaders.

Philanthropic recognition

Scott Grosenick — a proud “Double Dawg,” earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computing & Software Systems here at UW Bothell in 2000 and 2012 — has created an endowment that will make a lasting impact for generations of students to come.

Read more about Grosenick in a UW Bothell article, Inspired by computer science rockstars.

This year, we were able to recognize and celebrate student excellence in an exceptional way, awarding our student honorees a monetary prize made possible by the generous support of Dr. Sheree Wen.

In addition to this support, generous donors came together last year to help fund undergraduate research scholarships for summer 2025. These scholarships open doors for students to engage in meaningful experiential learning, work closely with faculty mentors, and apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world research that prepares them for their future careers.

We are deeply grateful for our donors’ thoughtfulness and generosity to the School of STEM — a testament to the strength of our community and the lifelong connection our graduates and community partners feel to UW Bothell.

Computing & Software Systems (CSS) awards

CSS Best Poster

In recognition of the best Computing & Software Systems (CSS) Division poster presentation during the Capstone Colloquium.

Recipients:

• Spring 2025: Sarah Anderson
• Winter 2025: James Day
• Autumn 2024: Aditya Pillai
• Summer 2024: Lily Aguirre

CSSE Outstanding Academic Performance

In recognition for high academic achievement for students graduating between summer 2024 and spring 2025 with a major in Computer Science & Software Engineering.  

Recipient: Jordan Lavigueure

Applied Computing Outstanding Academic Performance

In recognition for high academic achievement for students graduating between summer 2024 and spring 2025 with a major in Applied Computing.

Recipient: Anni Khanal

CSS Graduate Studies Best Thesis Award

In recognition of the most outstanding thesis from a Computing & Software Systems graduate student during the past year. 

Recipient: Phat Tran

CSS Graduate Studies Best Thesis or Capstone Project that Incorporates Diversity, Equity, inclusion, and/or Justice

In recognition of the most outstanding thesis or project from a Computing & Software Systems graduate student during the past year that made an impact in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and/or Justice. 

Recipient: Elias Martin 

Physical Sciences Division (PSD) awards

Student Success Award

In recognition of outstanding contributions to the chemistry or physics program through achievements in mentoring, service, scholarship, and research.

• Physics: Carol Miu

Academic Achievement Award

In recognition of outstanding performance in chemistry or physics coursework.

• Chemistry: Zach Thomas 
• Physics: Jayron Yucker 
• Earth System Sciences: Dash Paulson

Outstanding Peer Facilitator

In recognition of outstanding accomplishments as a peer facilitator and helping other students achieve their goals and potential.

• Chemistry: Ethan Gause
• Physics: Morrigan

Outstanding Researcher

In recognition of outstanding accomplishments in chemistry or physics research.

• Chemistry: Zach Thomas
• Physics: Liliana Flores
• Earth System Sciences: Brendan McCindle 

Physical Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Award 

Winners of this award show excellent potential as researchers, and they receive a stipend from the chair of the Physical Sciences Division to support summer research. 

Recipients:

• Kaito T. Hasebe, working with Dr. Joey Shapiro Key on their project “Fast Radio Bursts”
• Jude Pazier, working with Dr. Subramanian Ramachandran on their project “The Design of a Sample Stage and Search for Resistive Transition in the Superconducting State of Bulk MgB2”
• Tobias Roetteler, working with Dr. Lori Robins on their project “Stability of Chronic Wound Dressings”
• Hana Yu, working with Dr. Hyung Kim on their project “New Proteins in the Nitrogen Cycle”

Earth System Sciences Recognition of Community Engagement

In recognition of outstanding contributions to the community through achievements in mentoring, service, scholarship, and research.

Recipient: Aidan McQuilkin

Biological Sciences (BIO) awards

Outstanding Biology Community Engagement Award 

In recognition of outstanding contributions to the community through leadership, outreach, and service. 

Recipient: Jiwan Tib

Outstanding Biology Equity and Justice Award

In recognition of outstanding contributions to the community through equity and inclusion service, outreach, and leadership work. 

Recipient: Gurleen Dosanjh 

Outstanding Biology Peer Facilitator Award

In recognition of outstanding accomplishments as a peer facilitator and helping other students achieve their goals and potential. 

Recipient: Newton Austria Ball 

Outstanding Biology Peer Award

In recognition of outstanding contributions as a peer and colleague, demonstrating kindness, support, collegiality, support, and mentorship to fellow Biology students.  

Recipients:

• Vivian Lam 
• Hadiya Amjad

Outstanding Biology Independent Researcher Award

In recognition of outstanding accomplishments in Biology research. 

Recipients:

• Christian Paulos
• Joanna Agana

Engineering & Mathematics (E&M) awards

E&M Academic Excellence Award

In recognition of outstanding accomplishments in mathematics or engineering research.

• Electrical Engineering: Giovanni Dominguez
• Mechanical Engineering: Charlotte Morrison
• Computer Engineering: Hong K Nguyen
• Mathematics: Alex Lewis
• Mathematics: David Z. Gershnik

E&M Leadership and Service Award

In recognition of contributions to the mathematics or engineering programs through achievements in mentoring, service, scholarship, and research.

• Electrical Engineering: John Vertner
• Electrical Engineering: Jason Truong
• Mechanical Engineering: Brooke Ojala
• Computer Engineering: David Kim
• Mathematics: Cassandra Humarang

E&M Resilience Award

In recognition of resilience in overcoming significant obstacles and challenges in the mathematics and engineering programs.

• Electrical Engineering: Kenneth Ho
• Electrical Engineering: Julianne DeGuzman
• Mechanical Engineering: Haley James
• Computer Engineering: Husai Ehrari
• Mathematics: Bryan Zeutenhorst

Celebrating achievement

Each award recipient demonstrated exceptional dedication and innovation within their respective fields. Their accomplishments reflect academic excellence and highlight their commitment to advancing research, fostering community engagement, and representing the School of STEM’s vision and mission.

The School of STEM congratulates all award winners and expresses gratitude to the countless faculty, staff, students, and partners for their continuous support and contributions to making the 2nd annual STEM Symposium a resounding success.

Learn more about the School of STEM Symposium.

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Letter from the dean

There’s something energizing about spring quarter — a season of celebration, achievement, and new beginnings. As many of our students prepare to cross the stage at UW Bothell’s commencement on June 15, the excitement across campus is unmistakable. Congratulations to all those graduating!

I invite you all to join us this Friday, June 13, as we celebrate STEM students at the Spring 2025 STEM Symposium & 2nd Annual Awards Ceremony.

It’s inspiring to see innovative ideas and passion coming from undergraduate research and projects. Our 2nd annual awards ceremony is at 1 p.m. in Discovery Hall (DISC-061) and will recognize students and faculty for their achievements in academic excellence, resiliency, engagement, leadership and service over the academic year. Check the symposium website for the full schedule.

While federal and state budget pressures continue to impact higher education nationwide, I’m encouraged by UW’s proactive efforts to strengthen our financial resilience. I’m especially grateful for the many ways our School of STEM community comes together to support experiential learning, meaningful events, undergraduate research, and student scholarships — all of which directly enrich our students and help keep the transformative education we’re known for thriving. A heartfelt thank you to our STEM Advisory Board for generously sharing their time, expertise and support. I appreciate your partnership helping connect our students to industry through impactful career events and mentorship.

As we close the book on this academic year, I’m filled with gratitude and pride reflecting on all we’ve accomplished together. It’s been an exciting first year for me as dean, and one of the greatest joys has been seeing the many ways our faculty, staff, and students are recognized for their outstanding achievements. In this newsletter, you’ll discover prestigious awardees, inspiring mentorship and bold innovation — all of which reflect the incredible impact of this community. It’s an honor to celebrate these achievements with you all.

– Jennifer McLoud-Mann, dean and professor

If the link has expired, email stemcomm@uw.edu to get a copy of this edition.

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Dr. Scherr’s research explores hands-on physics labs, faculty development, and inclusive teaching in quantum mechanics. A leader in physics education, she has served as a conference organizer, doctoral advisor and community leader.

In 2017, she was named a fellow of the American Physical Society for her foundational work on energy learning, classroom video analysis, and her leadership in the physics education research community.

Check out the .

Reflecting on the appointment, Dr. Scherr shared, “Peer review is one of the most important forms of communication among scientists. I think of the review process as an authentic conversation between peers about a matter that is important to both of them. A framework of mutual understanding and growth improves the quality of research in the field by creating conditions in which colleagues appreciate peer review as a valuable source of substantive feedback on their work.”

Congratulations, Dr. Scherr! Your continued work enriches the physics education community and helps pave the way for a more inclusive and innovative future in the field. Through her research and leadership, she supports both current educators and the next generation of physicists.

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The Division of CSS was also proud to serve as a Gold Sponsor of WiCyS 2025, demonstrating the school’s strong commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM — especially in cybersecurity.

Finding opportunity and community

Master’s student Azmeen Mohammad came to UW Bothell curious about cybersecurity, despite having no formal background in the field.

“Cyber is something which is not very much talked about by many people,” Mohammad said. “But there are so many opportunities in cyber.”

She discovered the UW Bothell WiCyS chapter through friends and took a cybersecurity elective during her first year. Although her initial application for conference sponsorship was unsuccessful, her dedication remained strong. She later became a club officer and reapplied in her second year – this time earning a sponsorship from the CSS division to attend WiCyS 2025.

While other conferences she’s attended have been gender-inclusive, the WiCyS conference is specifically geared towards women – the recruitment, retention and advancement of women in cybersecurity.

“It felt so empowering to see all these women coming together and working in an area that is usually so male-dominated,” she said.

Jui Bangali, a master’s student and current president of the UW Bothell WiCyS chapter, followed a similar path. Having worked in cybersecurity at Dell before graduate school, Bangali was familiar with WiCyS but hadn’t been directly involved. After joining UW Bothell, she dove into the club and eventually became chapter president.

As a chapter president, Bangali received a sponsorship to attend the conference from WiCyS itself. She noted the exclusivity of the event as it’s open only to sponsored students and industry partners, which creates stronger networking opportunities.

Exploring the WiCyS 2025 experience

The conference featured a mix of technical workshops, hands-on labs, mental wellness sessions, and networking socials hosted by major companies. The focus on mental health and work-life balance was a standout for both students.

“They didn’t just concentrate on the technical aspect of the conference, but they also made sure that there were a few sessions which were related to mental wellbeing,” Mohammad said.

To offset travel costs, Bangali signed up to volunteer at the conference. She volunteered to help with some of the speaker sessions, which she says allowed her more networking time.

“You get an opportunity to be closer to the speaker,” Bangali said. “Everybody kind of got to ask questions, but because you’re a volunteer, it adds another layer.”

The conference also included a career fair, where students received specific feedback on their résumés from recruiters.

“They actually take your resume and read out the resume and they pinpoint things like ‘these need to be changed if you’re applying for our company,’” Mohammad said. “There were a few companies who were giving very detailed feedback.”

Bangali found the opportunity to practice elevator pitches on recruiters helpful. Some of the workshops throughout the conference focused on this skill, and the career fair was the perfect place to practice.

“It’s an important skill; you barely get one minute with the person,” Bangali said. “So, you want to make sure you’re able to convey everything.”

Building a future in cybersecurity

The School of STEM Graduate Programs continue to attend the conference and share information about how to advance as a professional in the field with the Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering.

continues to grow as a supportive, inclusive space for students interested in cybersecurity. Sponsorship opportunities through WiCyS and the CSS division continue to serve as an investment in our students and their opportunities to gain leadership skills, industry connections and the confidence to lead in STEM.

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Yoon was honored at the 66th Annual PSEC Engineer of the Year Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 26, at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Dean Jennifer McLoud-Mann had the honor of introducing Yoon and welcoming him up to the stage to accept his award.

“He lives the mission of our School of STEM, transforming lives — one student at a time,” said Dean McLoud-Mann. “From supporting first-generation college students here in Washington to mentoring Korean students across the globe, Yoon’s reach is both personal and far-reaching.”

A leader in innovation and impact

Yoon directs the Smart Medical Devices Lab at UW Bothell, where his research bridges mechanical engineering, robotics, and biomedical devices. His work focuses on developing cutting-edge technologies to improve the lives of individuals with physical disabilities and to support caregiving tasks.

Among his most impactful projects is the development of a smart multifunction toilet wheelchair — a device designed to restore dignity and independence for users, while enhancing safety and efficiency for caregivers. His lab also explores minimally invasive surgical robotics, multi-modal medical imaging, and neural interfaces for assistive technologies.

Yoon’s work has led to multiple patents and has received support from agencies including the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

A global perspective, a local commitment

Yoon brings a diverse range of experience to UW Bothell. He previously served as an assistant professor at Qatar University and worked as a research engineer at Samsung Electro-Mechanics. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington, where he developed an automated bladder imaging system using a novel scanning fiber endoscope.

Since joining UW Bothell in 2014, Yoon has become an integral part of the School of STEM — offering students a unique opportunity to learn from a global innovator with deep roots in interdisciplinary, application-driven research. As a founding faculty member of the Mechanical Engineering bachelor’s program, Yoon was instrumental in developing the undergraduate program curriculum and overseeing the program’s review for the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Mentorship that matters

In addition to his research, Yoon is a dedicated educator and mentor. He supported students in founding the campus chapter of the American Society for Mechanical Engineers in 2016 and still serves as their adviser. He also advises the TrickFire Robotics Club, helping students apply their classroom knowledge to real-world engineering challenges. Under his guidance, student teams have competed in national competitions such as the NASA Robotic Mining Competition and the University Rover Challenge.

Serving as an adviser since the start of the Eco-car club in 2022 (which was renamed in 2024 from The Electrical Motorsports club), Yoon supported the UW Bothell team participating in the EV Grand Prix, an electric go-kart race for collegiate teams hosted by Purdue University in 2023. Looking ahead, the club is focused on the annual Shell Eco-marathon Americas competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2026. The Eco-car club designs and builds small, energy-efficient electric cars from scratch.

His emphasis on hands-on learning and student engagement reflects the core values of the School of STEM — providing opportunities, collaboratively engaging with our community and empowering students to become innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders in their fields.

PSEC recognizing excellence

The PSEC Academic Engineer of the Year Award is awarded annually to an individual who demonstrates outstanding achievement in academic engineering and research. Yoon was nominated by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Western Washington Section in recognition of his significant and ongoing contributions to both academia and the broader engineering community.

Reflecting on the significance of this recent award, Yoon emphasized the personal and professional fulfillment he has found in mentoring students and serving the community.

“While time-consuming, my service to student groups as well as professional and local communities has been deeply rewarding and fulfilling — especially witnessing students grow, which has been truly priceless,” he shared. “I strongly believe that students who engage in extracurricular activities are more motivated, and that this experience is positively related to academic performance and leadership.”

Please join us in congratulating Yoon on this well-deserved recognition. This honor not only highlights Yoon’s accomplishments but also reflects the growing impact of UW Bothell’s School of STEM in addressing complex challenges through research, education, and innovation.

To learn more about Yoon’s work, visit the .

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Known as the “Mother of the Internet,” Dr. Perlman revolutionized modern networking with innovations like the Spanning Tree Protocol and IS-IS link-state routing, both of which remain essential to internet infrastructure today. With over 100 patents, a National Inventors Hall of Fame induction and numerous lifetime achievement awards, Dr. Perlman has left an undeniable mark on computer science. 

During their conversation, Dr. Perlman shared powerful insights into her groundbreaking contributions to computer science and engineering, the challenges she overcame as a woman in tech and timeless design principles that continue to shape the digital world.  

If you missed this thought-provoking discussion — or want to revisit Dr. Perlman’s invaluable insights — you can watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel.  

ÌÇĐÄvlogÊÓÆ” Radia Perlman

Radia Perlman is a Fellow at Dell Technologies. She has made many contributions to the fields of network routing and security protocols. Her IS-IS link state routing protocol design continues to be widely deployed today, and the principles have been incorporated into other routing protocols (such as OSPF). Her spanning tree bridging design transformed Ethernet from a single shared link to a network that can support many. Her contributions to network security include designing systems resilient to malicious. She wrote the textbook “Interconnections: Bridges, Routers, Switches, and Internetworking Protocols”, and cowrote the textbook “Network Security: Private Communication in a Public World.” The 3rd edition of Network Security was recently published, and includes significant content about quantum computing and quantum-safe public key algorithms. She has received numerous awards including induction into the Inventor Hall of Fame, induction into the Internet Hall of Fame, lifetime achievement awards from ACM’s SIGCOMM and Usenix, election to National Academy of Engineering, election into the Washington State Academy of Science, and an honorary doctorate from KTH. She has taught courses at various universities including University of Washington, Texas A&M, MIT, and Harvard. She has a Ph.D. in computer science from MIT.

Interview questions 

• 4:41 – Can you share a bit about your love of mathematics? 
• 11:31 – At one point you decided you were going to leave graduate school and then you came back. Can you tell us a little more about why you came back? What motivated that? 
• 25:27 – You’ve made incredible accomplishments throughout your life and career. What do you think causes you to be good at what you do? 
• 31:53 – As a fellow woman in STEM, I’m curious how it’s been for you throughout your career and industry experiences where you’ve found yourself surrounded mostly by men.  
• 39:03 – Do you have any advice for the students in the audience? 
• 45:22 – Open Q&A

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A personalized approach to education 

When Dr. Han-Wei Shih joined the School of STEM’s Division of Biological Sciences at UW Bothell as an assistant professor in autumn 2024, he brought a student-focused approach to his Molecular Biology course. A pre-course survey revealed to him that his students, mostly seniors planning to graduate in a few months, were unaware of the diverse career paths available to them. Instead of merely delivering lectures, he engaged students in discussions about what they already knew and what they hoped to learn. This adaptive teaching method ensured that students were not just checking boxes for graduation but were actively preparing for their future careers. 

“He wanted to go above and beyond and help us prepare not just for our academic lives, but also for our lives onward from that,” Biology Senior Adelle Nolan said. “Whether it’s our career or continuing in academia, whatever it was.”  

Eye-opening field experiences 

To expand his students’ understanding of career possibilities in biology, Shih arranged field trips to and the at the end of autumn quarter. The field trips gave students an inside look at the facilities through guided tours and interactive Q&A panels with professionals working in cross-disciplinary roles. Shih hoped that these tours would provide his students with awareness of the research community in the region and the career opportunities in the fields. Shih also wanted his students to hear from speakers with diverse STEM backgrounds, learning about their personal journeys through academia and industry and how they arrived at their current roles.  

“I strongly believe that academia and industry share a close and mutually beneficial relationship,” Shih said. “This connection is essential not only for advancing academic research but also for fostering industry growth.” 

At Just – Biologics, students explored the intersection of biology and technology, where professionals worked in multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative solutions. Speaker panels highlighted unique backgrounds and specialties and how they come together collaboratively in biotech research. The Allen Institute further reinforced this concept, with researchers from a wide range of backgrounds collaborating on cutting-edge projects across disciplines. 

“It was very interesting to see the types of people that go into this facility and what their roles were, what they did, and how they all interconnected,” said Hannah Heilman, a senior majoring in Biology.  

For Heilman, who’s been involved in genetics research at UW Bothell, the experience was eye-opening to the opportunities available in biology in Seattle and the value that vast research experience brings to the field. 

“Going on the field trip to the Allen Institute and Just – Biologics tied into my research because it made me appreciate the science more,” Heilman said. “It just inspired me to keep going, working at what I love, and to get as much research experience as possible.” 

A well-rounded approach to science and learning 

For many students, these experiences were more than just academic exercises — they were pivotal moments that shifted their outlook on their futures. Nolan, initially uncertain about job opportunities within their niche specialty of human sex diversity, found reassurance in seeing recent graduates working in interdisciplinary roles. 

“I came into this field trip being worried about my future and feeling like I wanted to cling on to my bachelor’s degree — find a way to stay in college forever,” they shared. “But then when I came out of that first field trip, I felt confident. I felt inspired.” 

The field trips reiterated to students that a successful career in biology isn’t confined to a single specialty. The educational journey in the School of STEM is about more than just meeting graduation requirements — it’s about helping students discover their passions, build meaningful connections and step into their future with excitement and purpose. 

“The experience showed us how science thrives on collaboration and innovation,” Shih said. “As we returned to our studies, we carried with us a deeper appreciation for the endless possibilities in scientific discovery.” 

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Letter from the dean

As I reflect on winter quarter stepping into the permanent dean position, I am feeling proud of the school more than ever. I have been successful in slowing down so that I can listen to learn more about the landscape of the school from faculty and staff colleagues. Based on listening session feedback, I will be able to assess and address both short-term and long-term gaps and opportunities. I have also been investing in one-on-one time with individuals to gain deeper understanding of what brought them to UW Bothell and what keeps them here, which is part of the STEM Scoop community building initiative that I launched last autumn. I am discovering new things to love about my community every day.

At the heart of all conversations and activities, the STEM community devotes itself to transforming lives, one student at a time. Our faculty have robust research programs, and many of them mentor students, especially undergraduate research students. Check out the sections of the newsletter sharing information about Mary Gates scholarship recipients and UW Bothell’s new research Carnegie classification!

I continue to be impressed by the generosity of individuals who devote their resources, including their time, to make an impact for STEM students. This newsletter highlights some of the incredible events happening on campus to increase industry engagement and better prepare students for their future. Dedicated individuals are also stepping up to ensure that our students have access to cutting-edge equipment needed to provide the critical hands-on experiences that prepare them for the workforce. The overriding feeling coming from this generosity is the desire to make a difference for others, which resonates and aligns with the passion that I bring to my new role as dean.

– Jennifer McLoud-Mann

If the link has expired, email stemcomm@uw.edu to get a copy of this edition.

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“We are so grateful to our donors and faculty who know how important it is for our engineering students to work on projects using industry-grade equipment so that they are workforce ready,” Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Sharon Jones said.  

Located in Innovation Hall 015, the Engineering Machine Shop serves as a crucial resource for students in engineering and related fields. 

“A machine shop is a vital organ of an engineering program,” Mechanical Engineering Lab Coordinator Jacob Roth said. “We envisioned a teaching shop that could accommodate up to 18 students at a time, and that’s exactly what we have now.” 

The shop is split between instruction and student-driven work, serving as both a learning space and a hands-on workshop. Roth regularly assists students conducting research, building prototypes and completing capstone projects. 

Expanding access to the machine shop 

In prior years, Roth taught a three-hour hand-tools only course for students to experience some of the shop’s features. With the establishment of the new shop in Innovation Hall, he is planning to revitalize that workshop to expand opportunities in the space. Currently, access to the machine shop is limited to students who have completed the machining fundamentals course for the safety of both students and the equipment. 

However, Roth hopes to make the entire shop more accessible to a broader range of students by expanding the machining fundamentals course to all students. Currently, it has mechanical engineering prerequisites, so it’s typically only engineers taking the class. 

“It would be great if I could tell anyone and everyone, ‘take our intro to machining,’” Roth said.  

A hub for innovation & collaboration 

Access to the machine shop allows students to create custom metal parts on short notice and work one-on-one with Roth to refine designs in advanced software.  

“For research students in non-engineering disciplines, who haven’t been trained on any machines, I’ll often work with them to produce engineering drawings and then I’ll make the part for them and give it to them,” Roth said.   

Beyond coursework, the machine shop is also a hub for student clubs. Groups like the Electric Motorsports Club and the TrickFire Robotics Club frequently use the space, helping fund equipment purchases and maintenance through the Student Technology Fee. 

Souri Banerjee, a mechanical engineering graduate from UW Bothell, ran into difficulties using the worn-down equipment in the previous machine shop. The parts he machined for his electric motorsport club wouldn’t turn out exactly as envisioned because the equipment was well used. He reached out to Roth about utilizing the student technology fee for additional equipment since a lot of student clubs used the space. After surveying other engineering clubs to see what equipment they needed for their projects, he and Roth worked together to submit a funding request which was approved.  

“I wish we had that new equipment when we were students, because that would have made our tasks easier,” Banerjee said. “But I am so very glad that the students now and all future students are going to be able to experience machining.” 

With the funding from the Worthington Fund and the Student Technology Fee, the UW Bothell Machine Shop is enhancing hands-on engineering education, supporting student innovation and fostering collaboration across STEM disciplines. 

Available equipment 

• Four lathes 
• Three manual mills 
• Grinder station including chop saw 
• A vertical and horizontal bandsaw 
• Drill press 
• Two Computer Numerical Control (CNC) mills and a forthcoming CNC lathe 

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