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  • Grand Challenges Initiative fellow working with Chapman students
Grand Challenges Initiative
Our People

»Meet the GCI Team

photo of Dr. Javier Espeleta

Dr. Javier Espeleta

Co-Director of the Grand Challenges Initiative
Dr. Espeleta is a clinical associate professor of biological sciences and began as the co-director of the Grand Challenges Initiative in 2023. Espeleta has more than 20 years of experience leading international organizations at the interface of science, conservation, and education. He has previously served as the director of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest Costa Rican study abroad program, the executive director of the Tropical Science Center, and the associate director of the University of Arizona’s Biosphere II. He is passionate about training the next generation of leaders in science and engineering; he has developed undergraduate and graduate curriculum on themes including agroecology, crop management, and global health. Espeleta is broadly trained as a plant physiological ecologist and holds a Ph.D. in plant biology from the University of Georgia, a M.Sc. in horticultural science from University of Florida and an B.Sc. in phytotechnology from the University of Costa Rica.
photo of Dr. Tom Piechota

Dr. Tom Piechota

Co-Director of the Grand Challenges Initiative
Dr. Piechota’s research interests center around the investigation of climate impacts on regional water resources and society using high resolution climate data/information, forecasting of water supply under changing climate conditions, drought and flood impacts in urban stormwater in urban environments, use of remote sensing data and geographic information systems for improved evaluation of hydrology and water systems.

Current Fellows

Every Grand Challenges Initiative team is mentored by a Postdoctoral Fellow. Our fellows are world-class early-career teacher-scholars. They come from diverse research backgrounds, ranging from cancer genetics to atmospheric chemistry. 

What the Fellows all have in common is a desire to share their passion for science and engineering with students. GCI student teams are assigned a fellow at the beginning of each semester.

photo of Dr. Aracely Acevedo

Dr. Aracely Acevedo

Dr. Acevedo earned her Ph.D. in molecular, cellular, and integrative physiology from UCLA. Her doctoral studies focused on investigating the mechanism of action by which the pharmacological agent BT2 confers protection from heart failure and metabolic disease in mice. Her findings resulted in a publication titled "The BCKDK inhibitor BT2 is a chemical uncoupler that lowers mitochondrial ROS production and de novo lipogenesis" (PMID: 38301896). The goal of her post-doctoral research project is to determine the effects of arginine methylation of PGC-1alpha by PRMTs in the context of cold-induced thermogenesis and diet-induced thermogenesis. Dr. Acevedo's mission is to contribute to metabolism & nutrition education and research with the aim to improve the metabolic health of human beings.
Mandy Frazier

Dr. Mandy Frazier

afrazier@chapman.edu

Dr. Frazier (she/her) is a marine ecologist specializing in the behavioral and physiological ecology of fishes. Dr. Frazier holds a BS in Marine Science, Biology, and Ecosystem Science and Policy from the University of Miami, and a MS in Animal Biology and a PhD in Ecology from the University of California, Davis. Her current research focuses on understanding interspecific adaptive capacities of young Antarctic fishes to a changing climate. She is particularly interested in the effects of climate change on reef-like habitats, such as sea ice and kelp forests, that provide critical nursery refugia for young, developing fishes. She has extensive field experience, including SCUBA diving under Antarctic sea ice and conducting research on oceanographic cruises and at remote marine field stations. In addition to her research, Dr. Frazier is a leader in sexual violence prevention education in academia and fieldwork, where she brings hundreds of hours of experience from her work with CARE (the Center for Advocacy, Resources, and Education on UC campuses), FieldFutures, and her DVAT (Domestic Violence Advocate Training). As a queer, disabled woman, mandy is committed to teaching and mentoring following a science-based, activist pedagogy that centers belonging, safety, and justice for everyone. 
Sayani Ghosh

Dr. Sayani Ghosh

Dr. Ghosh is an interdisciplinary researcher whose work bridges the fields of mathematics and theoretical physics. She earned her Ph.D. from Clemson University, where her doctoral research focused on developing graph-theory-based tools and applying them to nuclear astrophysical scenarios. Dr. Ghosh is particularly interested in exploring the relationship between the classical world and the quantum regime, addressing some of the intriguing open questions in modern physics. Beyond her research, Dr. Ghosh is dedicated to education. She actively seeks and implements innovative teaching methods to enhance student engagement and deepen their understanding.
Rachel Huchmala

Dr. Rachel Huchmala

huchmala@chapman.edu
Dr. Huchmala is a theoretical astrochemist with a love of observational astronomy. She holds a BS in Chemistry with minors in Physics and Astronomy from Northern Arizona University and a PHD in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry from the University of Washington. Her work focus on the vibrational spectroscopy of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the quest for detecting them in space. Before coming to Chapman, Dr. Huchmala was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Boise State University where she ran a citizen science program and an observational campaign for undergraduate student researchers. These programs were focused on the study of exoplanet transits and the hunt for “Doomed Worlds”.
Cassandra Maya

Dr. Cassandra Maya

Dr. Maya is a food and nutrition scientist specializing in the nutrition, quality, and consumer acceptance of alternative proteins, with a particular interest in edible insects. Her doctoral research focused on replacing meat protein with insect- and plant-based foods through a randomized control trial in family settings. The goal of her research is to identify the factors that affect the successful integration of alternative proteins into a healthy and sustainable human diet. Dr. Maya holds a Ph.D. in nutrition from the University of Copenhagen.
Jhay McKnight

Dr. Jharrayne McKnight

jmcknight@chapman.edu
Dr. McKnight (Jhay, she/her) holds dual bachelor degrees in biological studies and chemistry from Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. She earned her Masters degree and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from University of California, Irvine with her doctoral studies focusing on investigating the intersection of Huntington's Disease (HD) and Stress granules. As a GCI post-doctoral fellow, her research in the Glineburg lab will be to investigate the role TDP43 in stress granule dynamics. In addition, she also will continue to identify and characterize if HD alters or is altered by stress granule dynamics. Outside of research, Dr. McKnight is an enthusiast of STEM Outreach in marginalized communities and for first generation students and the application of STEM pedagogy strategies in the classroom. As a Black, queer, Neuroscientist, Jhay is enthusiastic about empowering the underrepresented populace to pursue their dreams of STEM through teaching and mentorship which centers education, advocacy, and outreach. She firmly believes excellent science communication is the key to innovation and diversification of the scientific community.

Dr. Joelle Prate


Joelle Prate
Dr. Prate is a science and technology educator and researcher with a passion for K-12 education. She earned her Ph.D. here at Chapman in education with an emphasis in teacher education, and her research focuses on improving science and technology teaching and learning for K-12 students. She earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a concentration in science education and a natural science minor, a biological and foundational science teaching credential, and a master’s degree in educational technology from CSUF. Since then she has taught science and technology courses at every level from kindergarten through master’s level, and is always interested in learning new approaches to improving education.

Qais QasaimehDr. Qais Qasaimeh

Dr. Qais Qasaimeh is an industrial engineer whose research focuses on applying machine learning, data analytics, and reliability engineering to advanced manufacturing systems. His work combines data-driven and physics-informed approaches to understand material behavior, predict reliability, and accelerate the development of engineering materials. His research interests include interpretable artificial intelligence, transfer learning, electronics manufacturing, and the reliability of lead-free solder materials. He holds a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology, a master's degree in Nuclear Engineering from the National Research Nuclear University MEPHI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), and a Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Auburn University.

Dr. Gabriela Shirkey

photo of Dr. Gabriela Shirkey
Dr. Shirkey is geographer and landscape ecologist interested in the relationship between land use, land cover, and ecosystem processes. Her work evaluates human-nature relationships and their variation across spatiotemporal scales, applying socioecological system approach. In her research, she asks how land management and land use vary spatially and whether we can capture its intensity. Dr. Shirkey completed her undergraduate degree at Michigan Technological University and her graduate degree from Michigan State University. Her goal is to evaluate climate mitigation strategies and inform stakeholders, policymakers, and her community on the complexity between society and the biophysical environment.

Dr. Phillip Sternes

Phil Sternes
Dr. Sternes is an ecomorphologist who has a major passion for sharks. He earned his PhD in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology from the University of California, Riverside where his doctoral research focused on the form, function, and evolution of shark pectoral fins. Dr. Sternes discovered that temperature has been a critical driving force in overall shark body and fin shape evolution over time. Dr. Sternes is very interested in exploring the relationship between body shape and ecology in not only sharks but other fish taxonomic groups going forward.

 

Previous Fellows

Ana Avilez

Dr. Ana Belén Avilez García

Point-Free Topology

GCI Fellow 2024-2026

Daniel Cardenas

Dr. E. Daniel Cárdenas-Vásquez

Biomedical Materials

GCI Fellow 2024-2026

Ariel Han

Dr. Ariel Han

Educational Technology

GCI Fellow 2025

 

 

Miranda Aiken
Dr. Miranda Aiken

Environmental Toxicology

GCI Fellow 2022 - 2024

photo of Dr. Sarah Arnette

Dr. Sarah Arnette

Biomechanics

GCI Fellow 2024

photo of Dr. Carter Berry

Dr. Carter Berry

Plant Biology

GCI Fellow 2017 - 2020

photo of Dr. Hector Camarillo Abad

Dr. Hector Camarillo Abad

Wearables - HCl

GCI Fellow 2022 - 2024

 

photo of Dr. Robertde Bruijn

Dr. Robert de Bruijn

Physiology

GCI Fellow 2018 - 2020

 

 

 

photo of Dr. Kamal Diki

Dr. Kamal Diki

Math

GCI Fellow 2022 - 2024

 

photo of Dr. Cristhiano Duarte Silva

Dr. Cristhiano Duarte Silva

Quantum Math

GCI Fellow 2018 - 2020

 

 

photo of Dr. Desiree Forsythe

Dr. Desiree Forsythe

STEM Education Research

GCI Fellow 2022 - 2024

photo of Dr. Daniel Gardner

Dr. Daniel Gardner

Human-Computer-Interaction

GCI Fellow 2021 - 2024

photo of Dr. Jose Raul Gonzalez Alonso

Dr. José Raúl González Alonso

Quantum Computing

GCI Fellow 2017 - 2019

 

photo of Dr. Brenna Gormally

Dr. Brenna Gormally

Stress Physiology

GCI Fellow 2020 - 2021

photo of Dr. Aaron Harrison

Dr. Aaron Harrison

Chemistry

GCI Fellow 2018 - 2021

photo of Dr. Brian Hoover

Dr. Brian Hoover

Biology - Birds

GCI Fellow 2019 - 2022

photo of Dr. Ari J-L

Dr. Ari Jong-Levinger

Environmental Science & Engineering

GCI Fellow 2023 - 2025

 

 

photo of Dr. Rajeev Joshi

Dr. Rajeev Joshi

Image Processing

GCI Fellow 2024 - 2025

photo of Dr. Lucas Krusinski

Dr. Lucas Krusinski

Food Science

GCI Fellow 2023 - 2024

 

photo of Dr. Lorenzo Leiva 

Dr. Lorenzo Leiva-Araya

Microbiology

GCI Fellow 2024 - 2025

photo of Dr. Charlene McCord 

Dr. Charlene McCord

Marine Biology

GCI Fellow 2017 - 2019

 

photo of Dr. Crystal Ng

Dr. Crystal Ng

Marine Biology

GCI Fellow 2019 - 2020

photo of Dr. Nana Pepra-Ameyaw

Dr. Nana Pepra-Ameyaw

Food Science

GCI Fellow 2021 - 2024

photo of Dr. Kenjiro Quides 

Dr. Kenjiro Quides

Plant Biology

GCI Fellow 2019 - 2022

 photo of Dr. Indrajit Sen

Dr. Indrajit Sen

Physics

GCI Fellow 2021 - 2024

 photo of Dr. Anne S

Dr. Anne Sonnenschein

Computational Biology

GCI Fellow 2017 - 2019

photo of Dr. Mario Stipcic

Dr. Mario Stipcic

Math

GCI Fellow 2021 - 2023

photo of Dr. Zachary Thammavongsy 

Dr. Zachary Thammavongsy

Chemistry

GCI Fellow 2019 - 2022

 

photo of Dr. Shana Welles 

Dr. Shana Welles

Plant Biology

GCI Fellow 2017 - 2020

photo of Dr. Bingjie Zhang 

Dr. Bingjie Zhang

Chemistry

GCI Fellow 2019 - 2022
 

Interested in Becoming a Fellow?

Our fellows are passionate about inspiring and empowering the next generation of science and engineering students. They strive to learn new teaching methods and work hard to produce world-class research. 

Fellows teach exclusively in the GCI program and collaborate on research with a faculty mentor from the Schmid College of Science and Technology or the Fowler School of Engineering. Fellows have access to work spaces, labs and computing resources in the brand-new Keck Center for Science and Engineering. 

Fellow appointments begin in late summer and can be extended for up to three years on mutual agreement. Applications open each year around late November or early December.

 

Contact Us

Dr. Javier Espeleta
GCI Program Co-Director
grandchallenges@chapman.edu

Alexandra Lewandowski
GCI Program Coordinator
grandchallenges@chapman.edu

    Become a GCI Mentor

    The GCI program depends on the contributions of experienced mentors. They meet with students at networking events, provide feedback to teams about the grand challenge they are trying to solve and help identify exciting opportunities outside the classroom. If you are interested in becoming a GCI Mentor, please fill out the survey using the link below.