Emily Anne Vargas
PhD in Materials Science
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
My mom always used to say to me “No olvides tus raíces aunque estés en la cima.” Which means to never forget your roots, even when you are at the top. To never forget why you started, how you started, and to give back to the communities that made you who you are today. My second favorite quote is “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Ask questions. Find a mentor that can help answer the questions you didn’t know how to ask or knew to ask.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
Being a first-generation college graduate, the first engineer in my family, and the first person to go to graduate school. I couldn’t have done it without my family’s support and unconditional love. They immigrated from Cuba with nothing but the clothes on their backs and, in turn, provided the opportunity for me and my sister to live out the American Dream.
What's your favorite impulse purchase from the past 12 months?
My K2 Inline Skates! My friend, Jose, has been teaching me how to rollerblade on campus (I haven’t fallen…yet).
Please describe a little about your research and what excites you about it.
I’m currently working on how the manufacturing process affects the microstructure of oxide-oxide ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and how the microstructure affects the overall mechanical behavior! I like to think about my research like the show “How It’s Made”. You don’t quite realize how the smallest of changes in a manufacturing process can truly impact the outcome of whatever material or product you’re making. I also like how I can see the real-world applications of my research. CMCs are used in high temperature applications ranging from car brakes to heat shields for rockets!
If you could choose any other profession outside of engineering or computer science, what would it be?
I would be a visual artist! In my spare time, I love to draw and paint and almost went to an art magnet school for high school.
What are some factors that helped you decide to pursue your PhD at USC?
I made a list of non-negotiables when choosing PhD programs and ultimately, they all were components that led to my happiness. Location, being near an international airport so I could visit my family, Vitamin D (sunshine makes all the difference!), my faculty advisor and the research topic, how much effort the university puts in DE&I initiatives, and the people/culture. Many people don’t realize the culture from undergrad to grad is vastly different, so surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals is super important to maintaining your health and well-being physically, mentally, and emotionally. Shout out to Andy Chen and Kevin Henry for showing me how much USC cares about their students and treats them like family!
If you were to recommend to an incoming student 3 places to go in California/Los Angeles, what would they be?
Joshua Tree National Park (and any other National Parks in the neighboring area) for stargazing, Smorgasburg if you’re a foodie, and the Huntington Library.
What is a memory you'll cherish about your time at USC?
Meeting my best friends, Jose, Joel, and Sophia, and forming a WhatsApp group called “The Pupusa Squad” one day after we had gotten lunch together at a pupuseria. Together, we played hooky one time at a conference held at UC San Diego and explored La Jolla and the beaches.
What's one thing about you that might surprise me?
I currently serve as the Vice-Chair on the National Board of Directors for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. I’m the youngest Vice-Chair the organization has ever had.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’d like to work in either the aerospace, automotive, or energy/power industry as a chief composites engineer within R&D.
Hometown (city, country):
Miami, FL, USA.
Personal Website (if any):
https://composites.usc.edu/emily-vargas/
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Steve Nutt from the USC M.C. Gill Composites Center.
Alina Garcia Taormina
PhD in Materials Science
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
"Never forget who you are and how much you're capable of."
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
What's your favorite impulse purchase from the past 12 months?
I love photography, so anytime I get the chance to go out and shoot photos, it is so grounding for me. I recently bought a new camera lens and was so excited to get to use it on my recent trip up to the pacific northwest.
Please describe a little about your research and what excites you about it.
My research focuses on the synthesis and development of metal-polymer core-shell composite micro-lattice materials through the exploration of various physical vapor deposition coating conditions and configurations. Additionally, in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, I have investigated the mechanical behavior of stitched nano-architected lattice materials to gain further insight into fabricating macro-scale 3D printed parts that contain nanoscale features. What excites me about my research is that nano- and micro-architected lattices are an emerging class of materials and there is still so much to learn and discover about their properties and functionalities.
If you could choose any other profession outside of engineering or computer science, what would it be?
I'd want to be a filmmaker! Before switching over to chemistry in undergrad, I was pursuing film production. It had always been a dream of mine to work in film, but I am grateful I also found my passion in STEM.
What are some factors that helped you decide to pursue your PhD at USC?
If you were to recommend to an incoming student 3 places to go in California/Los Angeles, what would they be?
The three places I would recommend to go in CA/LA would be the beach for a bonfire or a day with friends, Grand Central Market for a nice variety of good food, and definitely a weekend trip to Joshua Tree.
What is a memory you'll cherish about your time at USC?
All the times my lab-mates and I were able to spend together. I will cherish every time we were able to get together as a group and take a trip, have a game night, celebrate a birthday, go shoot some photography, go out and eat delicious food, and be there for one another.
What's one thing about you that might surprise me?
I have a pet turtle, and I enjoy playing tennis.
What are your plans after graduation?
Hometown (city, country):
Faculty Advisor:
Prof. Andrea Hodge
David Johnson
PhD in Materials Engineering
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
The best piece of advice I have ever been given is as follows: "Time spent building relationships is time best spent."
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment is making it into USC for their Materials Science PhD program!
What's your favorite impulse purchase from the past 12 months?
My favorite impulse purchase, even though it happens quite a bit, will always be a double scoop from Salt and Straw, an ice cream shop here in LA.
Please describe a little about your research and what excites you about it.
My main research goal is to better understand protein-cell membrane interactions through the use of model membranes, some biophysics, and a lot of nonlinear optics. I think it is an exciting field because much of the basic research that we do contributes directly to a greater understanding of how to combat neurodegenerative
If you could choose any other profession outside of engineering or computer science, what would it be?
If I had to choose a profession outside of my current field, I would be a confectioner working in an ice cream shop or a candy store. Everyone leaves with a smile when they are getting sweets, what better profession could you ask for?
What are some factors that helped you decide to pursue your PhD at USC?
A big factor in choosing to pursue my PhD at USC was the city of LA itself. My wife is a social worker who, because of being in an incredibly diverse city, has had many opportunities to serve the city of LA which was important for me. Additionally, I love the foods from cultures around the world that I get to eat within a 15 minute drive.
If you were to recommend to an incoming student 3 places to go in California/Los Angeles, what would they be?
There are so many cool things to see and do in LA, but I can only give three so here they are: a show at the Hollywood Bowl, a game at Dodger Stadium (I'm a big baseball fan), and you NEED to get Korean BBQ in Koreatown. In fact, you could probably do that all in one day if you get lucky.
What is a memory you'll cherish about your time at USC?
I haven't been at USC for long, but I have already enjoyed building relationships with my classmates in the program. I can't boil it down to one moment, but those are the memories that I will cherish most when I leave.
What's one thing about you that might surprise me?
One thing about me that could surprise you is that I was a member of the University of Illinois Varsity Men's Glee Club in my undergrad! We were on the schedule to perform a Shostakovich piece at Carnegie Hall with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, but it was cancelled because of COVID-19. A real bummer.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I am planning on moving closer to my immediate family in Illinois to find a job in the state. I hope to raise a family there with my wife while also pursuing a fruitful career with my PhD.
Hometown (city, country):
Champaign, IL, USA.
Faculty Advisor:
My advisor is Wade Zeno (the best).
