Mike and Renée Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Reno Xu is a postdoctoral scholar conducting research and therapeutic development focused on lung inflammation, injury, and repair. He works to understand the role of the macrophage, a type of immune cell, during the progression of lung injury, repair, and fibrosis at the cellular and molecular levels.

Abbibrinda Senthil is a master’s student in forensic science at UC Davis, specializing in DNA analysis and molecular biology. She plans to continue her research in the Centre for Health and Environment and the UC Davis Orthopedics Lab, advancing innovations in environmental health, forensics, and biomedical science.

Valentina Roel is a Ph.D. Candidate in the horticulture and agronomy program at UC Davis. Her research focuses on nitrogen management, soil health, and greenhouse gas emissions in cropping systems. She is particularly interested in quantifying the trade-offs and synergies between crop productivity, environmental impacts, and ecosystem services.

Connor Patton is a Ph.D. candidate in chemical engineering at UC Davis and is developing innovative materials to combat smoke-taint in wines. Connor’s work applies selective adsorption to precisely target free volatile phenols associated with wildfire smoke exposure while preserving the natural matrix of the wines.

Khoa Ngo earned a Ph.D. in biophysics from UC Davis in 2024, where he developed computer models that explained why certain drugs can trigger dangerous heart-related side effects. His work spans cardiovascular therapeutics, chronic pain management, and enzyme engineering, with a focus on turning complex scientific findings into solutions that improve patient outcomes.

Imani Muhammad is a Ph.D. candidate in nutritional biology at UC Davis, where she studies the impact of food bioactives on inflammation and brain health. She is passionate about leveraging science to drive innovation, solve real-world problems, and support strategic decision-making.

Armin Mafakheri is a Ph.D. candidate in plant genetics at UC Davis, investigating how hops adapt to their environment. His focus is on breeding climate-resilient, low-input varieties.

Marie Klein is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. She studies adaptation mechanisms in the tree species Populus trichocarpa to develop drought-resistant bioenergy crops, aiming to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy.

Momchil Gavrilov is completing his M.S. in biomedical engineering at the Bionic Engineering and Assistive Robotics (BEAR) lab. His research aims to improve the adoption of critical technologies studied through the lens of neuroprosthetics.

Bassel Elgharbawy is a Ph.D. candidate in electrical and computer engineering. He seeks to advance next-generation communication and biomedical systems, fostering innovation in research, industry, and education.