Group Photo 2026
Graduate Students
Roberto Obregon, Graduate Student, May 2025
Roberto graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Lamar University. Shortly after, he spent some time working for a chemical manufacturing company. He decided to delve into research and chose to return to Lamar University to receive a Master of Science in Chemistry at the end of 2021. He then joined the University of Akron and finished in 2025 with his Master of Science in Polymer Science. His hobbies include attending restaurants and festivals, gaming, and freestyle recurve target archery.
Riley Donahue, Graduate Student, September 2025
Riley graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Polymer Engineering and Science from Penn State Behrend in 2025. She participated in undergraduate research at Behrend focusing on topics including battery recycling and microplastic production as well as doing an REU at the University of Southern Mississippi studying the effects of impurities on the properties of benzoxazines. Outside of school, Riley enjoys experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, reading novels, and making art.
Yunping Shi, Graduate Student, September 2026
Yunping earned her Bachelor of Engineering in Nanomaterials and Engineering from Soochow University and her Bachelor of Science in Materials and Nanoscience from the University of Waterloo in 2021. She then worked as a full-time process engineer in the microelectronics industry for some time before pursuing her master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. In her free time, she enjoys doing crafts and watching movies.
Undergraduate Students
Rahma Nalugo, Undergraduate Researcher
Rahma Nalugo is a senior studying polymer science and engineering on the biomaterials track. She loves hands-on work such as laboratory experiments, crafting, and pottery. She enjoys trying new hobbies, cooking and collecting fridge magnets from different destinations.
Cali Yu, Undergraduate Researcher
Cali is a Neuroscience student at Case Western Reserve University interested in neural repair, sensory processing, and translational medicine. Outside of research, she enjoys photography, gymnastics, and finding new foodie spots.
Grace Wang, Undergraduate Researcher
Grace is a Biomedical Engineering and Data Science student interested in functional materials and computational analysis for medical device applications. Outside of academics, she enjoys going to concerts, racket sports, and trying new foods.
Gavin Zhang, Undergraduate Researcher
Gavin is a first year MechE/EE student. He enjoys designing and building things, and all things outdoors
Group Alumni
Former Postdoctoral Scholar
Dr. Jiahao Huang, PhD, Polymer Science, University of Akron, 2020, Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate in Root Lab 3/25-3/26Current position: Incoming Assistant Professor
Former Undergraduate Students:
Trevor Swan, Kianna Verdugo, Isaac Reader-Taatjes, Rina Nishimura, Hanan Abbas, Jake Tan
Lab Dog
Sasha the Pomsky, Lab Dog
Loves napping, snacking, walking, and an occasional woof.
Prior Group Photos
Left to right: Hanan Abas, Riley Donahue, Sam Root, Roberto Obregon, Jiahao Huang