2024 - 2025 Scholars
Caden is an incoming electrical engineering PhD student with a strong interest in neural engineering and robotics. He received his bachelor’s in computer engineering in 2023 from Mercer University in Macon, GA. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and was awarded the Outstanding Graduate in Computer Engineering Award. Since then, he worked as a Research Assistant at Mercer University's Machine Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory, focused primarily on developing curricula to teach machine learning to middle and high school students across the Southeast. He was recently awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and is beginning his graduate studies under Dr. Jacob George. Caden received the Diane and Tom Might Award.
Jenna earned her medical degree and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Utah.
At the U of U, her research projects included studying the patterns of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare eye diseases affecting the retina. Jensen also worked to develop a medical device to detect large vessel occlusions in strokes and examined the prevalence of astigmatism in children in the Navajo Nation.
Jensen has also focused on work that empowers women in the ophthalmology field, including writing a book chapter with John A. Moran Eye Center female physicians about eye conditions found in older women.
As a Moran Eye Center resident, she plans to continue work that explores the relationships between genetics and ocular disease and advocates for women with unrecognized or undertreated eye disease. Jenna received the Kathie and Mark Miller Award in honor of Dr. Randall J Olson.
Shima earned her medical degree with high distinction from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Iran. She completed her ophthalmology residency at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, graduating with honors.
She then completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Schepens Eye Research Institute, affiliated with Harvard University and Massachusetts Eye and Ear, focusing on ocular immunology, corneal neovascularization, and transplant immunity. Dehghani also completed a uveitis fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
Her clinical research has focused on corneal pathologies, conjunctival reconstruction, and corneal transplantation.
As a John A. Moran Eye Center resident, she plans to expand her research and explore systematic approaches to optimizing high-quality ophthalmic care.
Ethan is a chemical engineering student at the University of Utah studying ways to apply machine learning and optimization to improve efficiency in manufacturing and power generating operations. His next project involves analyzing potential energy and economic solutions for coal communities in southern Utah as the state transitions from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Ethan received the Ruth Novak and Karen and Paul Ross Award.
Nicholas is going into his first year as a PhD student in chemical engineering after completing his undergraduate degree here at the University of Utah. He is from here in Utah, and he is interested in working in computational fluid dynamics with Dr. Tony Saad. When not working on school, he enjoys playing piano, cooking, and sleeping.