Selina Gao

- One of 13 founding engineers of PULSE-Q (Quantum), a follow-on $1M CubeSat mission to demonstrate space-to-ground quantum key distribution (QKD) via free-space optical communication. - Contributing to bus and control systems design, including integration of ADCS and payload interfaces, alongside development of detailed CAD models and assemblies for spacecraft subsystems. - Modeling and simulating photon link budgets and optical system performance to evaluate feasibility and reliability of secure quantum communication channels. - Leading optical component selection and optical bench design, optimizing beam quality, alignment tolerances, and polarization stability for the quantum payload. - Collaborating cross-functionally with quantum, software, and electrical engineering teams to develop synchronization systems and optical data acquisition architectures. - Supporting $1.2M+ in funding proposals, technical reviews, and feasibility studies for quantum optical communication on nanosatellite platforms. - Presented “Adapting PULSE-A's Optical Communications Terminal for a BB84-based QKD Terminal on the PULSE-Q Satellite” at the Midwest Regional Conference (MWRC) hosted by the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE).

- Contribute to PULSE-A (Polarization-modulated Laser Satellite Experiment), the University of Chicago’s first undergraduate-designed satellite under the $100M CubeSat Lab initiative. - Currently developing a prototype of the optical layout and contributing to the master budget, supporting both subsystem design validation and mission-level cost planning. - Supporting a $550K+ mission focused on demonstrating polarization-modulated optical communication from space to ground at up to 10 Mbps. - Designing and simulating optical terminals for circular polarization modulation, enabling compact, low-power data transmission. - Developing hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test setups to validate optical link performance, signal fidelity, and pointing accuracy.

- Manage chapter documentation, including executive board records and internal action items. - Coordinate communication between executive board members and general body members to support consistent event planning, member engagement, and organizational follow-through. - Maintain organized records of chapter initiatives, deadlines, and programming updates to improve efficiency. - Support planning and execution of academic, professional, and community-building events for first-generation, low-income, and high-achieving students. - Track board decisions, summarize key discussion points, and ensure responsibilities are clearly communicated across leadership. - Assist with outreach, resource distribution, and logistical coordination for programs designed to strengthen QuestBridge student support at the University of Chicago.

- Write timely, original science communication pieces for The Spectrum, The Triple Helix’s quarterly science blog covering scientific discoveries, technological advances, and science-in-society commentary. - Collaborate with editors through a structured quarterly publication cycle to ensure articles are accurate, creative, well-sourced, and accessible to a general audience. - Current article: “The Science of Unlearning: Why Forgetting May Be the Next Cognitive Frontier” (in progress), exploring how forgetting and memory-updating support learning, adaptation, and mental health.

- Building a student-led project with three other impact scholars (practicing MD student, first year, second year), student-driven chatbot + website to help incoming UChicago students get honest, practical answers about campus life (housing culture, dining, course intensity, academics/social balance) - Designed to reduce pre-arrival confusion and anxiety by centralizing peer advice that is currently scattered across the internet. - Defining the target users (first-years, transfers, international students, students without existing social connections) and shaping onboarding flows around their most common questions. - Developing a launch strategy for pre-arrival channels: admitted-student networks, orientation communities, QR-code distribution, and peer ambassadors. - Current focus: structuring the knowledge base, conversation flows, and content moderation approach to keep guidance trustworthy and student-centered.

- Project TBD (in progress); expected Summer 2026 presentation through the Katen Scholar Program. - Analyze single-neuron electrophysiology time-series data following opioid administration, focusing on changes in firing patterns and circuit dynamics relevant to cardio-respiratory regulation with Dr. Brigitte Browe's guidance and mentorship - Build reproducible workflows for preprocessing (filtering, artifact removal), feature extraction, and pre/post comparisons across experimental conditions. - Support research deliverables through data QC, dataset organization, figure generation, and weekly summaries for lab meetings.

- Learned the necessary statistical, biological, chemical, and ethical knowledge of research to work alongside Seán McMahon in Prof. Qiao Lin’s laboratory at Columbia University to design experimental setups to analyze Time-Resolved Cryogenic Electron Microscopy, utilizing flash-photolysis reactions at the shortest time resolution to allow cytologists to analyze the structure of molecules more closely to enable effective drug delivery - Presented “Flash Photolysis in Time-Resolved Cryo-EM: A Review” at the NYCSRM Research Poster Symposium in the Museum of Natural History

- Shadowed Dr. Edward Guo, PhD canidate Yumei Chen and Peter Shyu in Dr. Edward Guo’s lab on osteoporosis prevention and treatment - Prepared over 500 cross-sections of bone sample slides and took over 2000 images to study the elastic modulus and hardness of cortical and trabecular bone lamellae - Developed college-level chemistry skills to create solutions for tissue preservation and analysis

- Presented original research titled “The Effect of Oxygen and pH Limitations on Bacterial Growth in Fermented Foods” at the NYAS Student Showcase, marking High School for Health Professions and Human Services’s first participation, led by Ms. Corwin. - Conducted an in-depth investigation on how environmental factors like oxygen availability and pH affect lactic acid bacteria (LAB) growth in fermented foods, comparing traditional and commercial products. - Collaborated with classmates to analyze data collected across two classes totaling nearly 65 students, transforming a classroom experiment into a fully structured research project. - Developed skills in scientific communication, experimental design, data analysis, and presentation, while contributing to the broader scientific community by sharing findings with peers, mentors, and NYAS staff. - Explored implications for food science, microbiology, and consumer health, with potential applications for improving probiotic product formulations and understanding microbial diversity.

- Selected to participate in an 8-week national program introducing students to careers in medicine and biomedical research. - Engaged in weekly virtual seminars and discussions with physicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals to explore leadership, innovation, and diversity in medicine. - Developed a deeper understanding of medical career pathways, scientific inquiry, and the intersection of research and patient care. - Attended the annual BLMiM Conference, presenting insights from the program and networking with medical leaders and peers nationwide.

- Completed 55+ hours of laboratory and field training in sample collection, DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA sequencing analysis, developing strong technical and data interpretation skills. - Worked under the guidance of a specialized research mentor focused on pharmaceutical research in diabetes, gaining exposure to molecular techniques and biomedical research design. - Conducted an independent research project titled “Fungi as Indicators of Water Health in NYC Ponds,” which investigated the relationship between fungal biodiversity and water quality across urban ecosystems. - Co-presented findings at the NYCSRM Poster Symposium at City Tech College, communicating complex environmental and genomic data to a scientific audience. - Strengthened proficiency in molecular biology workflows, scientific documentation, and collaborative research, connecting concepts in environmental biology, genomics, and public health.

- Independently researched and compared lead-exposure risks associated with fast-fashion supply chains in the U.S. versus China, with an emphasis on regulatory disparities and consumer health implications. - Utilized data from consumer safety investigations (e.g., accessories in fast-fashion items with elevated lead levels) and environmental health literature detailing lead poisoning trends in China. - Developed a multimedia presentation for the HPHS symposium that highlighted how global manufacturing practices, regulatory oversight, and consumer access converge to influence lead exposure in apparel and accessories. - Earned Second Place in the Muhamedeen’s Science Symposium for research depth, cross-national comparative approach, and relevance to both public health and engineering-product safety domains.

- Chosen for UChicago’s selective year-long program integrating biology, computation, and data science for research and industry applications - Will have completed workshops on AI in biomedical research, computational modeling, and bioinformatics, with mentorship from faculty and industry professionals - Awarded funding for a summer internship applying computational tools to advance innovation in healthcare and life sciences

- Selected for Columbia University’s highly competitive Science Honors Program, designed for students excelling in science and mathematics. - Completed a semester-long advanced course on General Relativity, exploring Einstein’s theory of spacetime, gravitational fields, and the mathematical framework of tensor calculus. - Engaged in rigorous, college-level lectures and problem-solving sessions led by Columbia faculty and researchers. - Gained a deeper understanding of the relationship between physics and geometry and its implications for cosmology and modern physics.

Completed College Now Health and Education (HED110)

Completed: College Now Statistics, College Now Literacy and Propaganda, College Now Psychology

Graduated with NYS Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation, Seal of Civic Readiness, and Career & Technical Endorsement. Awards: High Honor Roll (2020-2025), Scholar Athlete (2023), Excellence in Clinical Medical Assistant, Silver Medal for Excellence in Science, Gold Medal in English and Math, NYC Association of Math Assistant Principals Supervision Certificate for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Mathematics, Certificate for Outstanding Achievement in English Language Arts (Awarded by United Foundation of Teachers) 2025 NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence

- Explored genetic circuit design, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and systems-level modeling - Learned computational methods for analyzing and engineering biological systems - Studied synthetic gene regulation and pathway optimization strategies - Applied bioengineering principles to design and simulate biological networks - Strengthened technical foundation in molecular and systems biology

Columbia University's esteemed biomedical engineering program was held this summer of 2023. I was honored to be one of the many who were accepted through the HypoLab industry. This opportunity allowed me to acquire invaluable knowledge and skills within the field, furthering my professional development. I am deeply grateful for the experience and look forward to applying this newfound knowledge in my future endeavors.