Executive Board
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Alex Lu
Biomedical Computation, Stanford 2019
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Allison Yao
Psychology, Berkeley 2021
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Abraham Chen
Economics and Computer Science, Berkeley 2019
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Colin Barber
Microbiology, Berkeley PhD Program
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Dhruv Puri
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Berkeley 2019
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Denis Li
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Berkeley 2019
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Kathryn Li
MCB, Berkeley 2020
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Kevin Tien
Computer Science, Stanford 2020
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Ryan Cohen
Mech Engineering, Stanford 2019
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Neil Patil
Computer Science, UT Austin 2020
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Rohan Chakraborty
Chemical Engineering, Berkeley 2019
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Kevin Meng
Psychology and Economics, UC Berkeley 2020
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Sarah Gurev
Computer Science, Stanford 2020
Hello, I'm Allison! I am an alum and was a captain of the Temple City HS Science Olympiad team from Southern California. Science Olympiad was undoubtedly the defining experience of my high school career, and I am beyond excited to take it to the next step in college with this incredible opportunity to make this tournament a reality. Science on!
Favorite events: Forensics, Invasive Species, anything ID really :)
Fun fact: I guess I'm a meme? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Hi, my name is Abraham Chen, I’m a Mounds View Scioly Alumni, and I’ve been involved in Scioly all through high school. One time my team’s Scioly bus got stranded on a highway for 7 hours, making our trip to a tournament 21+ hours. That’s dedication.
Favorite events: Forensics, Fossils and Experimental Design
Fun fact: I like heights because it scares me.
Hi I’m Colin and I love microbes. I competed for Wellwood Middle School and Fayetteville-Manlius High School and I graduated with a BS in microbiology from Cornell University last May. For three years, I also helped lead Science Olympiad at Cornell where I served as co-president 2015-16. Did I mention I love microbes?
Favorite events: Microbe Mission, Fermi Questions, Thermodynamics
Fun fact: I have a buzzcut in my picture because my Fermi partner and I agreed to shave each other’s heads if we got 1st in Fermi at States 2013. The rest is history.
Hi, my name is Dhruv, I’m a LASA Scioly Alumni, and I’ve been involved in Scioly all through high school. Science Olympiad helped me find my passion for biology and had led me to a career in medicine.
Favorite events: Anatomy and Physiology, Protein Modeling, Material Science
Fun fact: Most nights you can find me DJing in SF or LA at salsa and bachata clubs.
I've been involved with Science Olympiad at Mounds View since 2012. Science Olympiad was by far my favorite thing that I did in high school and I hope our tournament will be a blast for everyone attending!
Favorite events: It’s About Time, Technical Problem Solving, Compound Machines
Fun fact: People who have more birthdays live longer.
Hi, my name is Kathryn and I’m a Palo Alto Science Olympiad alum. In my three years on the team, I’ve competed in a variety of study, lab, and build events, from Chem Lab to Bridge Building. Science Olympiad has been the most important influencer of my college career, so I am incredibly excited to give back to the community through this tournament!
Favorite events: Forensics, Chem Lab, Protein Modeling, Bridge Building
Fun fact: I like to figure skate in my free time!
Hey, I’m Kevin (“KTien” since there are two Kevins on our executive board). I’m originally from Louisville, Kentucky, where I helped captain DuPont Manual High School’s Science Olympiad team. Outside of academics, I enjoy volunteering for Cardinal Free Clinics, skying fools for Stanford’s Ultimate Frisbee team, and searching for nearby boba tea cafés.
Favorite events: MagLev, It’s About Time, Chemistry Lab, Pickup Frisbee Before Awards
Fun fact: I do research on the African Cichlid fish, though I’m deathly icthyophobic
Hello! I'm a LASA alum and was captain of LASA's Science Olympiad team during 2015 and 2016. I did build events, which means that most of my SciO memories involve soldering in a hotel room bathtub, getting gliders stuck in chandeliers, or getting kicked out of Wal-Mart at 1 AM (sometimes you gotta test Scrambler the night before..) Science Olympiad has been a pretty big part of my life (in both the good and bad ways), so I'm glad to be helping run this tournament.
Favorite events: Scrambler, Mission Possible
Hi! I'm Rohan, and I’m an alum of Seven Lakes High School and Beckendorff Junior High in Katy, Texas. Throughout my Science Olympiad experience, I’ve competed extensively in building events such as Gravity Vehicle and Scrambler as well in as lab events like Chemistry Lab and Forensics. I had a blast organizing our inaugural tournament for you all, and I'm looking forward to making our next tournament even greater!
Favorite events: Forensics and Chem Lab
Fun fact: I love anything and everything Drake.
Hello! Call me Kevin or kmeng! I’m an Ed W. Clark HS Scioly alumni and captain. In preparation for state and nationals, I’ve stayed at school so late that midnight snacks and basketball with the cleaning staff is a norm. I’ve been told before that my love for Science Olympiad is “infectious”. Spread the love and stay committed!
Favorite events: Gravity Vehicle, Elastic Launched Glider, Wright Stuff, WIDI
Fun fact: My team and I won a state championship in soccer! I have a fierce passion for music and sports. Play me.
Hi, I’m Sarah Gurev, and I'm a Mira Loma High School and Winston Churchill Middle School Scioly alum. I've had the opportunity to attend Nationals five times, and the distinct pleasure of competing in every single water event each time. Science Olympiad was such a large part of my life, so I'm grateful it's not quite over yet. I'm really excited to help bring this tournament to life!
Favorite events: Protein Modeling, Awesome Aquifers, Dynamic Planet
Fun fact: I was very overprotective of my protein model, possibly because I was constantly worrying that my cat would eat it.
Event Supervisors and Evaluation Committee
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Neil Patil
Website Creator and Event Supervisor for Mission Possible
Computer Science, UT Austin 2020
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Ken Chen
Event Supervisor for Fermi Questions
Computer Science, Berkeley 2019
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David Yang
Event Supervisor for Helicopters
Berkeley 2021
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Sang-O Park
Event Supervisor for Herpetology
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Shaina Zuber
Event Supervisor for Microbe Mission
Mathematics and Economics/Business Administration, Berkeley 2020
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David Mrdjenovich
Event Supervisor for Materials Science
UC Berkeley, PhD
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Nick Bowman
Event Supervisor for Towers
Computer Science and Aerospace Engineering, Stanford 2019
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Rohan Konnur
Event Supervisor for Experimental Design
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Berkeley 2019
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Alvin Hsu
Event Supervisor for Chem Lab
Chemistry and Computer Science, UC Berkeley 2019
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Steven Solorzano
Event Supervisor for Rocks and Minerals
Geology, UC Davis 2021
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Tad Komacek
Event Supervisor for Astronomy
University of Arizona, Graduate Student
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Aileen Lavelle
Event Supervisor for Ecology
Environmental Science, Berkeley 2021
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Hanjay Wang
Event Supervisor for Forensics
Resident in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University
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Vy-An Phan
Event Supervisor for Remote Sensing
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, 2019
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Shaina Desai
Event Supervisor for Experimental Design
Public Health, UC Berkeley 2020
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Sarina Xin
Event Supervisor for Game On
UC Berkeley
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Mindy Perkins
Event Supervisor for Herpetology
Electrical Engineering, UC Berkeley Ph.D. program
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Vyassa Baratham
Event Supervisor for Optics
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Alex Settle
Event Supervisor for Thermodynamics
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Saarang Panchavati
Event Supervisor for Hovercraft
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Varun Sudunagunta
Event Supervisor for Herpetology
biological Basis of Behavior and Earth Science, University of Pennsylvania 2021
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Faith Harron
Evaluation Committee and Event Supervisor for Dynamic Planet
Mechanical Engineering, Stanford 2021
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Evelyn Zhang
Evaluation Committee and Event Supervisor for Disease Detectives
Human biology, Stanford 2021
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Grant Wang
Evaluation Committee
Computer Science, Berkeley 2019
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Alexis Hidalgo
Evaluation Committee
Environmental Science, Berkeley 2018
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Jared Zhao
Evaluation Committee
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Christopher Lung
Evaluation Committee
Materials Science and Engineering, Berkeley 2020
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Amber Feng
Evaluation Committee
Legal Studies and Business, Berkeley 2020
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Tyler Hong
Evaluation Committee
Hello! I'm a LASA alum and was captain of LASA's Science Olympiad team during 2015 and 2016. I did build events, which means that most of my SciO memories involve soldering in a hotel room bathtub, getting gliders stuck in chandeliers, or getting kicked out of Wal-Mart at 1 AM (sometimes you gotta test Scrambler the night before..) Science Olympiad has been a pretty big part of my life (in both the good and bad ways), so I'm glad to be helping run this tournament.
Favorite events: Scrambler, Mission Possible
Hey, I'm Ken! I'm a Palo Alto HS Scioly alum. Currently a junior at UC Berkeley studying Computer Science. Also like to study food, traveling, books, and anything else to keep me from being bored.
Hi! I'm David, and I'm an alum from Mira Loma High school. Science Olympiad was a big part of my life, and I spent countless hours doing almost every build event, so I've had my fair share of all nighters and last minute runs to Home Depot. Even though Science Olympiad caused me sleep deprivation and a whole lotta stress, I loved every second of it, and I look forward to continuing my Sci Oly career as an event coordinator for Helicopters!
Favorite events: Robot Arm, Wright Stuff, Electric Vehicle
Hi, I'm Shaina, a graduate of Mira Loma High school. After being asked to fill in for my school's SciOly B team at Regionals my junior year, I joined the the team as a senior and had the distinct pleasure of getting to compete at nationals in Cell biology and Protein Modeling. After this great experience, I was thrilled to write the Microbe Mission test at GGSO last year, and am really excited to be participating again this year.
Fun fact: My second memory is of the SF Giants losing the World Series in 2002, so I guess you could say I'm passionate about baseball.
A UC Berkeley alumnus, David Mrdjenovich is excited to continue his education as a first year PhD student in Materials Science at Cal, working towards a career in academia. Engaging in computational materials science research, David is an active member of the Persson Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, investigating the properties of high-symmetry deformational pathways in crystals. As part of the Persson Group, David also contributes to the development of the Materials Project, an infrastructure for materials computation and a public repository of materials properties. Apart from research, David is passionate about sharing science with the larger community and is happy to assist in the coordination of the 2017 Golden Gate Science Olympiad competition.
Hey, I'm Nick! I've had the joy of competing in Science Olympiad for 3 years at Troy High school in Fullerton, CA, during which I got to be a part of two Nationals-winning teams. I captained the team in my senior year and enjoyed competing in my favorite events It's About Time and Compound Machines, along with some more frustrating/hellish events like Anatomy, MagLev (1st place at Nats, yay!), Experimental Design, and Bridges.
Fun fact: My MagLev car for Nationals 201 was made to work (at 2 am on the day of Nationals) with the help of a component salvaged from a Happy Meal toy.
Hi! Over the course of 6 years, I competed for Winston Churchill Middle school and Mira Loma High school in Sacramento, CA. In those years, Science Olympiad became the most important influence on my collegiate and career choices leading me to where I am today. I hope to contribute to Science Olympiad to further impose the competition's positive influence on other students to help them discover their passions.
Favorite events: Fossils, Technical Problem Solving, Remote Sensing
Hi, my name is Alvin Hsu, and I'm a Mission San Jose Scioly alum. I had the pleasure of competing in lab events, such as Chemistry Lab, Experimental Design, and Technical Problem Solving. I also got to try my hand at a couple build events, such as Mission Possible, but we don't like to talk about how those went.
Favorite events: Chemistry Lab, Experimental Design
Fun fact: My research involves many compounds that are pyrophoric, which means they catch on fire when they touch air!
I’m an alum from the North Hollywood HGM and the former team captain of their Science Olympiad team. I was on Oly for three years and it was the best thing I have ever devoted myself to being a part of. It made me much more knowledgeable in the sciences that I love and helped me meet amazing people. Now I hope to use my skills to give you all the best experience with Rocks and Minerals at GGSO.
Favorite events: Fossils, Rocks and Minerals, Invasive Species (and all other ID and Geo events :D)
Fun fact: My spirit animal is a taco.
Hi, I’m Tad Komacek! I’m a graduate student at the University of Arizona and a graduate of Harriton High school. I’ve been co-supervising the Astronomy C event at the National Science Olympiad since 2010, and am excited to come back to Golden Gate.
Favorite events: Astronomy, Dynamic Planet, and Remote Sensing
Hi! I’m a heart surgeon-in- training at Stanford University, and my interests include both adult and pediatric heart surgery, and developing new surgical technologies for use in the operating room. I previously competed in Scioly for Naperville Central High school (IL), leading the team to its first ever Nationals appearance in 2007. I’m still involved with Scioly as a coach for Palo Alto High school, and I hope to continue contributing at Scioly tournaments of all levels in the future.
Favorite events: Astronomy, Forensics, Fermi Questions, Storm the Castle, Sounds of Music
Fun fact: I’m also an orchestral conductor.
What's up! I'm from Orange, California where I was a co-captain of Troy Scioly. It was definitely a big part of my high school years, and now I'm really excited to come back to help.
Hi, my name is Shaina, and I am an alumna of Pembroke Hill, located in Kansas City, Missouri. Science Olympiad was a defining extracurricular for me throughout middle and high school, as I was able to travel with my best friends to several cities for the nationals tournament each year. I look forward to helping with Science Olympiad and giving back to one of my favorite parts of high school! :)
Favorite events: Experimental Design, Optics, Write It Do It, Protein Modeling
Fun fact: In my free time, I sing and participate in Bollywood dancing. Yes, I am from the Midwest, and no, I don’t live on a farm.
Hey I'm Sarina! I am an alum and former captain of the Columbia team in NY. I've been involved in Scioly since middle school. The highlight of my Scioly career was when I got to frolic with baby cows with my friends in Wisconsin.
Favorite events: Protein Modeling, Anatomy and Physiology, Game On
Fun fact: I have a profound appreciation for arugula
Hi, my name is Mindy and I graduated high school in 2011 from Peak to Peak Charter school in Lafayette, Colorado. My crowning achievements with Science Olympiad include forgetting Godzilla's hometown, mistaking a protein for the USS Enterprise, and baking a complete periodic table of cupcakes.
Favorite events: Herpetology, Ornithology
Fun fact: I'm still waiting for SciOly to introduce Chiropterology…
In high school, Science Olympiad played an important role in my decision to pursue a career in science. I'm currently a graduate student in the physics department at UC Berkeley. I was lucky enough to compete at 2010 and 2011 nationals with my team from Acton-Boxborough Regional High school in Massachusetts. I have many fond memories with my team, both in competition and just hanging out. I'm glad to be able to stay involved with SciOly through GGSO!
Favorite events: wind power, chem lab
Hi, I'm Alex Settle. I was the co-captain of the Harriton High school Science Olympiad Team in 2012 and graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell in 2016. Science Olympiad was a huge part of my life and I would not be the person I am today without it.
Favorite events: Sounds of Music, Fermi Questions, Ornithology
Fun fact: There's stock audio of a Whip-poor-will in Zelda":" Breath of the Wild and I only know that because of Science Olympiad
Hi! I'm Saarang, and I’m an alum of Clements High school in Sugar Land, TX. Science Olympiad was one of my most defining experiences in High school, and I'm super excited to continue in college! I'm looking forward to helping others get the same, awesome experience in Science Olympiad as I did.
Fun fact: I have blue hair in this picture because our team agreed to dye it if we made nats :)
Hello, I’m Varun. I’m an alum and former captain of LASA. I’ve been involved with Science Olympiad for 7 years and the three years I spent in high school making enormous binders and staying up until 2 AM the night before a competition cramming, finishing binders, and taking tests were some of the most rewarding and defining moments of my high school experience. I’ve had the great honor of competing at Nationals three times and I'm excited to be able to write exams and improve the experience of current competitors.
Favorite events: Fossils, Rocks and Minerals, Invasive Species, Anatomy and Physiology
Fun fact: The majority of my Fossils binder was handwritten (I know it sounds odd, but it worked), so whenever I took it to competition it was always carried inside a small duffel bag to protect it from the elements.
Hello, I'm Faith, a former six-year member of Science Olympiad and a captain of the Century High school team from Bismarck, North Dakota. What I learned in SciOly's never really left my life--love for science, skills and random facts alike. Sometimes knowing the Mohs scale of mineral hardness or the redshift effect of universe expansion proves useful!
Favorite events: Anatomy and Physiology, Astronomy, Rocks and Minerals, Dynamic Planet
Fun fact: I write sci-fi and fantasy books in my free time!
Hi!! I'm Evelyn Zhang, a Sci Oly alum from Mira Loma High school. It's an understatement to say that Science Olympiad changed my life, and I can't wait to keep doing what I love the most :)
Favorite events: Anatomy and Physiology, Disease Detectives, Experimental Design
Hello world, I’m Grant, former SciOly captain at Valencia High! My SciOly adventure began at Kraemer Middle, and I gradually found a passion for build events at Valencia High (competed 6 years). I still remember the long hours I spent soldering wires, gluing bridge joints with impossible precision, and getting wright stuff planes stuck in the ceiling. I have also helped coach the Kraemer team for 4 years and helped coordinate the CA Inland Empire Regionals and invitationals in the OC region. Overall, my SciOly experience has been a blast and I look forward to continuing to work with students in the community!
Favorite events: Robot Arm, Wright Stuff, and Bridge Building
Fun fact: I love solving Rubik’s Cubes and writing/blogging!
Hi! I’m Alexis and I was captain of my SAS High school team from Florida. I competed in Science Olympiad all throughout high school and loved every moment of it! I can’t wait to help out again this year with GGSO.
Favorite events: Forensics, Chemistry Lab, and Helicopters
Hi, I’m Jared. I am a Troy High school alumni and captain, and I competed in all things physics and computer science. Science Olympiad has been one of my most cherished high school experiences, and I’m excited to continue to contribute!
Favorite events: Optics, Robot Arm, Hovercraft
Fun fact: I’m a published game developer!
Hi, I'm Chris, and I'm a three year veteran of Science Olympiad at North Hollywood High school in Southern California. I was captain of my team for two years and worked on build events for the majority of my Science Olympiad career. I look forward to fostering the inquisitive atmosphere that is inherent in the Science Olympiad culture. Science Olympiad made my high school experience incredibly enjoyable and I will do my best to enhance the overall experience at our competition.
Favorite events: Wright Stuff, Robot Arm, Dynamic Planet, Hydrogeology, Elastic Launch Glider
Fun fact: I play club frisbee for UC Berkeley, and I'm always willing to throw!
I am an undergraduate at UC Berkeley and intends to double major in Legal Studies and Business. I have participated in Science Olympiad for 8 years and is excited to continue being involved with the competition. I hopes to eventually work in women's sports.
Hey, I'm Tyler and I'm a Mounds View Science Olympiad alum. SciOly was probably the biggest part of my high school experience, so I'm looking forward to helping with GGSO!
Favorite events: Wind Power, It's About Time, Green Generation