Yi Lin
What’s your division?
Materials Science Division
Where did you do your graduate school?
Columbia University
Can you describe your research at LBNL?
I investigate the physics that happens in photoexcited materials in one trillionth of a second via experimental methods.
Why did you decide to participate in the SLAM?
The SLAM provides a compelling stage for me to share what I am passionate about.
If you weren’t a scientist what job would you be doing today?
maybe lawyer, engineer, management consultant or an opera singer
What’s your secret talent?
Bel canto singing as a tenor
The one celebrity you’d want to have dinner with?
Edward Witten
Peng Peng
What’s your division?
Energy Analysis and Environmental Impacts
Where did you do your graduate school?
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Can you describe your research at LBNL?
Finding the most efficient ways to store energy and recoverying energy and materials from wastes.
Why did you decide to participate in the SLAM?
Practice public speaking skills.
If you weren’t a scientist what job would you be doing today?
Table Tennis Athlete
If you could re-live one day of your life which one would it be?
The day I was born (but with current conscious)
What’s your secret talent?
Above-average skills in Ping Pong.
The one celebrity you’d want to have dinner with?
The Rock
Rajiv Ramanujam Prabhakar
What’s your division?
Chemical Sciences Division.
Where did you do your graduate school?
University of Zurich
Can you describe your research at LBNL?
Converting CO2 to fuels like ethanol using light and semiconductor materials.
Why did you decide to participate in the SLAM?
I want to do outreach to a wider scientific community to explain my research.
If you weren’t a scientist what job would you be doing today?
A police officer.
Who was/were you inspiration along your journey?
A few actually. I have been fortunate enough to have great mentors who have inspired me all the way from my first job as a researcher in NUS to my masters in NTU , My PhD mentor in Zurich and my current mentor in Berkeley Lab.
If you could re-live one day of your life which one would it be?
My PhD defense talk
What’s your secret talent?
I sometimes ask that to myself. So far i dont have a secret talent. Everything is out in the open 🙂
The one celebrity you’d want to have dinner with?
Leonardo di Caprio
Lydia Rachbauer
What’s your division?
Biological Systems & Engineering
Where did you do your graduate school?
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
Can you describe your research at LBNL?
I am working with environmental isolates from herbivorous reef fish on the enzymatic decomposition and conversion of marine seaweed.
Why did you decide to participate in the SLAM?
Leaving my comfort zone, learn how to communicate my research efficiently to a broader audience, increase visibility
If you weren’t a scientist what job would you be doing today?
I’d be in medicine; grew up wanting to be a pathologist
Who was/were you inspiration along your journey?
my PhD supervisor; he never lost his genuine curiosity, remained a hands on scientist throughout his entire career, and challenged me to grow, scientifically and personally.
If you could re-live one day of your life which one would it be?
There’s a couple days that could be improved in retrospect but overall, none I’d like to re-live. I’ll enjoy the days to come.
What’s your secret talent?
I can come up with a recipe for the weirdest ingredients and it usually turns out tasty
The one celebrity you’d want to have dinner with?
Maybe Neil Gaiman, my favorite author. He comes up with all these richly imagined fantasy worlds and tells his stories in a darkly humorous tone.