Faces of CCE
Kara Fong
Kara joined CCE as an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering in June 2025. She was previously a Schmidt Science Fellow and Trinity College Junior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, where she worked with Prof. Angelos Michaelides and Prof. Clare Grey. She earned her PhD in 2022 from the University of California, Berkeley, where she developed theory for ion transport in Li-ion batteries. Kara's research group aims to integrate theory and simulation across length scales to study electrochemical systems for sustainable energy storage and water treatment. Outside of work, Kara is an avid birdwatcher.
Edwin Chang
Edwin Chang joined CCE in April 2025 as the Administrative Assistant supporting Professors Ismagilov, Wang, Giapis, and Gavalas. A proud Southern California native, Edwin earned his bachelor’s degree from UCLA and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Educational Counseling at USC. His background in the classroom and the military brings a unique blend of educational insight and operational expertise—drawing from his experience as a teacher, college counselor, and U.S. Army administrative officer.
Edwin is excited to contribute to Caltech by supporting faculty and students with dedication, creativity, and care. He’s passionate about holistic student development in diverse learning environments. Outside of work, Edwin is a storyteller, pursuing photography, filmmaking, and travel as ways to explore and connect with the world.
Caesar Acituno
Caesar studied Sociology and Education at UC San Diego, where he spent six years studying and working—most recently in finance at the Halicioglu Data Science Institute. There, he helped develop the graduate department by expanding fellowship opportunities and supporting graduate students through every stage of their programs. After returning to Los Angeles, Caesar now serve as an Assistant Grants Manager for the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, continuing his commitment to advancing research and graduate education.
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