VINSE is proud to recognize several outstanding members of the Tech Crew from the Class of 2026 whose dedication, curiosity, and service have made a lasting impact on cleanroom operations, research, and outreach. Their contributions support the daily success of VINSE and reflect the collaborative spirit at the heart of our community. Please join us in celebrating Ella Dzialowski, Carson Felton, Parker Friedli, Jenna Jang, and Rafael Rodas.
Ella K. Dzialowski: Advancing Microfluidics Through Precision and Leadership
Ella Dzialowski, Class of 2026, is majoring in Civil Engineering with minors in Biology and Chemistry and joined the VINSE Tech Crew in summer 2023. As a Senior Tech Crew member, Ella specializes in microfluidics, mask making, photolithography, and soft lithography. She plays a key role in improving the cleanroom’s fluid flow system, helping make microfluidic experimentation more precise and accessible for VINSE users. On the Bungard Filmstar-PLUS photoplotter, she is the lead Tech Crew representative, troubleshooting its operation, performing calibration runs, and creating plastic photomasks for lithography. Ella’s attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement have made her an essential resource for both new and experienced users and her fellow Tech Crew. Outside of the cleanroom, she is a member of the Vanderbilt Rowing Team and volunteers at the Vanderbilt VA hospital. A Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholar, Ella exemplifies academic excellence, teamwork, and service. Ella plans to take a gap year as she prepares and applies to medical school.
Carson D. Felton: Connecting Nanofabrication to Real-World Impact
Carson Felton, Class of 2026, is majoring in Chemical Engineering with minors in Chemistry and Nanotechnology and joined the Tech Crew in spring 2024. As an Associate Tech Crew member, Carson enjoys learning a wide range of nanotechnology processes in the cleanroom, with particular interest in photolithography. He is involved with characterizing tube furnace temperature uniformity as well as updating procedures and documentation for optical microscopy measurement tools, tube furnace changeouts, grit-blast cleaning of coated parts, and various outreach activities that benefit future users. He is excited by the potential for VINSE’s work to translate into real-world technologies and applications. Outside the cleanroom, Carson is a Team Leader for Vanderbilt Students Volunteering for Science. Following graduation, Carson has accepted a position as a Process Engineer at ExxonMobil, where he looks forward to applying his technical training to large-scale manufacturing and energy systems.
Parker S. Friedli: Building Foundations for Nanoelectromechanical Systems
Parker Friedli, a member of the Class of 2026 majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Digital Fabrication, joined the VINSE Tech Crew in fall 2023. Now serving as Senior Tech Crew, Parker brings a strong interest in nanofabrication and nanoelectromechanical device development. Her cleanroom expertise centers on deposition and photolithography processes, and she is known for her willingness to help wherever needed and her enthusiasm for learning about a wide range of research projects. She has excelled with organizational aspects of Tech Crew such as migrating data and procedures to new platforms for better tracking, breaking down large projects into smaller tasks and delegating to other Tech Crew, and updating lab procedures to keep the facility operating smoothly. Outside VINSE, Parker is actively involved in Club Field Hockey, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Society of Women Engineers. Her collaborative mindset and technical curiosity make her a valued member of the Tech Crew and the broader VINSE community.
Jenna Jang: Exploring the Interface of Neuroscience and Nanofabrication
Jenna Jang, Class of 2026, is majoring in Neuroscience and joined the VINSE Tech Crew in summer 2024. As an Associate Tech Crew member, she is motivated by an interest in flexible, transparent brain computer interfaces and next-generation neuroprosthetics, and she joined Tech Crew to expand her nanofabrication skill set. She especially values the autonomy to learn new tools and the supportive environment created by VINSE users and staff. Her contributions include characterizing etch rates of photoresist, parylene, and other materials in plasma etch tools for advanced device fabrication. Additionally, Jenna revived a laser endpoint detection functionality on the Oxford PlasmaPro 100 Cobra reactive ion etch tool for improved etch depth control. Jenna is eager to assist with a wide variety of research projects and deepen her understanding of interdisciplinary work in the cleanroom. Beyond VINSE, she is involved with the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Journal and enjoys exploring local coffee shops in her free time. Jenna plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience or biomedical engineering beginning in fall 2026.
Rafael Rodas: Pushing the Boundaries of Graphene Electronics and Outreach
Rafael Rodas, Class of 2026, is majoring in Engineering Science with a concentration in Photonics and Nanomaterials with a minor in Nanotechnology. He joined VINSE as a cleanroom user in spring 2024 and became a Tech Crew member in summer 2024, reaching Senior Tech Crew status in fall 2025. Rafael works on developing graphene electronics for research applications, procedural optimization, and high school outreach demonstrations. His interests span nanostructures, semiconductors, optoelectronics, integrated circuits, and energy efficiency, and he is especially drawn to projects that encourage creative, outside-the-box thinking. He applies this towards the educational mission of VINSE, such as developing and testing a new characterization lab for the Nanoscale Innovation and Making course in the VINSE Analytical Lab. As a VINSE user, Rafael is also investigating microfluidics and optical sensing approaches for detecting lead contamination in water sources. Outside the cleanroom, he is active the President of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers chapter at Vanderbilt and staff for Spitfire, Vanderbilt’s genre literary magazine. Following graduation, Rafael will join 2Pi Optics, where he looks forward to continuing his work at the intersection of nanotechnology, optics, and real-world impact.
VINSE is proud to be part of these students’ undergraduate journeys. Their technical skills, curiosity, and commitment to supporting others have strengthened our cleanroom and community, and we are excited to see how they continue to grow as engineers, scientists, and leaders. We look forward to following their future successes.