BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Caltech Alumni - ECPv6.17.3.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Caltech Alumni X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Caltech Alumni REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20240310T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20241103T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20250309T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20251102T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20260308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20261101T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20270314T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20271107T090000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Halifax BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20240310T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20241103T050000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20250309T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20251102T050000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0300 TZNAME:ADT DTSTART:20260308T060000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0300 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:AST DTSTART:20261101T050000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20240310T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20241103T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20260308T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20261101T070000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260212T114500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260212T114500 DTSTAMP:20260122T234736Z CREATED:20260122T234732Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T234736Z UID:38614-1770896700-1770896700@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:LA South Bay Techers Monthly Lunch (February) DESCRIPTION:Meet fellow alumni for lunch\, connect with others in your field\, talk science\, and share Caltech memories. Whether you want to discuss research\, revisit campus stories\, or meet new Techers in the area\, it’s a great way to stay engaged. \nThis month’s meetup: Thursday\, February 12\, 11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m.Location: Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA 90245Menu: Available on Brewport’s website. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register here URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/la-south-bay-techers-monthly-lunch-february/ LOCATION:Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA\, 90245\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-South-Bay-Monthly-Lunch-1500x500-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Rhonda MacDonald (BS '74)":MAILTO:RLMSLL@roadrunner.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260122T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260122T193000 DTSTAMP:20260119T173444Z CREATED:20251218T235820Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260119T173444Z UID:37802-1769103000-1769110200@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Silicon Valley DESCRIPTION:“AI in the Loop: From Startup Vibe Coding to AI Memory”. Join Us for an In-Person Event.\nThursday\, January 22\, 20265:30 – 7:30 p.m. \nBox HQ900 Middlefield Road\, Redwood City\, CA 94063 \nTo attend\, please click this link to purchase tickets through Eventbrite. \nAttendance is limited to 80 people.Price: $32 per ticketSee dinner menu below. \nTicket sales will end on January 20 at 4:00 p.m. (PT)\, or when sold out. \n*Don’t click any checkboxes. They are Eventbrite’s marketing campaigns. \nWe look forward to seeing you! \nPeter Tong \n“AI in the Loop: From Startup Vibe Coding to AI Memory” by Ajay Natarajan\, Eugene Shao\, and Charles Fan\nAI is transforming how we build software and how software operates in the world. \nOn the engineering side\, vibe coding (where developers guide models with high-level intent rather than line-by-line implementation) lets startups ship production-grade systems at unprecedented speed. Ajay and Eugene\, who have built two startups together\, will share with us what vibe coding looks like in practice and the challenges they introduce. \nOn the business side\, AI agents are automating numerous mundane business tasks. In addition\, agentic AI will redefine how enterprises operate\, particularly when enabled by a new AI Memory layer. Charles\, who co-founded MemVerge (a leading AI Memory company) will cover how AI Memory is the next frontier of agentic AI. \nAbout the Speakers\nIn late 2025\, Ajay Natarajan and Eugene Shao co-founded Roadrunner\, Kleiner Perkins’ fourth incubation ever ($5M raised and currently a team of 9). At Roadrunner\, they are rebuilding a Quote-to-Cash platform\, starting with an AI-native CPQ\, to help every Account Executive structure deals instantly. \nAjay began his undergrad at Caltech at age 16 and concurrently served as a software engineer for NASA\, where he built software that is now used to help guide the Mars Rover. He graduated #2 in his class and was the first to do a double major in CS and Economics with a minor in Data Science. After graduation\, he served as tech lead at Robinhood\, where he built their only blockchain smart contract. \nThen in 2024\, Ajay and Eugene co-founded their first startup\, Athena\, where they created an AI platform to help over 2% of all U.S. college-bound students optimize their college applications. \nAt Athena\, Eugene was responsible for scaling the architecture of the platform to serve tens of thousands of concurrent users. Before that\, he developed high-throughput systems at Citadel and Meta and built software that is currently on the International Space Station. Eugene received his BS in CS and Data Science from Caltech. \nPrior to MemVerge\, Charles was the CTO of Cheetah Mobile (NYSE: CMCM)\, a leader in developing utility\, gaming and content mobile apps\, with over 600 million monthly active users worldwide. Prior to joining Cheetah Mobile\, Charles was a SVP and the GM at VMware. During his tenure at VMware\, he was responsible for VMware’s storage and availability business unit. \nBefore VMware\, Charles worked at EMC\, and was the founder and head of EMC’s China R&D Center. He joined EMC via the acquisition of Rainfinity\, which is a Caltech spin-out where he was a co-founder and CTO. At Rainfinity\, Charles led the creation of its file virtualization and high availability products. \nCharles received his PhD in EE from Caltech in 2001\, and his BSEE from the Cooper Union in 1995. \nDinner Menu\n• Turkey Havarti Sandwich• Roast Beef and Cheddar Sandwich• Tunacado Sandwich• Roasted Portobello Sandwich• House Made Potato Chips• Mixed Green Salad• Balsamic Vinaigrette• Ranch Dressing• Chef’s Assortment of Desserts \nTo attend\, please click this link to purchase tickets through Eventbrite. \n \n \n \n \n \n Our Alumni Volunteers‍\nThe following Alumni work together to serve you: Avni Gandhi\, Dave Adler\, Jane Frommer\, Susan Huynh\, and Peter Tong. URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-silicon-valley-january/ LOCATION:Box HQ\, 900 Jefferson Avenue\, Redwood City\, 94063\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-Silicon-Valley-1500x500-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260108T114500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260108T131500 DTSTAMP:20251217T191244Z CREATED:20251217T191241Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T191244Z UID:37768-1767872700-1767878100@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:LA South Bay Techers Monthly Lunch (January) DESCRIPTION:Meet fellow alumni for lunch\, connect with others in your field\, talk science\, and share Caltech memories. Whether you want to discuss research\, revisit campus stories\, or meet new Techers in the area\, it’s a great way to stay engaged. \nThis month’s meetup: Thursday\, January 8\, 11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m.Location: Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA 90245Menu: Available on Brewport’s website. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register here URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/la-south-bay-techers-monthly-lunch-january/ LOCATION:Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA\, 90245\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-South-Bay-Monthly-Lunch-1500x500-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Rhonda MacDonald (BS '74)":MAILTO:RLMSLL@roadrunner.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251203T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251203T180000 DTSTAMP:20251124T220028Z CREATED:20251119T001422Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T220028Z UID:37265-1764784800-1764784800@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: San Diego DESCRIPTION:Advances in Infant Microbiome Medicine: A Conversation with Stephanie Culler\, Co-Founder and CEO of Persephone Biosciences\nThis virtual Caltech Together event will take place on Wednesday\, December 3\, 2025\, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. (PST). \nThe old adage “you are what you eat” has never been more true. Poor gut health has been linked to a wide range of chronic diseases\, including inflammatory bowel disease\, obesity\, type 2 diabetes\, cardiovascular and neurological diseases\, autoimmune conditions\, and even anxiety and depression. And it could all start in infancy. \nPlease join the MIT Club of San Diego and the Caltech Alumni Association as we welcome Stephanie Culler\, co-founder and CEO of Persephone Biosciences and Caltech PhD ’09\, who will discuss her company’s My Baby Biome project\, the largest and most diverse U.S. infant biome study to date. This research found that only 24 percent of the babies in the study had all of the key bacteria associated with a healthy microbiome. Gut bacteria deficiencies can lead to a greater risk of developing asthma\, allergies\, and eczema later in life. \nThis research has led to the development of the first pre-biotic and pro-biotic supplements for infants and toddlers\, which Persephone is currently launching. To support this launch\, Persephone is also in the midst of raising a round of funding. Along with sharing the company’s research\, Stephanie will provide details on both the product launch and the fundraising round. \nRegistrationClick below to sign up. A Zoom link will be emailed prior to the event. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Stephanie Culler (PhD '09)\n Co-founder and CEO\, Persephone Biosciences \n The co-founder and CEO of Persephone Biosciences\, she leads a biotechnology company developing microbiome-based medicines that improve patient health. Her work spans applications in infant health\, oncology\, and food as medicine. She has presented at TEDx San Diego\, published in Science magazine\, and is recognized as a pioneer in synthetic biology. She earned her PhD at Caltech and has authored more than twenty publications and patents on synthetic biology and microbial-based technologies. URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-san-diego/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Miral Kim-E (BS '78)":MAILTO:mek@mek.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251120T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251120T190000 DTSTAMP:20251030T231922Z CREATED:20251021T192224Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251030T231922Z UID:37074-1763659800-1763665200@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Silicon Valley DESCRIPTION:Rove beetles show extreme evolution\, changing from free-living predators to imposters that infiltrate ant societies. This exceptional symbiotic transition helps us understand how ecological relationships are formed. Through dramatic shifts in their social behavior and chemical communication\, different species interact and develop intimate relationships. Our speaker\, Professor Joe Parker\, was just named a MacArthur Fellow. \nFollowing the webinar\, join us for a post-event social via Zoom\, where you’ll have the opportunity to mingle with fellow alumni and speak with the presenter. If you would like our alumni or professors to share with us their work/interests during a future event\, please let me know. \nWe look forward to seeing you! \nPeter Tong \n“The Rove Beetle’s Story: The Evolution of Interspecies Relationships”By Joe Parker\nThe biosphere is a network of interacting species\, connecting organisms across all scales\, from microbes to mammals. Our knowledge of the mechanisms behind these relationships and the evolutionary forces that shape them is incomplete. In this lecture\, I will describe how my lab has pioneered the study of rove beetles as a group of related species to break open basic problems in how organisms interact and where these interactions come from. \nMost of the 66\,000 rove beetle species are free-living predators. But\, from this original lifestyle\, hundreds of their relatives have changed into symbiotic organisms that specialize in living as imposters within the complex societies of ants. The shift from free-living to symbiotic is a paradigm of extreme evolution\, involving major changes in social behavior and chemical communication that allow rove beetles to blend into the social life of their host colonies. \nThe widespread evolution of this symbiosis\, combined with the tractability of studying both free-living and symbiotic rove beetles\, makes for a powerful system to understand how and why new ecological relationships emerge during evolution. \nJoe will discuss how his lab’s work is creating an integrated picture of how species recognize and interact\, illuminating the conditions leading to these interactions\, and the forces shaping their evolution into dependent and highly intimate relationships. \nAbout the Speaker\nJoe is an evolutionary biologist who has pioneered the study of rove beetles to investigate the evolution of symbiosis and species interactions. Originally from Swansea\, Wales\, he received a BS from Imperial College London and a PhD from the University of Cambridge/MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology\, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University. Currently\, he is a Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering at Caltech\, where he is the director of Caltech’s Center for Evolutionary Science. He is also a research associate in the Division of Invertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History. He was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2024. \n \n \n \n \n \n Our Alumni Volunteers‍\nThe following alumni work together to serve you: Avni Gandhi\, Dave Adler\, Jane Frommer\, Mike Klein\, Susan Huynh\, and Peter Tong. \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-silicon-valley-novemeber/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-Silicon-Valley-1500x500-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251113T114500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251113T133000 DTSTAMP:20251028T165346Z CREATED:20251028T165343Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251028T165346Z UID:37179-1763034300-1763040600@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:LA South Bay Techers Monthly Lunch (November) DESCRIPTION:Meet fellow alumni for lunch\, connect with others in your field\, talk science\, and share Caltech memories. Whether you want to discuss research\, revisit campus stories\, or meet new Techers in the area\, it’s a great way to stay engaged. \nThis month’s meetup: Thursday\, November 13\, 11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m.Location: Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA 90245Menu: Available on Brewport’s website. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register here URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/la-south-bay-techers-monthly-lunch-november/ LOCATION:Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA\, 90245\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-South-Bay-Monthly-Lunch-1500x500-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Rhonda MacDonald (BS '74)":MAILTO:RLMSLL@roadrunner.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251109T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251109T123000 DTSTAMP:20251103T194631Z CREATED:20251103T194628Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251103T194631Z UID:37198-1762678800-1762691400@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: San Diego Second Sunday (November 2025) DESCRIPTION:Held on the second Sunday of the month\, this hike invites alumni\, family\, and friends to explore one of San Diego’s favorite trails. Join fellow Techers for a climb up Iron Mountain\, a 6-mile round-trip hike with about 1\,100 feet of elevation gain and loss\, offering rewarding views at the summit. \nMeetup and timing• Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the main trailhead at the east end of Poway Road.• The group will depart shortly after gathering.• Expect to finish by 12:30 p.m. \nOptional lunchAfter the hike\, participants are welcome to gather for lunch at a nearby spot (location to be decided by the group). \nWhat to bring• Snacks and plenty of water• Sunscreen\, hat\, and sturdy shoes \nRegister on SignUpGenius so the host knows how many to expect. \nAlumni\, family\, and friends are welcome. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-san-diego-second-sunday-november-2025/ LOCATION:Iron Mountain CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Matthias Blume%2C PhD (BS %E2%80%9987)":MAILTO:matthias@ucsd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251108T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251108T180000 DTSTAMP:20251023T225252Z CREATED:20251016T174907Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251023T225252Z UID:37029-1762610400-1762624800@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Caltech vs. MIT Women’s Basketball DESCRIPTION:Join Caltech and MIT alumni for a pre-game reception and an afternoon of spirited competition and Techer pride as the Caltech Women’s Basketball team takes on MIT.\n \n \n \n \n \n On Saturday\, November 8\, 2025\, the Caltech Women’s Basketball team takes on MIT in Pasadena. The fun begins at 2 p.m. with a pre-game reception on the Braun Athletic Center patio\, hosted by Bernoulli the Beaver—Caltech’s beloved mascot. Catch up with fellow alumni\, family\, and friends while enjoying complimentary refreshments before cheering on the Beavers at the 4 p.m. tipoff. \nParking is free on Saturdays in the nearby California Parking Structure\, and no permit is required.View the full season schedule here. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register here URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-caltech-vs-mit-womens-basketball/ LOCATION:Braun Athletic Center\, 1200 E. California Blvd.\, Pasadena\, CA\, 91125\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Caltech-Together-1500X500-2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Rhonda MacDonald (BS '74)":MAILTO:RLMSLL@roadrunner.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251101T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251101T150000 DTSTAMP:20251009T000437Z CREATED:20250918T233846Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251009T000437Z UID:36668-1762002000-1762009200@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Ann Arbor\, MI DESCRIPTION:Connect with fellow alumni and postdocs at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA)\, hosted by Jing Liu (PhD ’98). \nUMMA is one of the largest university art museums in the country and a place to connect—with art\, with each other\, and with ideas that challenge and inspire. Admission is free\, and the museum encourages conversation in the galleries. \nThe program will run from 1–3 p.m. ET. The first hour will feature “slow looking” in small rotating groups\, allowing participants to explore select works of art and spark meaningful conversation. The second hour will be spent together in the museum café\, where Techers can continue discussions and enjoy time to reconnect. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-ann-arbor-mi/ LOCATION:University of Michigan Museum of Art\, 525 S. State St.\, Ann Arbor\, MI\, 48109 CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Caltech-Together-1500X500.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Jing Liu (PhD %E2%80%9898)":MAILTO:ljing@umich.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251016T190000 DTSTAMP:20250922T223827Z CREATED:20250922T223824Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T223827Z UID:36741-1760635800-1760641200@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Silicon Valley DESCRIPTION:“Using AI to Accelerate the Discovery of New Small Molecules“.Join Us Online.\nThursday\, October 16\, 20255:30 – 7:00 p.m. \nIf you would like to attend\, register in advance for this event here. \nFollowing the webinar\, join us for a post-event social via Zoom\, where you’ll have the opportunity to mingle with fellow alumni and speak with the presenter. If you would like our alumni or professors to share with us their work/interests during a future event\, please let me know. \nWe look forward to seeing you! \nPeter Tong \n“Using AI to Accelerate the Discovery of New Small Molecules”By Connor Coley\nThe prototypical discovery workflow for molecules involves iterating through design-build-test loops. AI has a role to play in (a) property prediction\, (b) molecular design\, and (c) synthesis planning\, among others. This talk will summarize some approaches to each of these tasks individually. More importantly\, it will discuss the merits of approaching these tasks simultaneously and considering\, for example\, practical considerations of synthesis during molecular generation. \nAbout the Speaker\nConnor is the Class of 1957 Career Development Professor and an Associate Professor at MIT in the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. His research group works at the interface of AI and chemistry to develop models that understand how molecules behave\, interact\, and react and use that knowledge to engineer new ones\, with an emphasis on therapeutic discovery. He received his BS in Chemical Engineering from Caltech and his PhD from MIT\, followed by postdoctoral training at the Broad Institute. \nConnor’s work has been recognized with the NSF CAREER Award (2021)\, C&EN’s “Talented Twelve” (2018)\, Forbes 30 Under 30: Healthcare (2019)\, Technology Review’s 35 Innovators Under 35 (2023)\, and the Bayer Early Excellence in Science Award (2021)\, among other honors. He was named as a Schmidt AI2050 Early Career Fellow (2022)\, Samsung AI Researcher of the Year (2023)\, Scialog Fellow (2024)\, and Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar (2025)\, and was selected for the NAE Frontiers of Engineering Symposium (2025). Connor has been further recognized for his teaching and mentorship by MIT’s inaugural Common Ground Award for Excellence in Teaching (2023)\, the Outstanding UROP Mentor Award (2024)\, and the James W. Swan Outstanding Faculty Award for Graduate Teaching in Chemical Engineering (2024\, 2025). \nOutside of MIT\, Connor is a scientific advisor to several companies pursuing AI-driven discovery. He serves on the advisory boards of ACS Central Science\, Chemical Science\, and Digital Discovery\, and is an Associate Editor of the Journal of the American Chemical Society. \n \n \n \n \n \n Our Alumni Volunteers‍\nThe following alumni work together to serve you: Avni Gandhi\, Dave Adler\, Jane Frommer\, Mike Klein\, Susan Huynh\, and Peter Tong. \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-silicon-valley-october/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-Silicon-Valley-1500x500-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20251014T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20251014T200000 DTSTAMP:20250918T184502Z CREATED:20250902T194503Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250918T184502Z UID:36596-1760463000-1760472000@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Houston\, TX DESCRIPTION:Houston alumni\, connect with your fellow Techers during Caltech Together: Houston\, TX at Greentown Labs. \nGreentown Labs is the world’s largest climate tech and energy incubator\, with locations in Boston\, Massachusetts\, and Houston\, Texas. Greentown’s Houston location supports about 70 startups in a 30\,000-square-foot facility that includes a prototyping lab\, machine shop\, electronics lab\, and tool shop. \nThe event will take place from 5:30–8:00 p.m. CT at Greentown Labs\, 4200 San Jacinto Street\, Houston\, TX 77004. It will include an exclusive tour of the facility along with talks from several of the Greentown startups about their work. A light dinner will be served. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-houston-tx/ LOCATION:Greentown Labs\, 4200 San Jacinto Street\, Houston\, TX\, 77004\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Caltech-Together-Houston-TX-Wordpress-Event-Header.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Thor Hanson%2C PhD (BS %E2%80%9864)":MAILTO:thorhanson@comcast.net END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251012T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251012T123000 DTSTAMP:20251002T000343Z CREATED:20251001T234510Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251002T000343Z UID:36803-1760256000-1760272200@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: San Diego Second Sunday (October 2025) DESCRIPTION:Held on the second Sunday of the month\, this hike takes alumni\, family\, and friends to one of San Diego’s most iconic trails. Join fellow Techers for a climb to Potato Chip Rock and Mount Woodson\, a 7.5-mile roundtrip hike with about 2\,200 feet of elevation gain and sweeping views from the summit. \nMeetup and timing• Meet at 7:45 a.m. at the main pier in front of the store at Lake Poway Park (14644 Lake Poway Rd\, Poway\, CA 92064).• The group will depart promptly at 8:00 a.m.• Expect to finish by 12:30 p.m. \nOptional lunchAfter the hike\, participants are welcome to gather for lunch at a nearby spot (location to be decided by the group). \nWhat to bring• Snacks and plenty of water• Sunscreen\, hat\, and sturdy shoes• $10 per car for parking (for non-Poway residents) \nRegister on SignUpGenius so the host knows how many to expect. \nAlumni\, family\, and friends are welcome. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-san-diego-second-sunday-october-2025/ LOCATION:Lake Poway Park\, 14644 Lake Poway Rd\, Poway\, CA\, 92064 CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Matthias Blume%2C PhD (BS %E2%80%9987)":MAILTO:matthias@ucsd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251009T114500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20251009T133000 DTSTAMP:20251006T183848Z CREATED:20250815T184943Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T183848Z UID:36064-1760010300-1760016600@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:LA South Bay Techers Monthly Lunch (October) DESCRIPTION:Meet fellow alumni for lunch\, connect with others in your field\, talk science\, and share Caltech memories. Whether you want to discuss research\, revisit campus stories\, or meet new Techers in the area\, it’s a great way to stay engaged. \nThis month’s meetup: Thursday\, October 9\, 11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m.Location: Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA 90245Menu: Available on Brewport’s website. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register here URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/la-south-bay-techers-monthly-lunch-october/ LOCATION:Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA\, 90245\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-South-Bay-Monthly-Lunch-1500x500-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Rhonda MacDonald (BS '74)":MAILTO:RLMSLL@roadrunner.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250920T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250920T120000 DTSTAMP:20250731T201506Z CREATED:20250731T201344Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250731T201506Z UID:35214-1758362400-1758369600@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Lancaster\, PA DESCRIPTION:Connect with fellow alumni for a morning of fall fun at Cherry Crest Farm. Enjoy numerous activities before the cider donut fall festival begins at noon. Buy your admission ticket directly on the Cherry Crest Farm website and meet up at the barnyard jump. Hayride tickets are also available for purchase. Guests of all ages are welcome\, and family members are encouraged to attend. Whether you’re local or visiting for the weekend\, take this opportunity to connect with the Caltech community and celebrate the season. Please be sure to register for both: complete the Caltech Together form so we know you’re coming\, and purchase your official admission tickets on the Cherry Crest Farm website.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-lancaster-pa/ LOCATION:Cherry Crest Farm\, 150 Cherry Hill Road\, Ronks\, PA\, 17572\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Wordpress-Featured-Image-1500-x-500.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Amy Kelly (BS %E2%80%9802)":MAILTO:amy19301@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250918T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250918T201500 DTSTAMP:20250904T173429Z CREATED:20250902T205030Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250904T173429Z UID:36618-1758218400-1758226500@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Silicon Valley DESCRIPTION:“Information: From Life to Artificial Intelligence”. Join Us for an In-Person Event\nThursday\, September 18\, 20256:00 – 8:15 p.m. \nIntuitive SurgicalCafé in B1081020 Kifer RoadSunnyvale\, CA 94086 \nIf you would like to attend\, register in advance for this event here. \nFor our next dinner event\, Shuki Bruck will discuss the evolution of information systems through three mega events: life\, natural language\, and now AI\, asking whether AI could radically transform how we create\, encode\, and comprehend meaning. He is Caltech’s Gordon and Betty Moore Professor emeritus\, known for pioneering work in information theory\, neural networks\, and DNA computing; recipient of the Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching; founder of Caltech’s IST program; and co-founder of three startups\, including XtremIO\, whose flash storage system’s revenue reached $3B within three years of launch. \nAttendance is limited to 60 people. \nTo attend\, please pay $30 by September 16 at 4:00 p.m. (PT) to our alumni volunteer David Adler via Venmo (last 4 digits of his phone # 7164) or Paypal. Due to limited capacity\, you won’t be admitted if you haven’t paid. After paying\, click here for your name tag. \nDinner MenuTurkey Havarti SandwichRoast Beef and Cheddar SandwichTunacado SandwichRoasted Portobello Sandwich \nSidesHouse Made Potato Chips Mixed Green Salad Balsamic Vinaigrette Ranch Dressing \nDessertChef’s Assortment \nWith assortment of drinks provided by Intuitiv. \nWe look forward to seeing you! \nPeter Tong \n“Information: From Life to Artificial Intelligence”By Shuki Bruck\nInformation\, like physics\, is a first-order concept\, fundamental to life\, intelligence\, and human progress. This talk traces the evolution of information systems through the lens of information mega events—rare\, transformative shifts in how information is encoded\, transmitted\, and used. The first information mega event was the emergence of life\, when DNA began encoding structure and behavior\, and evolution became a process of accumulating survival-critical information. \nThe second was the rise of the human brain and natural language—a system of syntax and semantics that enabled memory\, communication\, and creativity\, leading to the invention of new languages\, from mathematics to music. \nToday\, artificial intelligence introduces a new and uncertain force in this trajectory. Its long-term impact remains unknown\, but it raises the possibility of a third information mega event. Could AI invent new languages\, generate meaning\, and transform how humanity evolves\, not only in how we communicate\, but also in how we teach\, learn\, and comprehend the world? \nAbout the Speaker\nJehoshua (Shuki) Bruck is the Gordon and Betty Moore Professor of Computation and Neural Systems and Electrical Engineering\, emeritus\, at Caltech. His research treats information as a first-order concept—fundamental to life\, intelligence\, and technology. He has made pioneering contributions to neural network architectures\, DNA computing and storage\, information theory\, error-correcting codes\, and storage systems. He has published over 350 papers and holds more than 50 U.S. patents. \nAt Caltech\, Shuki mentored 21 PhD students and 15 postdocs; 22 of his 36 alumni now hold faculty positions. He created and taught Information and Logic\, an undergraduate course that explores the historical emergence of core ideas in information\, highlighting their impact on modern thought and technology. For this work\, he received Caltech’s Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching\, the Institute’s highest teaching honor. He also founded Caltech’s Information Science and Technology (IST) program\, raising over $60 million to establish the initiative and construct its dedicated building. \nIn industry\, Shuki co-founded three startups: Rainfinity\, XtremIO\, and MemVerge. Rainfinity and XtremIO were both acquired by EMC. XtremIO’s all-flash storage system redefined enterprise data storage\, reaching $3 billion in revenue within three years—the fastest product ramp-up in the industry. MemVerge develops software for memory-centric AI infrastructure. \n \n \n \n \n \n Our Alumni Volunteers‍\nThe following alumni work together to serve you: Avni Gandhi\, Dave Adler\, Jane Frommer\, Mike Klein\, Susan Huynh\, and Peter Tong. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Pay by PayPal \n \n \n Pay by Venmo URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-silicon-valley-september/ LOCATION:Intuitive Surgical\, Café in B108 1020 Kifer Road\, Sunnyvale\, CA\, 94086\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-Silicon-Valley-1500x500-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250906T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250906T150000 DTSTAMP:20260818T023039Z CREATED:20250804T192011Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T023039Z UID:35909-1757156400-1757170800@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Purcellville\, VA DESCRIPTION:A pre-pandemic summer tradition returns to the Shenandoah Foothills. \nJoin fellow alumni\, postdocs\, and friends for a potluck and poolside gathering hosted by Mark Foster (BS ’82) at his private estate. In addition to enjoying a relaxing afternoon of food and conversation\, guests can also tour Mark’s 0.6 m research-grade observatory on his property in the Shenandoah foothills. \nWhat to expect• Potluck lunch with dishes coordinated in advance• Pool access—bring swimwear and towels• Guided tour of a private observatory• Time to reconnect and meet local Techers \nThis event is free to attend. The full address will be shared with registered guests before the event date. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-purcellville-va/ LOCATION:Home of Mark Foster CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Wordpress-Featured-Image-1500-x-500-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Susan Chen (MS %E2%80%9900)":MAILTO:zwschen@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250821T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250821T190000 DTSTAMP:20250801T212637Z CREATED:20250801T212634Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250801T212637Z UID:35882-1755797400-1755802800@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Silicon Valley DESCRIPTION:“Quantum Computing”: Join Us for a Webinar and Post-Event Social\nThursday\, August 215:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.Online \nIf you would like to attend\, register in advance for this webinar here. \nFollowing the webinar\, join us for a post-event social via Zoom\, where you’ll have the opportunity to mingle with fellow alumni and speak with the presenter. \nWe look forward to seeing you there! \nPeter Tong \n“Quantum Computing: Recent Advances and Future Outlook”By Patty Lee\nQuantum computing promises to revolutionize industries and solve complex problems beyond the reach of classical computers. But what is the current state of quantum computing? In this talk\, we will explore the latest breakthroughs in quantum hardware and algorithms\, discuss the expected timeframe for practical applications\, and examine the roadmap for future developments.  \nAbout the Speaker\nPatty is the Chief Scientist for Product Technologies at Quantinuum\, where she leads their technology roadmap to scale up trapped-ion quantum computers. She is best known for her work on phase control of geometric phase gates in trapped ions. \nPatty brings her expertise in quantum information science from her experience working as a staff scientist at National Institute of Standards and Technology\, US Army Research Laboratory\, and Lockheed Martin. \nShe holds a BS in physics from Caltech and a PhD in atomic physics from University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Patty joined Honeywell Quantum Solutions in 2016\, which later combined with Cambridge Quantum Computing to form Quantinuum. \n \n \n \n \n \n Our Alumni Volunteers‍\nThe following alumni work together to serve you: Avni Gandhi\, Dave Adler\, Jane Frommer\, Mike Klein\, Susan Huynh\, and Peter Tong. URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-silicon-valley-august/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-Silicon-Valley-1500x500-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250814T114500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250814T114500 DTSTAMP:20250801T213338Z CREATED:20250801T213335Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250801T213338Z UID:35892-1755171900-1755171900@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:LA South Bay Techers Monthly Lunch (August) DESCRIPTION:Meet fellow alumni for lunch\, connect with others in your field\, talk science\, and share Caltech memories. Whether you want to discuss research\, revisit campus stories\, or meet new Techers in the area\, it’s a great way to stay engaged. \nThis month’s meetup: Thursday\, August 14\, 11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m.Location: Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA 90245Menu: Available on Brewport’s website. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register here URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/la-south-bay-techers-monthly-lunch-august/ LOCATION:Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA\, 90245\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-South-Bay-Monthly-Lunch-1500x500-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Rhonda MacDonald (BS '74)":MAILTO:RLMSLL@roadrunner.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250810T151500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250810T173000 DTSTAMP:20250804T192131Z CREATED:20250804T172209Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250804T192131Z UID:35899-1754838900-1754847000@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: San Diego Second Sunday (August 2025) DESCRIPTION:Held on the second Sunday of every month\, this hike explores scenic trails across the region. This month\, join fellow alumni for a late-summer beach hike from Cardiff to South Carlsbad. This one-way\, 5-mile hike takes advantage of the low tide (4:26 p.m.) for a coastal walk along sandy stretches and scenic bluffs. \nMeetup and timing• Meet at the top of the Encinitas Surf Stairs at 3:15 p.m.• The group will depart promptly at 3:30 p.m. to stay ahead of the tide.• A return carpool will be available for drivers. \nOptional dinnerAfter the hike\, participants are invited to continue the conversation over pizza and drinks at Pizza Port Solana Beach. \nWhat to bring• Sunscreen and hat• Water bottle• Comfortable walking shoes or sandals with grip \nAlumni\, family\, and friends are welcome. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-san-diego-second-sunday-august-2025/ LOCATION:Cardiff Beach CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Matthias Blume%2C PhD (BS %E2%80%9987)":MAILTO:matthias@ucsd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250717T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250717T190000 DTSTAMP:20250626T175526Z CREATED:20250626T175523Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T175526Z UID:34912-1752773400-1752778800@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Silicon Valley DESCRIPTION:“An AI-powered Biofoundry”: Join Us for a Webinar and Post-Event Social\nThursday\, July 175:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.Online \nIf you would like to attend\, register in advance for this webinar here. \nFollowing the webinar\, join us for a post-event social via Zoom\, where you’ll have the opportunity to mingle with fellow alumni and speak with the presenter. \nWe look forward to seeing you there! \nPeter Tong \n“An AI-powered Biofoundry”By Huimin Zhao\nNaturally occurring and engineered biological systems hold transformative potential for addressing global challenges. Yet traditional methods for discovering and engineering these systems remain slow\, costly\, and inconsistent. \nTo bridge this gap\, my lab has been developing an AI-powered self-driving biofoundry. It accelerates every stage of biological design\, from discovery to deployment. \nIn this talk\, I will explain the architecture and capabilities of the biofoundry. Then I will highlight a few applications\, including: \n• High-throughput design and construction of plasmids\, an essential genetic tool in biology;• Rapid discovery of novel bioactive compounds from soil bacteria potentially for antimicrobial and anticancer drugs;• AI-powered autonomous pathway engineering; and• AI-powered autonomous protein engineering. \nFinally\, I will discuss our efforts to empower researchers worldwide to harness AI-powered self-driving biofoundries. The goal is to turn the promise of biological engineering into scalable\, equitable solutions. \nAbout the Speaker\nHuimin Zhao holds the Steven L. Miller Chair in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\, and is a professor of Chemistry\, Biochemistry\, and Bioengineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He leads several high-impact initiatives\, including the NSF AI Institute for Molecular Synthesis (moleculemaker.org)\, the NSF iBioFoundry (ibiofoundry.illinois.edu)\, and the NSF Global Center for Reliable and Scalable Biofoundries. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of ACS Synthetic Biology. \nHuimin earned his BS in Biology from the University of Science and Technology of China\, and his PhD in Chemistry from Caltech\, where he conducted research under Frances Arnold. Before joining UIUC\, he worked as a project leader at the Industrial Biotechnology Laboratory of Dow Chemical Company. \nHe has authored or co-authored over 460 peer-reviewed articles and is listed on more than 30 issued or pending patent applications. A sought-after speaker\, he has delivered over 530 plenary\, keynote\, and invited lectures around the world. His dedication to mentorship is reflected in the success of his trainees—38 former graduate students and postdoctoral fellows have gone on to become professors or principal investigators globally. \nHuimin’s research focuses on developing and integrating synthetic biology\, machine learning\, and lab automation to address critical challenges in health\, energy\, and sustainability. His work has been recognized with numerous honors\, including the SIMB Charles Scott Award\, AIChE Daniel I.C. Wang Award\, AIChE Food\, Pharmaceutical & Bioengineering Division Award\, ECI Enzyme Engineering Award\, ACS Marvin Johnson Award\, SIMB Charles Thom Award\, and the NSF CAREER Award. \n \n \n \n \n \n Our Alumni Volunteers‍\nThe following alumni work together to serve you: Avni Gandhi\, Dave Adler\, Jane Frommer\, Mike Klein\, Susan Huynh\, and Peter Tong. URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-silicon-valley-july/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-Silicon-Valley-1500x500-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250713T070000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250713T070000 DTSTAMP:20250630T222437Z CREATED:20250630T222434Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250630T222437Z UID:34985-1752390000-1752390000@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: San Diego Second Sunday (July 2025) DESCRIPTION:Held on the second Sunday of every month\, this hike explores scenic trails across the region. This month\, join fellow alumni for a challenging 12-mile out-and-back hike to El Cajon Mountain on Sunday\, July 13\, at 7 a.m. Expect about 3\,800 feet of elevation gain\, steep inclines and declines in both directions\, and sweeping views from the summit. \nWhat to bring \n\nAt least three liters of water\nHiking shoes with strong traction\nSun protection\nTrekking poles (recommended)\n\nTiming and meetup \n\nTrailhead meetup: El Cajon Mountain Trailhead at 7 a.m. sharp to beat the heat\nOptional carpool: Meet at Carmel Mountain Preserve parking lot near CA-56 at 6:30 a.m.\n\nAlumni\, family\, and friends are welcome. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-san-diego-second-sunday-july-2025/ LOCATION:El Cajon Mountain\, 13775 Blue Sky Ranch Road\, Lakeside\, CA\, 92040\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Matthias Blume%2C PhD (BS %E2%80%9987)":MAILTO:matthias@ucsd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250710T114500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250710T133000 DTSTAMP:20250618T222429Z CREATED:20250618T222426Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250618T222429Z UID:34866-1752147900-1752154200@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:LA South Bay Techers Monthly Lunch (July) DESCRIPTION:Meet fellow alumni for lunch\, connect with others in your field\, talk science\, and share Caltech memories. Whether you want to discuss research\, revisit campus stories\, or meet new Techers in the area\, it’s a great way to stay engaged. \nThis month’s meetup: Thursday\, July 10\, 11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m.Location: Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA 90245Menu: Available on Brewport’s website. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register here URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/la-south-bay-techers-monthly-lunch-july/ LOCATION:Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA\, 90245\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-South-Bay-Monthly-Lunch-1500x500-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Rhonda MacDonald (BS '74)":MAILTO:RLMSLL@roadrunner.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250621T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250621T123000 DTSTAMP:20250602T183735Z CREATED:20250425T011433Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250602T183735Z UID:33808-1750501800-1750509000@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Portland DESCRIPTION:Spend your Saturday morning with fellow alumni and their families at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Admission is free for all registered guests and includes access to the museum’s standard exhibits\, as well as the submarine tour\, planetarium\, and theater. \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-portland/ LOCATION:OMSI\, 1945 SE Water Ave.\, Portland\, Oregon\, 97214\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Jasmine Sears (BS '11)":MAILTO:jasmine.sears@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250619T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250619T130000 DTSTAMP:20250605T185117Z CREATED:20250602T200058Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250605T185117Z UID:34492-1750332600-1750338000@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: Silicon Valley DESCRIPTION:CRISPR and Gene Therapy: Join Us for a Luncheon Discussion\nDate: Thursday\, June 19Time: 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.Location: Moore Foundation1661 Page Mill Road\, Palo Alto\, CA 94304 \nTo attend\, please register here. Attendance is limited to 80.If you would like lunch\, please pay $30 by Monday\, June 17\, at 4:00 p.m. PT to our alumni volunteer David Adler via:– Venmo (last 4 digits of his phone number: 7164)– PayPal \nWe look forward to seeing you\,Peter Tong \nCRISPR Revolution: The Next Chapter in Gene TherapyWith Matthew Porteus\nRewriting the genome to treat genetic diseases or develop new classes of drugs has been discussed for decades. Progress in the 2000s was limited—but the field transformed with the discovery of the CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease system\, a bacterial mechanism used to fight infection. \nThe Nobel-winning discovery\, published in 2012\, was a test-tube experiment that simplified genome editing to two components: a protein that cuts DNA and a short RNA sequence that guides the protein to a specific genomic site. \nMultiple investigators adapted this robust\, highly specific\, and easy-to-use DNA-cutting enzyme (nuclease) to treat patients with serious genetic diseases. In 2023\, the first genome-editing drug\, Casgevy\, was approved. \nCasgevy is now used worldwide to treat sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia—two severe disorders affecting red blood cell function. Still\, Casgevy represents just version 1.0 of genome editing. \nI will discuss how we can harness CRISPR/Cas9 as a true word processor for the genome\, not just a tool for correcting typos. I’ll also address current challenges in genome editing and gene therapy—and what the future may hold. \nAbout the Speaker\nMatthew Porteus\, MD\, PhD\, is the Sutardja Chuk Professor of Definitive and Curative Medicine and a professor of pediatrics at Stanford University. He also holds appointments at Stanford’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and the Maternal & Child Health Research Institute. \nHe serves as director of the Stanford Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine and co-executive director of the Laboratory for Cell and Gene Medicine\, Stanford’s cell and gene therapy GMP facility. \nDr. Porteus was recently elected president of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy for the 2026–27 term. \nHis research focuses on developing genome editing as a curative approach to disease\, especially hematologic conditions such as sickle cell disease\, as well as diseases affecting other organ systems. \nDr. Porteus earned his undergraduate degree in history and science from Harvard University\, where his honors thesis examined the recombinant DNA controversy of the 1970s. He completed his MD and PhD at Stanford\, followed by clinical training in pediatric hematology/oncology at Boston Children’s Hospital and postdoctoral work with Nobel Laureate David Baltimore at Caltech. \nIn addition to his research\, he continues to care for patients as an attending physician on the Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Service at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. He is committed to bridging clinical practice and research to develop innovative\, curative therapies. \nHe has served on the 2017 National Academy Study Committee on Human Genome Editing and currently sits on the scientific advisory board for WADA on cell and gene doping. He is a scientific founder of CRISPR Therapeutics and a cofounder of Graphite Bio and Kamau Therapeutics\, and sits on several other scientific advisory boards. Dr. Porteus is a strong advocate for developing transformative medicines in partnership with—and accessible to—global communities. \n \n \n \n \n \n Our Alumni Volunteers‍\nThe following alumni work together to serve you: Avni Gandhi\, Dave Adler\, Jane Frommer\, Mike Klein\, Susan Huynh\, and Peter Tong URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-silicon-valley/ LOCATION:Moore Foundation\, 1661 Page Mill Road\, Palo Alto\, CA\, 94304\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-Silicon-Valley-1500x500-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250612T114500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250612T133000 DTSTAMP:20250605T183847Z CREATED:20250423T190647Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250605T183847Z UID:33693-1749728700-1749735000@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:LA South Bay Techers Monthly Lunch DESCRIPTION:Meet fellow alumni for lunch\, connect with others in your field\, talk science\, and share Caltech memories. Whether you want to discuss research\, revisit campus stories\, or meet new Techers in the area\, it’s a great way to stay engaged. \nThis month’s meetup: Thursday\, June 12\, 11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m.Location: Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA 90245Menu: Available on Brewport’s website. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register here URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/la-south-bay-techers-monthly-lunch-june/ LOCATION:Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA\, 90245\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-South-Bay-Monthly-Lunch-1500x500-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Rhonda MacDonald (BS '74)":MAILTO:RLMSLL@roadrunner.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250525T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250525T130000 DTSTAMP:20250515T144445Z CREATED:20250429T200605Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250515T144445Z UID:33895-1748170800-1748178000@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Houston Alumni Brunch DESCRIPTION:Join fellow Caltech alumni for brunch on Sunday\, May 25\, 2025\, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.\, hosted in Houston by Thor Hanson (BS ’64\, PhD) and Dan Liebling (BS ’02)\, chair of the Caltech Alumni Association Board of Directors.\n \nThis informal gathering will include conversation about future alumni activities. Bring your ideas or simply enjoy the opportunity to reconnect with Techers in the area.\n \n \n \nCost: $45 per person\nIncludes:\n\nOne entrée (see selections below)\nDessert\nIced tea and coffee\nTax and gratuity\n\nMenu Options\n\nDuck Chilaquiles – Fried egg\, tomatillo salsa\, duck confit\, tortilla chips\, queso fresco\, shaved radish\, red onion\nRustic Smoked Texas Brisket Hash – Cheddar\, two eggs\, jalapeño hollandaise\, Texas toast\nShrimp and Grits – Tasso ham\, white cheddar grits (gluten friendly)\nFried Chicken Salad – Cheddar\, bacon\, hard-boiled egg\, lemon-caper dressing\n\n \nRegister by Monday\, May 19\, 2025\n \n \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/save-the-date-houston-alumni-brunch/ LOCATION:Rainbow Lodge\, 2011 Ella Blvd.\, Houston\, Texas\, 77008 CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-Houston-1500-x-500.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250515T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250515T193000 DTSTAMP:20250430T204151Z CREATED:20250423T193829Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250430T204151Z UID:33724-1747328400-1747337400@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Silicon Valley Monthly Webinars DESCRIPTION:For our next webinar\, Milton Chang will discuss\, “50 Years in Business … And Still learning.”He will be interviewed by Jane Frommer (PhD ‘81). \nDate: Thursday\, May 15Time: 5:30-7:00pm Pacific \nAfter the webinar\, you’re invited to talk to the speaker and mingle with other alumni in a post-webinar social via a Zoom meeting. \nWe look forward to seeing you.Peter Tong (BS ’81\, PhD ’85) \n \n50 Years in Business and Still LearningBy Milton Chang (PhD ’69)\nMilton will describe the best practices for starting and building a company and will also describe his recent experience in starting a consumer product business (BonsaiHeirloom.com). \nHe will offer a point of view on how techers can excel in any field\, by broadening what we know to making the most of our superb problem-solving skills. \nHe will use his new venture to illustrate some of these points\, including why he chose bonsai\, how he evaluated the opportunity\, positioned the company for sustainable competitive advantage\, set up a low overhead infrastructure to be the lowest cost producer\, and used eCommerce marketing techniques to develop the business. \nMilton (PhD ’69) is an entrepreneur and an angel investor who mentors entrepreneurs. He is the author of Toward Entrepreneurship (www.miltonchang.com). \nMilton pivoted to tech entrepreneurship soon after graduating from Caltech. He was President and CEO of Newport Corporation and New Focus\, taking both companies public. He has successfully incubated more than a dozen startup companies. Recently he started Bonsai Heirloom\, an e-commerce business. \nMilton earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering with highest honors from the University of Illinois\, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Caltech. He also earned an executive MBA from Harvard. \nHe was awarded Distinguished Alumni by both Caltech and the University of Illinois. Milton has served on the Visiting Committee of NIST and on an SEC advisory board. \nIn addition to incubating Bonsai Heirloom\, he is a board observer on PhotonPharma\, and advises several tech companies\, including Coreshell Technologies. \nMilton is a Trustee of Caltech. \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n  Our Alumni Volunteers‍\nThe following alumni work together to serve you: Avni Gandhi (PhD ’15)\, Dave Adler (BS ’83)\, Jane Frommer (PhD ’81)\, Mike Klein (BS ’79)\, Susan Huynh (BS ’96)\, and Peter Tong (MS ’81\, PhD ’85)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/webinar-50-years-in-business-and-still-learning/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Caltech-Together-Silicon-Valley-1500x500-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250511T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250511T110000 DTSTAMP:20250425T231822Z CREATED:20250424T234236Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250425T231822Z UID:33765-1746952200-1746961200@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Caltech Together: San Diego Second Sunday (May 2025) DESCRIPTION:Held on the second Sunday of every month\, this hike explores scenic trails across the region. This month\, join fellow alumni for a 5.5-mile loop hike through Del Mar Mesa Preserve on Sunday\, May 11\, at 8:30 a.m. Expect roughly 500 feet of elevation gain\, a mile-long shaded tunnel under scrub oaks\, mesa views\, vernal pools (likely dry)\, and a scenic ridge trail. \nMeet at the trailhead just south of the 56 freeway on Carmel Valley Road: Google Maps \nAlumni\, family\, and friends are welcome. \n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/caltech-together-san-diego-second-sunday-may-2025/ LOCATION:Del Mar Mesa Preserve CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Matthias Blume%2C PhD (BS %E2%80%9987)":MAILTO:matthias@ucsd.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250417T114500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250417T133000 DTSTAMP:20250410T225854Z CREATED:20250410T225850Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T225854Z UID:33183-1744890300-1744896600@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:LA South Bay Techers Monthly Lunch DESCRIPTION:Meet fellow alumni for lunch\, connect with others in your field\, talk science\, and share Caltech memories. Whether you want to discuss research\, revisit campus stories\, or meet new Techers in the area\, it’s a great way to stay engaged. \nThis meetup takes place every third Thursday of the month. \nThis month’s meetup: Thursday\, April 17\, 11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m. \nLocation: Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA 90245 \nMenu: Available on Brewport’s website.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n RSVP via Email URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/la-south-bay-techers-monthly-lunch-april/ LOCATION:Brewport Tap House & Kitchen\, 204 Main Street\, El Segundo\, CA\, 90245\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Caltech-Together-LA-South-Bay-Featured-Image-and-Event.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Rhonda MacDonald (BS '74)":MAILTO:RLMSLL@roadrunner.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250413T144500 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250413T164500 DTSTAMP:20250411T000413Z CREATED:20250410T225900Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250411T000413Z UID:33170-1744555500-1744562700@www.alumni.caltech.edu SUMMARY:Black’s Beach and Coastal Canyon Hike DESCRIPTION:Held on the second Sunday of every month\, this hike explores scenic trails across the region. This month\, Caltech alumni are invited to join a 5-mile coastal canyon loop hike beginning at the southernmost corner of the Torrey Pines Gliderport parking lot. The route includes Black’s Beach\, Sumner Canyon\, Scripps Institution of Oceanography\, the Mushroom House\, the Ho Chi Minh Trail\, and the Salk Institute. \nThe hike includes approximately 800 feet of elevation gain. Low tide is expected at 3:45 p.m.\, making beach access ideal. \nBring water\, lunch\, and snacks. Family and friends are welcome. \nQuestions? Contact Matthias Blume\, PhD (BS ’87) at matthias@ucsd.edu. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/event/blacks-beach-and-coastal-canyon-hike/ LOCATION:Torrey Pines Gliderport\, 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive\, La Jolla\, CA\, 92037\, United States CATEGORIES:Caltech Together ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.alumni.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Matthias Blume%2C PhD (BS '87)":MAILTO:matthias@ucsd.edu END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR