PRISM Mentors 2025-2026

Pedro Baculima (he/him)

Hi! My name is Pedro. I’m a senior majoring in Astronomy and Physics and the current director of PRISM. I’m from Cuenca, Ecuador. During my first two years, I worked at the Center for Space Physics at BU, doing research on meteors in collaboration with the MIT Millstone Hill Geospace Facility. I had the opportunity to participate in the Geneva program and worked at CERN on the SND@LHC experiment, studying neutrinos. I’ve also been the LA for PY251 and PY252. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, going to the gym, reading, watching movies, and sleeping.

Mehmet Akharman (he/him)

Hello! My name is Mehmet, I’m from Istanbul, Turkey, and I’m a junior studying Astronomy and Physics. I’ve worked at the BU Center for Space Physics, focusing on meteor research with the MIT Millstone Hill Observatory, and now work on a cosmology project using Big Bang nucleosynthesis and baryon acoustic oscillation data to determine the expansion rate and age of the universe. In my free time, I enjoy playing board/video games, reading, doing martial arts, and weightlifting!

Shelby Cavanaugh (she/her)

Hi! My name is Shelby, I’m a Junior majoring in Physics and Astronomy from Cheyenne, Wyoming! I’ve done research in high-energy physics, working with a BSM analysis from CMS. Additionally, I had the opportunity to be a part of BU’s Geneva program, where I was able to do research in laser development and interferometry for CERN’s Gamma Factory. I am the President of BU’s Society for Women in Space Exploration, and I am also a member of BU’s women’s waterpolo team. In my free time, I love to ski, hike, travel, and hang out with friends!

Will Stride (he/him)

Hello! My name is Will, and I am a senior math and physics major from Nashville, Tennessee. I am currently working on research where I model the population dynamics of microbial colonies. Outside of school, I enjoy reading (mainly sci-fi), drinking cortados at coffee shops, and longboarding.

Payton Harvill (she/her)

Hello! My name is Payton and I am a senior physics major with an astronomy minor. Currently, I have interests in optics, nuclear physics, and biophysics. For the past year and a half, I have been conducting research with Dr. Kamenetska studying gold nanoparticle dimers using an optical tweezer instrument we call “Martha.” Additionally, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Geneva where I conducted nuclear research with the MIRACLS group at CERN. I come from a small town in the center of Washington State, so moving to a big city was definitely a culture shock that I can relate to! I am a rock music enthusiast, I love to cook, and am a huge animal lover (I always accept cute pet pictures).

Ryleigh Resendiz (she/her)

Hi! My name is Ryleigh Resendiz, and I am a senior majoring in Mathematics and Physics from San Antonio, Texas. I am currently doing software development for Delphes reconstruction used by the CMS experiment. Outside of Physics, I am the head of DEI Dialogues for my sorority, Delta Gamma. In my free time, I enjoy pilates, cooking, admiring art, and hosting dinner parties.

Leo Rava (he/him)

Hi! My name is Leo, and I am a senior joint majoring in Physics and Computer Science from San Francisco, CA. I have worked as an LA for PY 105 and 106, and am currently LA-ing for PY 351. I worked on nuclear magnetic resonance experiments with Prof. Alex Sushkov for a year and a half, and I am currently researching the Cosmic Microwave Background with Prof. Kirit Karkare. In my spare time, I watch football, basketball, and baseball, read, play video games, and rock climb.

Charles Zhihao Cheng (he/him)

Hello everyone! My name is Zhihao Cheng (also go by Charles). I’m a senior physics and astronomy major from China. My research experience ranges from space science including Mars magnetosphere to experimental particle physics, mainly the CMS experiment @ CERN, Geneva. As an international student I’m welcome to help anyone in a similar place! Apart from school, I love playing tennis, traveling, exploring dance music, video games, and just going out with friends.

Krish Asija (he/him)

Hi! My name is Krish Asija and I’m a junior studying Physics and Computer Science. I’m from Grafton Massachusetts. I am currently completing my co-op at Analog Devices related to Edge AI, EIS spectroscopy, and neuromorphic computing. I am a 2x Learning Assistant for PY313, and part of the Kilachand Honors College. In my free time I like to attend music festivals, hike, and collect physical media!

Sylvie Cressman (she/her)

Hi! I am Sylvie and I am a senior from Sacramento, California. I am a joint physics and chemistry major, with a minor in American studies. I am currently doing biophysics research in the Kamenetska lab, looking at the structural stability of RNA. I also am the incoming president of BU Zen, a meditation club on campus, and the treasurer for BU Climbing. When I’m not busy with school, I like to cook, read, and spend time outside.

Lucas Gibbons (he/him)

Hello! My name is Lucas, and I’m currently a Junior double majoring in Physics and Applied Math. As far as research experience goes, I am a year into being a dedicated bubble studier with an interfacial fluid mechanics lab in the MechE department, as well as project leader for a Campus Climate Lab research project focused around mitigating laundry microplastic emissions. Outside of research, I have worked as an english tutor/teacher with the Intergenerational Literacy Program in Chelsea for the past 2 years. Finally, to balance all of that other stuff out, I am an active member and treasurer for the Zen Mindfulness club on campus. Other pursuits that I enjoy that aren’t tied to an organization but remain important to me include: reading, embroidery, bird watching/nature cataloging, photography, letter writing, regular writing, walking when I should have taken the train, taking the train when it would have been faster to walk, etc. etc. etc.

Ananya Jain (she/her)

Hello, my name is Ananya and I am from Tanzania. I am an Astronomy and Physics major, with previous research experience in stellar nucleosynthesis and presolar grains. Outside of physics, I like travelling, reading, and just generally spending time outside.

Belkacem Eltaher Khodja (he/him)

Hello everyone! My name is Belkacem Eltaher Khodja and I’m a junior majoring in physics from Weymouth, Massachusetts. I am interested in anything physics-related. Outside of physics, I like weightlifting, football, basketball, table tennis, combat sports, video games, and hanging out with friends.

Katie Jureidini (she/her)

Hello! My name is Katie Jureidini, I’m an international student from Lebanon and currently a junior studying Astronomy and Physics. I’m also minoring in archeology and am very interested in the intersection of both fields. I’ve been involved in the E-board for the Society for Women in Space Exploration (SWISE) for two years now and previously conducted research outside BU involving the use of quasars and AGNs as stellar candles. Outside my academics, I play the electric guitar (specifically classic rock), paint, and learn languages( I currently speak six!) I’m also a big fan of comics, Star Wars, Star Trek, and all things geeky. After graduating, I plan to branch into engineering and aviation, and hopefully return to Physics for my PhD. I love exploring different fields and their intersections with Astrophysics!

Roubaix Vidgoff (he/him)

I am a third-year student majoring in physics and neuroscience, and this is my second semester of LA’ing for NE 101. I intend to go to graduate school for biophysics. I am from Arizona. You can probably find me doing a cooking/baking side quest or playing games. I can provide quality advice at the intersection of physics and neuroscience/biology, as well as the premed track.

Seven Zhang (they/them)

Hello all! My name is Seven (yes, like the number) and I am a Canadian Junior studying Physics and Philosophy and minoring in Math. I am currently on EBoard for Photon, BU’s Society of Physics Students, and have performed and directed for Boston University’s Stage Troupe. While not participating in recreational collegiate theatre, I spend a lot of time thinking about, and playing various TTRPGs (Dungeons & Dragons, Kids on Bikes, Blood Money). I adore teaching and have been a Learning Assistant for the past two semesters (PY 212). One of my biggest passions is Physics Education and the intersection with storytelling.

Caeden Yanchar (he/him)

Hello! My name is Caeden Yanchar and I am a senior majoring in Physics and Astronomy and minoring in Math from New Hampshire. I volunteer at the Mcauliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, New Hampshire. Sometimes manning the telescopes in the observatory. In my free time I play video games, do backyard astronomy, bake bread, and build model ships.

Abhinav Ghosh (he/him)

Hello, I am currently a junior majoring in Astronomy and Physics and minoring in Computer Science. I am currently working with Professor Brainerd to determine the distribution of galaxies surrounding the central galaxy of a galactic cluster. Then I can predict or hypothesize what the dark matter halo distribution would be from it. I come from Edison, New Jersey and I like to read manga and go to the gym.

Shahyad Khamnei (he/him)

Hi! My name is Shahyad, but I also go by Sean. I am a junior majoring in math, physics, and computer science from Charleston, South Carolina. I am currently doing research on chaos in Hamiltonian systems and how to lower the energy variance in these systems. Besides physics, I am also interested in machine learning theory and predictive modeling. Outside of academia, I enjoy playing tennis, basketball, going on runs, exploring the city, and cooking with my friends.

Jack Crimmins (he/him)

Hi! My name is Jack, I’m from Connecticut, and I am a Junior studying physics/anstronomy and math. I do research, guided by Professor Dong, related to Earth’s magnetic field, specifically with energetic ions in the magnetotail region. My academic interests also lie in Cosmology and universe expansion. When I’m home, I work at a local elementary school primarily with the special education program. And last semester I began LA-ing, which I love, and will continue to do so this semester.

Nat Penn (he/him)

Hi, I’m Nat! I am a junior pursuing a dual degree in physics and music composition, and am the president of BU’s physics club, Photon. I spent this past summer in the med-/bio-physics department of TU Dortmund in Germany researching the physics of phase transitions in neurite membranes, and previously worked testing chips for the CMS detector, and I plan to pursue a PhD in physics. I’m from Newton, MA, and in my rare free time that isn’t spent playing an instrument I enjoy reading and making art.