Meet the Team | Team Tech

Team Leads

Rewa El Masri

Team Tech Co-Lead

Taking on Society of Women Engineers Team Tech for a second consecutive year, we wanted to create something different. We wanted to build something that directly benefits our community while giving students meaningful, hands-on engineering experience.

The inspiration for this project came from my internship at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory over the summer. The Perseverance Rover is what originally inspired me to pursue engineering, and SOLARA felt like the perfect full-circle moment. It gave our team the opportunity to combine multiple engineering disciplines into one mission-driven project while creating the kind of industry-level experience that Team Tech is truly about.

This year came with more obstacles and delays than we could have anticipated, but this team never stopped pushing forward. Every setback became an opportunity to innovate, adapt, and problem-solve together. I watched this team become creators, leaders, and engineers in every sense of the word. From hardware integration and autonomous systems to data pipelines and sustainability-focused design, every member contributed something meaningful to bring this project to life.

It has been an honor leading this team and watching everyone grow throughout this process. I am incredibly proud not only of the technology we built, but of the perseverance, creativity, and passion that defined this team from start to finish.

Sabrina Piazza

Team Tech Co-Lead

Hi, my name is Sabrina and I'm a 3rd year majoring in Computer Science! I've always been drawn to the intersection of software and physical systems — I wanted to build things that move and interact with the real world, not just live on a screen. I'm using CS as a foundation to pursue a career in robotics software engineering (because of this project!). I'm the technical lead on the Solara Rover project, an autonomous outdoor agricultural rover being built for UCR's R'Garden. I joined because I wanted real hands-on experience with a robotics system — not just coursework theory, but actual hardware and the debugging that comes with it. I worked across the stack — writing embedded firmware in C/C++ on the Raspberry Pi Pico for motor control and sensor integration, and building out the ROS2 navigation pipeline including SLAM Toolbox and EKF sensor fusion with GPS, IMU, and wheel odometry. I also helped set up an environmental sensor pipeline for collecting soil and light data from the field. On the technical side, I learned embedded systems, ROS2, sensor fusion, and a lot of hardware debugging. Beyond that I got experience leading a team — coordinating across subteams, making design decisions under uncertainty, and figuring out how to keep moving when things break. My favorite moments were getting SLAM Toolbox working and seeing the rover generate a real map of an environment for the first time. All the messy debugging of coordinate frames and sensor configurations suddenly felt worth it in that moment. Solara made me a much more confident engineer. I went from following tutorials to making real design decisions and owning the outcome. It also confirmed that robotics is exactly where I want to be, and gave me something concrete to point to when applying for internships and my MS.

Mechanical

Anoushka Limaye

Mechanical Engineering

I chose mechanical engineering because it gives me the flexibility to explore a multitude of careers that allow me to dabble in EE, CS, and robotics. I also really enjoy building things with my hands physically and absolute hate long-form writing of any kind, so Mech E seemed like the best choice. I was on the Robotics subteam in Team Tech. I joined TT because I found Solara's concept very exciting, and I wanted to apply my skills and learn new robotics skills through this subteam. This is my second time doing Team Tech, so I also joined partly because I had a fun and rewarding experience the first time I joined and wanted to continue that. I was responsible for designing the robotic claw along with my teammate Vaishnavi. We primarily worked in Onshape, which is a 3D modelling software, and I also did lots of back-of-the-envelope calculations to validate specs such as motor torque, arm linkage sizing, etc. Our work involved researching robotic gripper structure as well as making sheet metal models in Onshape. I gained a lot of skills specifically with regards to design-for-manufacturing, as the main structural parts are manufactured from bent sheet metal parts, so I learned about how to format engineering drawings, how to create sheet metal models in a practical way, as well as creating flattened files. My favorite part was seeing our manufactured parts in person and assembling the robot because it felt satisfying to see our theoretical calculations and virtual designs come to life. This experience impacted me because it taught me how to work in an interdisciplinary team as well as provided me important technical skills.

Maisha Gupta

Mechanical Engineering

I was part of my high school's robotics team as a hardware engineer and I wanted to continue pursuing a career similar to that experience. I'm interested in designing and creating mechanical systems and machines that help multiple communities!

I'm currently part of the robotics team! I wanted to join Team Tech because I saw how the project was a robot/rover this year. I haven't worked on a ground robot with a team since high school and I wanted to take the chance to get involved with a team rover project.

On the robotics team I designed and manufactured the chassis part of our system. I got to use a lot of skills that I've picked up through my courses and other experiences such as CAD, engineering drawings, and manufacturing techniques.

I gained a lot of experience in team work and got the chance to work with a lot of different people who managed their role differently. A huge thing for robotics team was also the problem solving as we ran into issue after issue with manufacturing and actually getting all our parts and robot built.

My favorite part is yet to come. I'm sure it'll be when I see the robot actually moving and the chassis functioning how it should be.

I've learned a lot about how to interact with different types of people whether its my teammates, members from different sub teams, or members from different people who we worked with. We ran into many issues but they all taught me how incredibly important it is to clearly communicate everything in writing and with all parties involved.

Vaishnavi Gundam

Mechanical Engineering

Hi, my name is Vaishnavi Gundam, and I'm a second-year Mechanical Engineering major.

I really enjoy building and designing systems, and I've always been interested in space, so I hope to go into the aerospace field. I'm on the robotics team, and I joined Team Tech to gain hands-on experience building and troubleshooting a system. I also was excited to meet new people and work with more girls in my field.

During the project, I specifically worked on designing + prototyping the claw mechanism with Anoushka. I also helped assemble the two systems.

I developed skills in troubleshooting, designing, and building systems. I also learned how to effectively communicate and be able to problem-solve when things didn't go as we expected.

My favorite part was definitely building the rover because we got to actually see our design come together after facing many difficulties. Also, spray painting the parts was really fun.

This experience definitely strengthened my professional and technical skills. I was able to learn a lot from my team and understand how different subsystems work together to create one system. I also made some really good friends who I'll continue to keep in touch with.

Nivedha Radhakrishnan

Mechanical Engineering

Hi, my name is Nivedha and I'm a first year in Mechanical Engineering. I've loved making things work for as long as I can remember and I hope to pursue a career in product design in the future.

I joined Team Tech to work on a project with a chance for real impact, and also to meet like-minded people in engineering. As a member of the robotics subteam, I primarily focused on designing the chassis and electronics housing in Onshape. I've learned so much about the steps for taking a project from ideation to a final product, particularly how to design efficiently for manufacturing processes. I also loved being able to work with the unique ideas of all my teammates. The highlight of my experience was getting to see the hours of design work become a reality when we built the robot at CE-CERT!

Camila Carballo

Mechanical Engineering

Hi my name is Camila Carballo and I am a 4th yr Mechanical Engineering student.

I chose this major because I wanted to be able to create and work with different kinds of people!

I was in the robotics team and I decided to join since I believe sustainable projects are important and will allow me to help our community.

I enjoyed my time working on the robots chassis and am happy to see it come together and aid in putting it together.

Overall this experience really helped me hone my skills in working with a team of engineers and also learn more about the design to manufacture process.

Software

Ananya Pandit

Data Science

Hi, my name is Ananya and I’m a second-year majoring in Data Science. I chose Data Science because I’ve always been interested in how data can be used to understand real-world problems and drive meaningful decisions, especially in areas like energy, infrastructure, and social impact. I hope to use my degree to build systems that make data more accessible and useful, particularly in ways that improve efficiency and decision-making at scale.

I was on Geek Team, and I joined because I wanted to apply what I’ve been learning in a more hands-on, collaborative environment. It was also a great opportunity to work with people from different technical backgrounds and learn how to build something end-to-end as a team.

During the project, I worked on developing machine learning models and building the data pipelines that supported them. This involved handling messy datasets, designing preprocessing workflows, and iterating on models to improve performance. A big part of the experience was figuring out how to connect everything — from raw data to model output — and making sure it actually worked in a practical setting.

I gained a much stronger understanding of how machine learning systems are built and deployed, not just trained. I also developed my ability to debug issues, work through unfamiliar tools, and think more critically about data quality and system design.

My favorite part was seeing our models start to produce meaningful results after multiple iterations. There’s something really satisfying about going from raw, unstructured data to insights that actually work and improve over time.

This experience reinforced my interest in data engineering and machine learning systems, and gave me a lot more confidence working on complex, open-ended problems. It’s definitely an area I want to keep exploring moving forward.

Ava Williams

Computer Science

Hi, my name is Ava Williams and I am a third year computer science major. I chose computer science because I am interested in developing technology that can help others. I decided to participate in Team Tech because I wanted to help develop sustainable technology to aid the farmers of R’Garden.

My main contribution to Team Tech was developing the machine learning model which takes soil data to make recommendations to farmers. Machine learning is a huge technical passion of mine, so I am grateful I got to work on that part of the project.

My favorite part of Team Tech is getting to work with fellow women who are passionate about engineering. I treasure the connections I have made and the knowledge I have gained.

Sanvi Srinivas

Computer Science

My name is Sanvi and I'm a second year majoring in Computer Science. I initially chose CS because I was somewhat good at math in high school, but over the last two years I've gotten to work on various CS projects (backend, frontend, full-stack, infrastructure) and I've loved learning new tools.

I was on the geek and wiring team, where I was pretty much a liaison between the two teams. I joined Team Tech my freshman year and loved the people I got to meet, not only people from various engineering disciplines, but also women in STEM! I also loved our leads, Rewa and Sabrina, and definitely wanted to continue working with them.

My specific responsibilities included retrieving data from the environmental sensor, implementing the environmental, thermal, and light sensor data ingestion pipeline (from the Pi5 to the database using Python and MQTT), programming the IMU sensor as a ROS2 node for rover navigation, and enabling the autonomous aspect of the rover by implementing remote Pi5 IP address retrieval and BLE from our app to the Pi5 to control turning the motors on and off.

I learned so many new skills, mainly through being part of two subteams: keeping leads updated on my work, staying organized and managing time when the workload got heavy, and documenting everything thoroughly. I also got to understand the system design so much more deeply, and I really appreciated being given ownership over my code.

In the past two years on Team Tech, I've definitely been challenged to learn new things, whether that's whole chemical processes or networking protocols, and that has been my favorite part of the experience.

I've grown so much academically and professionally through Team Tech. Given the workload and busyness, staying on top of things has been so important, especially while balancing coursework and other aspects of my life. Team Tech has really shown me how much I love my field, and I've also found a newfound passion for the networking domain through the work I got to do this year.

Tanisha Jha

Data Science

Hi my name is Tanisha and I’m a 3rd year data science major. I chose this major because I felt I’d learn the most about AI and get a mix of stats, cs, and business. I was on the geek team and I joined because I wanted to broaden my network with more women engineers, understand what it truly means to work cross-functionally, and be on a project that impacts UCR and has an environmental focus. In this project I understood how to build a data pipeline that analyzes data in real time, and build the infrastructure to support that. I also learned how to implement software into a semi autonomous robot and learned so many new techniques, libraries, and coding skills. My favorite part were the people. I feel like I really connected with my team, which was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. It was a great resume builder but an even better way to make friends! This project really impacted me because I am able to talk about applying data skills in a real world project, as it was actually monitored by a PM @ Lenovo. I also want to specialize in environmental solutions, so being able to combine two things im passionate about to help build something that I felt was out of my academic range.

Pramika Bhandari

Data Science

Hi, my name is Pramika Bhandari and I’m a third-year majoring in Data Science! I chose Data Science because we’re surrounded by data in everything we do, and I find it exciting that we can turn that data into meaningful insights that can push us to make better decisions and have a better impact on the world. I joined Team Tech because I’ve always been interested in interdisciplinary work and wanted the opportunity to apply my technical skills in a more hands-on, collaborative setting while also exploring new fields and meeting new people. During the project, I worked alongside the software team on building a data pipeline that connected sensors to data-driven outputs as well as contributing to web development and data analysis. Throughout this experience, I strengthened my technical skills, learned more about data integration and management, and gained exposure to front-end web development, which was very new to me going into the project. My favorite part of the experience was seeing everything come together into a functional, deployable object and learning so many new skills in the process. Seeing all the work we’ve put in come to life made the experience feel very meaningful. Overall, this experience helped me grow both technically and professionally, and I’m really grateful for having gotten the opportunity to learn and build alongside a team of such talented women!

Electrical

Amrutha Pannala

Computer Engineering

Hi, my name is Amrutha Pannala and I'm a third year majoring in computer engineering. I chose this major because I have a deep interest in embedded systems that I hope to utilize in a career in aerospace engineering. I was on the wiring team, and I joined Team Tech because I wanted to strengthen my skills in working with microcontrollers like the raspberry pico and learn more about robot autonomy. During the project, I worked on programming an ESP32 soil moisture sensor, as well as programming with ros2 and pico sdk protocols. My favorite part of the experience was experimenting and testing the soil moisture sensor. This experience allowed me to gain insight into how to navigate such an expansive project, and become more curious about the many applications of embedded systems.

Coralie Schmitz

Electrical Engineering

Hi, my name is Coralie and I'm a third-year majoring in Electrical Engineering.

I chose EE because I've always been drawn to the intersection of hardware and real-world impact whether that's embedded systems, biomedical devices, or energy technology. I hope to use my degree to work on products that make a meaningful difference, particularly in healthcare or sustainable energy.

I was on Team Tech, and I joined because I wanted to build skills beyond the classroom and apply my engineering background to a hands-on, collaborative project. It was also a great opportunity to work alongside people with different strengths and grow both technically and professionally.

During the project, I worked on getting the Nav2 navigation pipeline up and running, as well as learning how to program and integrate a LIDAR sensor into the system. It involved a lot of problem-solving — debugging in real time and figuring out how all the pieces fit together.

I gained a much stronger understanding of robotics software, autonomous navigation, and sensor integration. Beyond the technical side, I also developed my ability to troubleshoot independently and work through unfamiliar tools under pressure.

My favorite part was the testing sessions with my teammates — there's nothing quite like the moment when a sensor or motor finally works after you've all been working through it together. Those moments made the whole experience feel real.

This experience reinforced how much I enjoy hands-on, systems-level work, and gave me a lot more confidence tackling new tools from scratch. It also deepened my interest in embedded and autonomous systems as an area I want to keep pursuing.

Hailey Parra

Electrical Engineering

Hey, my name is Hailey Parra, and I'm a first-year Electrical Engineering major.

I chose this major because my dad inspired me, and I've always enjoyed programming and working with circuit kits. I'm especially interested in biotechnology and embedded systems.

I was on the Wiring team and joined Team Tech to work on a meaningful project, explore EE early on, and connect with others through SWE.

I primarily programmed ultrasonic sensors (repurposed for the claw mechanism) and worked on motor control for rotation. I also handled research, testing, and simulations using tools like Gazebo, Nav2, RViz, and SLAM, while helping integrate sensors within our ROS2 repository.

I gained hands-on skills in soldering, Git, and simulation tools, along with stronger teamwork, communication, and problem-solving abilities.

My favorite moment was when our sensors finally worked in simulation — it felt like a huge team win. I also loved our wiring meetings where we learned from each other and solved problems together.

This experience helped me grow both technically and personally by building confidence, improving collaboration, and giving me early exposure to real engineering work. I'm really grateful for the team and everything I learned.

Jasmine Lai

Environmental Engineering

Hi! My name is Jasmine Lai, and I'm a 5th-year Environmental Engineering major.

I chose this major because I'm really passionate about sustainability and finding ways to apply it within engineering. In the future, I'm interested in environmental consulting since I enjoy exploring different fields and taking a multidisciplinary approach to solving environmental problems.

I'm currently on the wiring team, and I joined Team Tech because I previously interned at the R'Garden. When I heard about the autonomous rover project for the community garden, I was really excited and wanted to contribute however I could.

During this project, I've helped with coding the thermal camera and GPS, and right now I'm working on an environmental data analysis outline. I came in with very little programming experience beyond basic Python, so learning things like C++, VS Code, and even concepts like base_link has been a big learning curve for me.

At first I definitely felt out of place, but everyone on Team Tech has been so welcoming and supportive. One of my favorite moments was helping with sensor testing. We kept getting errors at first but when everything finally worked, we all grabbed each other and started jumping up and down/cheering and celebrating together. It was such a cute and silly moment and really showed how supportive the team is.

Being part of Team Tech has helped me grow a lot and it's given me a new perspective on how environmental engineering can connect with programming, which I think is really cool.

Kaitlyn Leedy

Mechanical Engineering

Hello! My name is Kaitlyn Leedy and I'm a first-year Mechanical Engineering student. I chose this major because I fell in love with physics from a young age, and I love using my creativity to solve problems, and see my ideas come to life in a tangible way. My goal is to work for a company centered on building spacecraft, and to contribute to space exploration technology.

I was initially interested in joining this project because of how applicable it is to my goals in the future. Working on rovers that explore planets and moons is my dream, so working on a rover to help my university's garden seemed like a great start. Additionally, what really drew me in was the fact that this project is under SWE (Society of Women Engineers). Being a part of an all women team of engineers has definitely been a very empowering experience for me, and I've had so much fun getting to know all the girls.

As a part of the wiring team in Team Tech, I develop embedded firmware in C++ and Python for our Raspberry Pi Pico and Raspberry Pi 5, including ultrasonic sensors and a lux sensor. I've also set up the 'build' system using CMake and Git submodules, allowing anyone on the team to clone the repository and build on any computer without manual setup. I've learned many skills such as how to use GitHub, C++, Ros2, and embedded systems, just to name a few.

A highlight for me was when Hailey and I finally started receiving data from the ultrasonic sensor. Programming this sensor was a big hurdle for us and the ultrasonic sensor finally working after hours of troubleshooting was a great feeling. This experience helped me grow a lot personally as well as professionally. It taught me patience and resilience when things didn't go as planned, and showed me the reward of pushing through challenges.