TECH Caltech Alumni Annual 2020 ”Using the data revolution and artificial intelligence to understand social systems is a particularly tantalizing prospect.” 2020 PAGE 10 TABLE OF CONTENTS 08 TRANSFORMING 1 10 | DISCOVERY CHANNELS How Arati Prabhakar (MS ’80, PhD ’85) aims to transform our innovation ecosystem 14 | CODEBREAKERS How Caltech alumni are shaping the big-data approach to health care 18 | FINDING MY MUSE Leaving the lab for a life of literature 20 PIONEERING “I look at the surface 22 | READY TO RUMBLE motion. From that, I How Andrea Donnellan (PhD ’91) brings fault lines into sharper focus model what’s going 24 | 2020 VISION on at depth.” “We are doing a performance in the The inside story of the Mars 2020 mission PAGE 22 art of the possible. And if we’re not 30 | ONLY IN DREAMS ambitious, it’s a boring piece of art.” Moran Cerf (PhD ’09) is unwinding the mysteries of the resting mind PAGE 24 32 EXCELLING 34 | THE 2019 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS 40 | REAL TALK Alumni mentors offer practical perspectives to students and fellow alums 42 | HOW TO DO IT ALL From solving a Rubik’s Cube in a matter of seconds to starting a podcast, Techers offer tips on how to do just about anything 48 | ALUMNI VOICES Results from the Alumni Attitude Study NASA/JPL-Caltech 51 | THE STACK 52 | IN MEMORIAM Christina Gandolfo Eric Millette; top: From TECHER alumni.caltech.edu Caltech Alumni Annual 2020 Editors ANNETTE MOORE AND ALYCE TORRICE, CALTECH, CONTRIBUTORS WITH DOG EAR CONSULTANTS TRANSMISSION Contributing Writers STEVEN BOYD SAUM, ALEXANDER GELFAND, From the President of the Caltech Alumni Association MAUREEN HARMON, DAN MORRELL, RENEE OLSEN, ERIN PETERSON, APRIL WHITE Copy Editor BULLETPROOF STEVEN BOYD SAUM has written for Orion, The Believer, and The Christian Photography Science Monitor, KQED FM, and other publications. KENDRICK BRINSON, CHRISTINA GANDOLFO, His work as an election observer regularly takes him to MARIO DE LOPEZ, ERIC MILLETTE Ukraine, and he was once a three-time champion on Jeopardy! IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE His first memory is the Apollo 11 moon landing, so he was Illustration thrilled to journey with the engineers and scientists here JOEL CASWELL, MATT CHINWORTH, AGATA NOWICKA, on their next mission to Mars. DAN PAGE, JULIEN PICARD As this year marks the 25th anniversary of my Caltech graduation, I have particular cause to reflect on Design the past and to look ahead. When I first arrived at Caltech in 1991, I could feel the aura of excellence. EMDASH AND BRANDON HOOK, CALTECH I still feel it when I walk the campus today, and when I engage with leaders, faculty, and staff. I MATT CHINWORTH CALTECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION is an illustrator who creates most of his work for maga- BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2019–20) especially feel it when I meet with you, fellow alumni. Each of us has something to bring to the table. zines, newspapers, and online publications. His work has been published worldwide and recognized by American CHRIS BRYANT (BS ’95, RUDDOCK HOUSE) Illustration, 3x3 Illustration, and Communication Arts. He President Our professions and interests vary, yet we are united in the Break Through campaign is also helping Caltech lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his wife and daughter. CHRIS BRYANT (BS ’95) by our technical foundation, early training in collabo- continue to drive world-changing research, offer incred- President, Caltech Alumni Association SATOSHI OHTAKE (BS ’00, RUDDOCK HOUSE) rative problem-solving, and pursuit of excellence. The ible educational experiences, and attract unprecedented Vice President Alumni Association is a prime example of what happens support, such as the Resnicks’ recent $750 million pledge when we work together. Our board of directors is a pas- for sustainability science and innovation. 2 KEITH KARASEK (BS ‘74, LLOYD HOUSE) 3 Treasurer sionate group I am proud to work with, and together with To quote Colin Powell: “If you are going to achieve Caltech’s exceptional Alumni Relations staff, we continue excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little ERIC MILLETTE JEANNE HARTSHORN (BS ‘11, LLOYD HOUSE) to make bold strides in improving the alumni experience. matters. Excellence is not an exception; it is a prevailing has photographed everyone from world luminaries to Secretary Additionally, I have Techers to thank for connecting me attitude.” Each of us provides a unique perspective, an CEOs, from U-2 pilots to an astronaut. He has created to my first job out of college, my last job, and my current individualized skill set, and a library of experiences that, captivating portraits for a long list of clients, including JENNIFER BLANK (PHD ’93) position. I hope to contribute as much value to the net- combined, help ensure a long future of Caltech excel- Adobe, Bloomberg, Burberry, Charles Schwab, Forbes, CHRISTIE CANARIA (PHD ’08) work as I’ve been fortunate to receive. lence. Your participation matters. Greylock Partners, Kiplinger’s, LinkedIn, Salesforce, ANTHONY CHONG (BS ’10, RUDDOCK HOUSE) This magazine illustrates our individual and collective Splunk, Venrock, and The Wall Street Journal. He also LAURA CONWILL (BS ’12, LLOYD HOUSE) excellence. In these pages you can witness how excited To future excellence, KJERSTIN EASTON (BS ’00, PHD ’06, BLACKER HOUSE) cofounded the nonprofit photography organizations NICK HUTZLER (BS ‘07, RICKETTS HOUSE) alumni are to share hard-earned expertise with students BigShotStock and Editorial Photographers (EP). JENNIFER LEE (PHD ’10) via a new mentoring program; learn from your fellow DAN LIEBLING (BS ’02, LLOYD HOUSE) Techers’ career transformations, entrepreneurialism, and ALEX LOCKWOOD (PHD ‘14) use of novel methods to answer scientific questions; and APRIL WHITE KEVIN NOERTKER (BS ’09, LLOYD HOUSE) take pride in this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award is an award-winning writer, editor, and researcher who CAROL NOTTENBURG (BS ’74, FLEMING HOUSE) recipients. SANDRA OTTENSMANN (BS ’05, BLACKER HOUSE) We alumni play a significant role in ensuring Caltech’s focuses on history and food. She is currently writing ALICE TANG (BS ‘79, FLEMING HOUSE) The Divorce Colony: The Women Who Pioneered continued excellence. Our responses to the recent alumni Chris Bryant (BS ’95) surveys prompted initiatives that are helping Techers President, Caltech Alumni Association Divorce on the American Frontier, to be published CALTECH ALUMNI RELATIONS by Smithsonian Books in 2021. She has also authored across generations develop in their careers. Our gather- and coauthored a shelf full of cookbooks, including her EMILY FISCHER ings at Reunion Weekend, Seminar Day, and other events P.S. I invite you to share your thoughts, experiences, and newest, Lemonade with Zest. Interim Executive Director, Caltech Alumni Association spark fruitful connections that advance entrepreneur- perspectives about excellence with your fellow alumni on ialism, research, and individual careers. Our leadership social media. Please include #CaltechAlumni. MARGOT CLIFFORD Manager, Student & Recent Alumni Programs BRIAN SMITH Coordinator, Communications SHERRY WINN Connecting Caltech Coordinator, Membership The Caltech Alumni Association hosts networking and social events on campus, online, CONNECT WITH THE CAA AND YOUR FELLOW TECHERS: and around the world—all year round. From pizza socials to the lifelong learning facebook.com/caltechalumni opportunities of Seminar Day to our upcoming Reunion Weekend May 14–17, 2020, @caltechalumni these programs are designed just for you. To find out more about how you can get ON THE COVER ARATI PRABHAKAR (MS ’80, PhD ’85, @caltechalumni involved and to see a schedule of upcoming events, visit: DAA ’95), former head of DARPA, intends to reimagine our innovation #CaltechAlumni ALUMNI.CALTECH.EDU/EVENTS ecosystem. See p. 10. PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC MILLETTE Bob Paz TECHER alumni.caltech.edu [ 2019 Year in Review ] CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY OCTOBER DECEMBER MARCH AUGUST APRIL MAY JUNE JULY [JUNE 14] [JULY 15] [DECEMBER 2] 125TH DEXTER BAILEY [SEPTEMBER 17] AMAZON COMMENCEMENT IS NEW VP FOR NEW POLYMER HEART VALVE IS ESTABLISHES CENTER [JANUARY 31] CALTECH DEDICATES Commencement speaker ADVANCEMENT IMPLANTED IN FIRST PATIENT FOR QUANTUM THE RONALD AND France Córdova AND ALUMNI Devised by Mory Gharib (PhD ’83), COMPUTING MAXINE LINDE HALL (PhD ’79, DAA ’07), RELATIONS the Hans W. Liepmann Professor AT CALTECH OF MATHEMATICS director of the National “In this pivotal role, of Aeronautics and Bioinspired The new laboratory will AND PHYSICS Science Foundation, Dexter [Bailey] will Engineering, the Tria heart valve is address fundamental Lead funding from Board charged the class of represent the Institute to longer-lasting and less expensive challenges in reaching of Trustees vice chair 2019 to dream big. the world, strengthening than other options. The first human the full potential of Ronald Linde relationships with patient received the valve in July quantum computing. (MS ’62, PhD ’64) and graduates and friends of and returned home after a safe his wife, Maxine, helped Caltech,” said President and successful procedure. [MAY 16–19] “Caltech bring to life a new home Thomas F. Rosenbaum. for the Department of REUNION WEEKEND AND SEMINAR DAY Bailey is the former has made Mathematics. According This year, 1,445 alumni returned to campus for senior VP for university Caltech’s 82nd Reunion Weekend and Seminar Day. advancement and [SEPTEMBER 26] substantial to Elena Mantovan, [FEBRUARY 13] Eighteen faculty members presented their research,