Enya Cao

Hi everyone! My name is Enya, and I’m a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics and Physics. My current research focuses on mechanical metamaterials and their potential applications in space communication and satellite technology. I work in Professor Igor Bargatin’s lab under the mentorship of Ph.D. student Gulzhan Aldan. I also have prior research experience in fluid mechanics and computational fluid dynamics during high school. If you’re interested in doing research in natural sciences or engineering, I’d love to help! I can support you in narrowing down your interests, identifying and reaching out to potential faculty mentors, and figuring out your role in a lab as an undergraduate researcher—especially in collaboration with graduate students and peers. And if you're exploring fields outside of STEM, I’m still more than happy to assist! Even if you’re unsure about your research direction, don’t worry—I’ll help you navigate Penn’s research resources and discover what truly excites you.

• University Scholar (September 2024 - present)
• Igor Bargatin Lab Research Assistant at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (November 2024 - present)