Welcome Harsha and Reece!

Harsha Koganti received her Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University. She did her master's thesis on understanding the role of network parameters in elastic microphase separation. During her PhD at SMaL, she will work on formulating recyclable plastic.

Reece Whatmore completed her Bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2025. In collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley, she investigated the use of natural plant diaspores for energy harvesting soft robotic applications. After spending a semester working in SMaL, she grew interested in the world of soft materials and decided to pursue a PhD, where she will focus on the mechanical and chemical recycling of rubbers.