10 Questions with Dean Burkey

10 Questions! with MSE Alumna Salay Quaranta

Welcome to our special alumni episode of 10 Questions! for June 2026! Salay Quaranta is a materials scientist and global manufacturing executive whose career bridges advanced lasers, capital equipment, and high‑performance industrial systems. Trained in materials behavior, microstructure, and process innovation, she has guided engineering, product, and commercial teams across aerospace, medical and dental, additive manufacturing, and precision machining industries. Salay’s career includes mentoring emerging engineers, contributing to peer‑reviewed research, and shaping industry dialogue through technical leadership and speaking engagements. Her work has taken her from UConn’s research labs to international institutes—including collaborations in Germany and across the U.S.—where she has focused on translating processes into scalable, manufacturable solutions. Today, as founder of Q Business Solutions, she advises companies on technology adoption, market strategy, and organizational transformation, driven by the belief that materials, manufacturing, and people are the backbone of progress.

10 Questions! with MSE Senior Wyeth Haddock

Welcome to the May episode of 10 Questions! My guest this month is Wyeth Haddock, a senior Materials Science and Engineering student with an interest in material structure and behavior. Wyeth has filled many roles throughout his undergraduate journey. In the classroom, he has mentored students as a teaching assistant in the classroom and lab for the past four semesters. Outside of the classroom, he serves as a Student Representative on the ASM International Board of Trustees, is the president of the Club Running team, and serves as a campus tour guide at the Lodewick Visitors Center. His research focuses on the connection between structure and properties in advanced alloy systems. Through his University Scholar project at UConn and NSF REU at UC Berkeley and the National Center for Electron Microscopy, Wyeth has studied how atomic arrangement influences the way materials behave. These experiences shaped his interest in making materials science easier to understand, leading him to co-author "Materials Matter [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMaterials-Matter-How-Shape-World-ebook%2Fdp%2FB0GCLLWDDY&data=05%7C02%7Cdaniel.burkey%40uconn.edu%7Cd4f339e890fd492dbef208deab7e9689%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C639136757367174992%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2WyTQi8tfdWnOUvnLWtwpCGyt4oZrwzWPPRBUzQEKl4%3D&reserved=0]", an introductory book designed to bring materials science to a broader audience. Through research, teaching, outreach, and conference presentations (including a win at the Big East Research Symposium), Wyeth has built his undergraduate career around the core idea: materials do in fact matter.

10 Questions! with CS Senior Nichole Samaniego

Nichole is a senior Computer Science major at UConn with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence, where she has built a strong foundation in both technical and analytical problem-solving. She’s a co-founder of ColorStack at UConn, where she works to create a supportive community for underrepresented students in tech and create opportunities for growth, mentorship, and career advancement. She’s completed two internships at Bank of America during her sophomore and junior years, and has now secured a full-time role with the company after graduation. Through these experiences, She has strengthened her skills in software engineering, collaboration, and real-world problem solving skills. Outside of academics, she is also involved in campus leadership and community organizations. As a proud member of STEM Plus, VII, BAILE, SHPE, and BOSS LADI, she actively contributes to empowering students in STEM and diversity.

10 Questions! with CSE 3+1 Grad Student Brendan Barnett

March's 10 Questions is now live! This month, I sit down with Brendan Barnett [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#]. Brendan is a 3+1 BSE/MS student in Computer Science and Engineering with a minor in math and a concentration in algorithms. Starting in fast food, he's built his way to internships at Microsoft, Palantir, Pratt & Whitney, Bentley Systems, and ReferWell. After graduation, he'll be joining SpaceX to work on Starship design software. He loves to snowboard, rock climb, and read. Brendan founded Husky Quantitative Group after noticing that UConn sits by Fairfield, the unofficial hedge fund capital of the world, yet lacks pathways into quant finance. Since January 2025, HQG has helped students gain the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to land amazing jobs in finance and tech, growing into a community of some of the most technical and ambitious students on campus. Sponsored by Carbon Arc and Databento, HQG aims to grow into the largest student-run systematic fund in the US by AUM. Members have earned roles at JPMorganChase, Capital One, IBM Quantum, Epic Systems, and more. Today, we talk about overcoming the fear of failing publicly, building team culture, rules for avoiding burnout, why he disagrees with "follow your passion," and what he'd tell his freshman self. Connect with Brendan here: linkedin.com/in/brendanabarnett HQG Info Website: uconnquant.com Email: connect@uconnquant.com Codebase: github.com/husky-Quantitative-Group

10 Questions! with BME Grad Student Max Landolina

Today's guest seeks to improve our medicine, both on Earth and in space. Max Landolina is a 4th year PhD Candidate in the Biomedical Engineering Department and a T32 Doctoral Fellow in the Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering. His research searches for the answer to stiff, damaged, and achy joints: a reliable way to regrow them.  Using a novel nanomaterial scaffold, he has stimulated stem cells to rebuild damaged cartilage tissue. However, assembling these materials on Earth prevents them from reaching their fullest therapeutic potential. As a result, through an interdisciplinary collaboration with NASA, he has led his lab's efforts to manufacture this nanomaterial three times on the ISS (International Space Station). While glamorous, this research experience has been far from smooth sailing. Through scrubbed launch dates, sample leaks, and rigorous safety testing, he's steered the team to success (and a recent publication!). Today, we'll launch ourselves into the world of space research, discover its unique challenges, and learn about Max's experience working with several big players in the space industry. Connect with Max on LinkedIn to learn more about his journey or reach out with questions about his experience! https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwell-landolina/ [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmaxwell-landolina%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cdaniel.burkey%40uconn.edu%7C4ac90444f2624d6b36a308de6277c3f4%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C639056463902451863%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=b7QoG5%2Bp%2FjpxOwTTHQej%2FT3IvMJnXD0vJ3ofBtd6low%3D&reserved=0]