Fourteen Impressive Engineers Join the Cockrell School, 2014-15

With research interests in nanomaterials and nanoelectronics, environmental sustainability, biological networks and geomechanics, this year’s incoming faculty members exhibit a wide range of engineering expertise.

Joshua Apte

What are your favorite hobbies?
I enjoy cycling and hiking, playing music (guitar, banjo) and learning new languages.

Marcelo Behar

What are your favorite hobbies?
Sailing and kayaking. My wife and I were delighted to learn we can do both here in Austin.

Maura Borrego

What are your favorite hobbies?
Swimming at Gregory Gym and trying tacos at restaurants all over Austin.

Christian Claudel

What are your favorite hobbies?
Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, reading and strategy games.

Nedialko Dimitrov

What are your favorite hobbies?
I usually exercise to de-stress. Typically I run, swim or hike. I’ve also been trying to get better at capoeira. It’s fun to do an activity that occupies both your mind and your body to distract you from other stresses.

John T. Foster

What are your favorite hobbies?
As a husband and father of two young children, most of my time away from work involves family. I enjoy spending time at the lake with family and friends, and traveling. I am also a private pilot and hope to be able to spend more time flying in the future.

Aida Khajavirad

What are your favorite hobbies?
I love running, hiking and swimming. I also greatly enjoy travelling and reading history books.

Hyun Jung Kim

What are your favorite hobbies?
I am good at playing basketball. But I would like to try to learn tennis and swimming here to get more regular exercise on a daily basis. I love hanging out with my family and going to museums and music halls.

Delia Milliron

What are your favorite hobbies?
I love to be immersed in nature, whether hiking, snowboarding or scuba diving.

Chris Rylander

What are your favorite hobbies?
I like to be outdoors with my family whenever possible, fishing, swimming, boating and hiking.

Marissa Nichole Rylander

What are your favorite hobbies?
My favorite hobbies are kayaking, biking and playing with my precious daughter.

Hu “Tiger” Tao

What are your favorite hobbies?
I enjoy traveling, photographing, listening to (all sorts of) music, watching tennis (I’m a huge Rafael “Rafa” Nadal fan) and spending time with the people I love.