#SoCaltech: José Lasalde-Ramirez

“I’m originally from Puerto Rico, and I’m very used to a small tight-knit community back home. If you don’t know someone, you probably have someone that you know in common. That’s very similar to Caltech, which is so small you can build strong relationships—not just within your department, but everywhere. I had a chance to meet incredible people through the Caltech Basketball Club, the Graduate Summer Research Institute, and as a WAVE mentor. Yeah, you get to know people on a deeper level.

“I will miss the PhD life a lot, especially having the ownership of a project and trying to push the boundaries of science and engineering. At Caltech, you have so much opportunity and so many resources to explore the topic that you’re most interested in. This type of community—with professors and mentors who are so creative and smart–really helps you produce high-quality science, and that’s something that I will really miss too.”

José Lasalde-Ramirez plans to graduate in June 2027 with a doctorate in medical engineering. He was recognized with the 2024 EAS New Horizons Award for his contributions to community and belonging at Caltech, including his service as a WAVE Council member, his active role in WAVE Fellows recruitment, and his efforts to secure funding for high school students and a STEM teacher from Puerto Rico to attend the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science conference in 2022.

#SoCaltech is an occasional series celebrating the diverse individuals who give Caltech its spirit of excellence, ambition, and ingenuity. Know someone we should profile? Send nominations to magazine@caltech.edu.