Meet the 2026-27 AV & Labs Team

The Shop and AV Teams at Siebel Center for Design are student-run groups that play an essential role in helping people bring their ideas to life at SCD. This semester, we are welcoming one of our largest cohorts of new The Shop and AV Attendants to date!

The Shop team guides fabrication projects, assists with safe machinery operation, from 3D printers and laser cutters to woodworking tools and textiles, and provides hands-on support to students, faculty, and community members. Meanwhile, the AV team manages the Media Studio, helping students record podcasts and capture spectacular photos. Together, they are the creative, knowledgeable hands of SCD that make our spaces inviting, inspiring, and accessible to makers of all experience levels.

Continue reading to learn more about our Shop and AV team members, and stop by the Shop or Media Studio to say hi, ask a question, or get started on your next passion project!

Adrian Nevarez

Adrian Nevarez is a Senior from Elgin, IL, studying Systems Engineering and Design. He joined the SCD team to get hands-on experience with awesome tools he wouldn't normally have access to. Adrian loves connecting with creative people and, most of all, seeing cool projects come to life around the shop! Heading into his final year, Adrian is super excited to soak up every moment before graduation and build something truly Extraordinary before he leaves.

Fun Fact: Adrian knows how to play Mahjong, and he's a total pro!

 

 

 

Alexis Villalobos

Alexis Villalobos is a Senior from Chicago, IL, studying Systems Engineering and Design and Business. He loves working at SCD because there's always something new to discover every shift, whether it's experimenting with tools or collaborating with the people around him. Looking ahead, Alexis hopes to design toys that spark creativity in kids, with the ultimate dream of creating official LEGO kits! This year, he is most excited to tackle meaningful projects and keep sharpening his problem-solving mindset.

Fun Fact: While not quite Iron Man, Alexis actually has a titanium plate in his right ankle!

 

 

 

 

Ava Tyburski

Ava Tyburski is a Sophomore from Plainfield, IL, studying Materials Science and Engineering and serving as a Shop Lab Attendant. She loves working at SCD because it combines her passion for crafting with the opportunity to help others bring their own projects to life. Looking ahead, Ava aims to build a career in engineering, using her time at SCD to sharpen the vital problem-solving and teamwork skills essential to the field. This year, she is most excited to dive into new learning experiences and connect with new people!

Fun Fact: Ava recently added to her creative toolkit by learning how to make stained glass!

 

 

 

Bowen Liu

Bowen Liu is a Sophomore from Sunnyvale, CA, studying Computer Engineering. For Bowen, the Shop is the absolute perfect campus playground, the spot where hands-on making meets immersive creative design! This year, he’s super hyped to see all the wildly inventive projects students build and to bond with his crew behind the desk.

Fun Fact: Bowen writes with his left hand, but dominates on the sports field as a righty!

 

 

 

 

 

Brooke Zhang

Brooke is a Senior from Plainfield, IL, pursuing a dual degree in Industrial Design and Art History. She loves working at SCD because training guests on the equipment sharpens her own hands-on skills while constantly teaching her new ways to create and communicate ideas clearly. Looking ahead, Brooke aims to build a career in exhibition design, using her time at SCD to strengthen her expertise in fabrication. This year, she is most excited to keep practicing archery after recently picking it up for the first time!

Fun Fact: Brooke played the cello for seven years and used those skills to teach herself electric bass!

 

 

Emily Miller

Emily is a Freshman from Champaign, IL, studying Physics. She loves working at SCD because it merges her love for digital and hands-on making with guiding others to bring their own ideas to life. Looking ahead, Emily aims to pursue a career in theoretical physics research, using her time in the Shop to build complex problem-solving skills along the way. This year, she is most excited to dive into college for the first time and experience everything campus has to offer!

Fun Fact: Emily is a third-generation UIUC student!

 

 

 

Jay Patel

Jay is a Sophomore from Naperville, IL, studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Electrical Engineering. He loves working at SCD because it keeps him connected to the makerspace community while giving him the freedom to build creative projects using advanced equipment that The Shop offers. Looking ahead, Jay aims to design and manufacture autonomous robotics systems to make everyday life easier. This year, he is most excited to master the SLS 3D printers and tackle some new woodworking projects!

Fun Fact: Jay enjoys watching F1 racing and has competed on UIUC's collegiate Esports team!

 

 

Jonah Keating

Jonah is a Senior from Wheaton, IL, studying Aerospace Engineering and serving as a Shop Lab Attendant. He loves working at SCD to strengthen his technical and communication skills by guiding students from all backgrounds through Multifaceted tasks. Looking ahead, Jonah aims to launch a career in rocketry, designing and building commercial launch vehicles. This year, he is most excited to dive deeper into aerospace structures and tackle his Rigorous engineering classes!

Fun Fact: In his free time, Jonah loves ice skating and rock climbing

 

 

 

Justine Yam

Justine is a Junior from Glenview, IL, studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Business. She loves working at SCD to sharpen her technical machining skills and gain practical experience with shop equipment. Looking ahead, Justine aims to use this experience working in The Shop! to launch her engineering career. This year, she is most excited to catch the John Summit concert at State Farm Center!

Fun Fact: You will catch Justine shooting scores, as she's a fan of basketball!

 

 

 

Kassandra Plata

Kassy is a Junior from Chicago, IL, studying Studio Art with a concentration in Photography. She loves working at SCD because it is an immersive media space where students can discover new techniques and refine their craft. Looking ahead, Kassy aims to build a career as a creative director. This year, she is most excited to work with the equipment in the SCD media studio and collaborate with many new friends!

Fun Fact: Kassy can DIY just about any article of clothing!

 

 

 

 

 

Khue Nguyen

Khue is a Sophomore from Vietnam, studying Information Sciences and Data Science with a minor in Computer Science. She loves working at the SCD Media Studio to immerse herself in a creative environment and explore more about human-centered design processes. She is also eager to share her passion for photography, especially film. Looking ahead, Khue aims to pursue a career as a data scientist or data visualization engineer. This year, she is excited to start her new on-campus roles and make new friends. She also looks forward to getting involved with her RSOs!

Fun Fact: Khue accidentally broke her film camera the very first time she used it!

 

Nipun Chandra Surnilla

Nipun Chandra Surnilla is a Sophomore from Hyderabad, India, studying Systems Engineering and Design. He loves working at SCD because it gives him a collaborative space to discover new ideas and build on his technical foundation. Looking ahead, Nipun aims to pursue a career in automotive powertrain design. This year, he is most excited to connect and engage with everyone & make new friends throughout the SCD community!

Fun Fact: Nipun already holds a patent in his name!

 

 

 

 

Pranav Dorbala

Pranav is an MD/PhD student from Lexington, MA, studying Electrical and Computer Engineering. He loves working at SCD because it brings together students from many different disciplines who share a passion for creating and building. In this role, Pranav enjoys supporting student innovation projects while continuing to refine his techniques in prototyping and human-centered design processes. Looking ahead, he aims to design human-centered innovations that improve medicine and patient care. This year, Pranav looks forward to mastering the Formlabs SLS 3D printer while helping students bring detailed engineering prototypes to life!

Fun Fact: Pranav plans to combine electronics with traditional woodworking to build custom projects, starting with a handmade speaker system

 

Rishi Vemulapalli

Rishi is a Senior from Jericho, NY, studying Computer Engineering with a minor in Data Science. He loves working at SCD to support and guide students as they learn to use new tools, boosting their confidence with unfamiliar equipment while working with them through technical challenges. Looking ahead, Rishi aims to pursue a career in software engineering, specifically focusing on systems where software interacts directly with hardware. This year, he is most excited to continue working on personal projects and apply his classroom learning to practical builds!

Fun Fact: Rishi prefers waffles over pancakes!

 

 

Ryan Hau

Ryan Hau is a Senior from San Jose, CA, studying Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering. He loves working at SCD to mentor fellow students in operating lab machinery for both personal and RSO projects. Looking ahead, Ryan aims to leverage his experience in practical fabrication into an industry career focused on Design for Manufacturability (DFM). This year, he is most excited to dive into his senior design project!

Fun Fact: Ryan has a twin sister!

 

 

 

 

Jack Larson

Jack is a Junior from Champaign, IL, studying Mechanical Engineering. He loves working at SCD to work directly with all the cool gadgets in the shop. Looking ahead, his dream post-college job is working at a nuclear power plant or in manufacturing. This year, he is most excited about seeing and working on all sorts of outstanding projects being worked on in the shop!

Fun Fact: Last year, Jack built a drivable couch for Engineering Open House!

 

 

Jaden Vo

Jaden Vo is a Junior from Hawthorn Woods, IL, studying Materials Science and Engineering. She loves working at SCD to help people pursue their passions and projects while mastering all the tools in the shop. Looking ahead, Jaden's goal this year is to build custom furniture to decorate his apartment. This year, she is most excited about turning 21!

Fun Fact: Jaden has never drunk coffee before!

 

Nicholas Karamanian

Nicholas is a Senior from Rehoboth, MA, studying Mechanical Engineering. He loves working at SCD to help fellow students make out-of-this-world projects! Looking ahead, Nicholas aims to pursue a career in mechanical design focused on solving complex problems elegantly. This year, he is most excited to dive into his senior design project and an independent research project!

Fun Fact: Nicholas hosts an early-career education podcast called Rerouted! Go check it out!