Graduates of the Last Decade
We are proud UC Davis College of Engineering alumni who have graduated in the last decade. Serving as liaisons between young alumni and the college, we provide insight back to the college, rally recent graduates to stay connected, serve as a voice for recent engineering graduates, and spread the word about exciting opportunities to support current students and fellow alumni.
Meet the GOLD Board
Our diverse board contains a range of people in different stages of their career.
Natalya Bruner, Co-Chair
B.S. 2015, Biomedical Engineering
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, Product Development
Neuropace
I graduated from Davis with a degree in BME in 2015 and I currently work as an R&D Design Engineer doing the mechanical design for a next generation epilepsy treatment device. I loved my time in Davis and I still miss getting to ride my bike everywhere! I'm looking forward to connecting with more COE alumni from Davis and building out a robust professional network, especially for younger engineers at the beginning of their careers.
Abril Topete Castaneda, Co-Chair
B.S. 2020, Computer Science & Engineering
Software Engineer
Solidigm
I am a first-generation bachelor's degree holder. During my time at UC Davis, I was a member of the LEADR program and CALESS. I'm currently working at Solidgm, an SSD manufacturing company. I look forward to seeing the GOLD board grow and connect alumni to each other and current students.
Kostyantyn (Stan) Luferov, Secretary
B.S. 2018, Biochemical Engineering
MSAT Engineer II
Miltenyi Biotec
Hey there, I'm Stan Luferov, your go-to MSAT Process Science Engineer II at Miltenyi Biotec, specializing in accelerating cell and gene therapy products using Miltenyi's technology. With a background spanning Genentech as a Process Engineer, Boehringer Ingelheim as a Manufacturing Associate, and Xytogen Biotech as a Lab Technician, I've mastered the art of process optimization. Back at UC Davis, I was deeply entrenched in ISPE (International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering), holding multiple leadership roles, and lightly involved with AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineering). But it all started with a pivotal internship, sparking my journey from community college to the forefront of pharmaceutical engineering. Now, I'm all about bridging innovation with compliance, ensuring treatments meet regulatory standards for maximum impact. Reach out anytime if you have any questions about the industry as a whole or need any other help!
Eric Taurone, Engagement Chair
B.S. 2018, Chemical Engineering
Software Development Engineer
Amazon
I am a 2018 College of Engineering graduate with a bachelors in Chemical Engineering. After graduation, I began my career as a Manufacturing Process Engineer at Intel's High Volume Manufacturing plant in Chandler Arizona, operating Rapid Thermal Anneal and Ultra-Fast Rapid Thermal Annealing tools. While there, I specialized in identifying activities technicians and engineers were performing manually, and developing automated solutions to improve efficiency. I am now a Software Engineer at Amazon in their Selling and Partner Support business. I am part of a large network developing automated solutions to help the sellers on Amazon resolve any problems they have.
Negina Ayar, Membership Chair
B.S. 2016, Civil Engineering
Senior Engineer
Carlson Barbee & Gibson
I am currently a senior engineer at Carlson Barbee and Gibson (CBG) responsible for the design and management of land development projects across the Bay Area. I have been at this company since I graduated from davis in 2016. Starting at just an entry level engineer and worked my way up to currently a senior engineer. I was involved with SWE and ASCE on campus. On the side, I also worked closely with a professor in the Water resources department and was introduced to the research side of our industry. I spent a year doing research in his lab. At the time, it did inspire me to want to get my master’s degree, however I ended up going to the industry instead. I started my career at CBG in 2016, just 3 months after graduation. I met them at the UC Davis Engineering career fair during the winter quarter. I was very grateful for the job offer before graduation so I could spend spring quarter focusing on my senior design project.
Minerva Olaya, Philanthropic Impact Chair
B.S. 2020, Biomedical Engineering
Associate Engineer
Genentech
With a background in biomedical engineering, I transitioned to biotechnology with support from a fellow Aggie Engineer at Genentech, where I started in Process Engineering before moving to Purification Development. Currently exploring new opportunities while applying to Medical Scientist Training Programs (MD-PhD), I was actively involved in UC Davis's LEADR program and served as president of Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., fostering inclusivity and community engagement. Committed to giving back and empowering others, I'm passionate about making a meaningful impact in healthcare and beyond.
Sasha Eckstein, Communications Chair
M.S. 2024, B.S. 2022, Biological Systems Engineering
Graduate Student Researcher
University of California, Davis
I am currently pursing my master’s degree in Biological Systems Engineering from UC Davis, where I am exploring the development of biobased personal protective equipment. I graduated with a B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering from UC Davis in 2022. During my time at UC Davis, I have been involved with the Biomedical Engineering Society at UC Davis (BMES), the Engineering Ambassadors program, and the Biological & Agricultural Engineering Graduate Student Association (BAE-GSA).
General Board Members
Kaila Balancio, Membership Committee
B.S. 2015, Electrical Engineering
Assistant Registrar - Compliance
University of California, Davis
I serve as the Assistant Registrar of Compliance for the University of California, Davis. I oversee Athletic Certification, Residence, Retroactive/Grade Changes, and Veteran Certification. I am proud and humbled to work for my alma mater where I received my Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. During my undergrad at UCD, I was involved in Pilipino Americans in Science and Engineering (PASE) and Kappa Psi Epsilon. As staff, I am a current board member for the College of Engineering’s Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD), the Asian Pacific American Systemwide Alliance (APASA), and the Wellness Ambassadors Program. After some technical and analytical roles, I was offered a supervisor position which made me realize that I wanted to focus on a career in leadership and management. It led me to earn my Master of Science in Leadership and to the career path I’m on today.
Valerie Quiroz, Engagement Committee
B.S. 2020, Mechanical Engineering
Research and Development Engineer
UC Davis Biomedical Engineering TEAM Lab
I have worked as a Research and Development Engineer for over 3 years in private industry and here at UC Davis. My first job out of college was working in new product development for Penumbra where I had the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the medical device industry. Most recently, I have been working at a core facility here on campus called the TEAM Lab where I facilitate research and clinical endeavors through comprehensive design, development, and fabrication services of mechanical and electro-mechanical devices. In college, I was most heavily involved with Leadership in Engineering Advancement, Diversity and Retention (LEADR) and Biomedical Engineering Society at UC Davis (BMES). To this day, I continue to volunteer for Alumni-Student Networking events for both of these organizations.
Man Yu, Engagement Committee
B.S. 2020, Electrical Engineering
M.S. 2024, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineer at Lam Research
I graduated from Davis with a B.S. degree in EE in 2022 and M.S. in ECE in 2024 and I currently work as an electrical engineer, designing the electrical parts for semiconductor wafer fabrication machines. When I was in my master’s, I was an analog circuit design researcher at Lawrence Berkeley Livermore Laboratory. I designed an analog-to-digital converter that many national labs can use to interface their instrumentation devices with. It can achieve 25 megasamples per second (MS/s) with 7-bit resolution with a 2.4 volt swing. During my undergraduate time at UC Davis, the clubs I was in were American Institute of Chemical Engineering (AIChe), Chicanx and Latinx Engineers and Scientists (CALESS), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and Nintendo Club at UC Davis. I enjoy working with students, from individually to a large audience, developing academic and career preparation skills as a mentor and an instructor.