Big Proposal Bootcamp Participants

These participants underwent an 12-week program to introduce skills to do large-scale, cross-disciplinary proposals and connect to the diversity of resources of support Pitt has to offer as they develop those proposals. During the program, participants had the opportunity to develop the outlines of a big proposal, and the series concluded with a “pitch” competition. The winning pitch was rewarded with a small prize so support the development of their project. 

2026 Big Proposal Bootcamp Alumni

  • Alberto Vazquez, Radiology
  • Andrew Jheon, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
  • Anne Stetler, Neurology
  • Ben Rottman, Psychology
  • Bob Gradeck, UCSUR
  • Carla Ng, Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Carrie Iwema, Head of our Engineering and Science Library
  • DC Lee, Health & Human Development
  • Heather McCambly, Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy
  • Heeyoung Lee, Health & Community Systems
  • Jon Rubin, Mathematics
  • Kamesha Spates, Africana Studies
  • Kaz Koide, Chemistry
  • Lucas Hill, Pharmacy & Therapeutics
  • Mark (Shuai) Ma, Business
  • Markus Chmielus, Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
  • Melanie Scott, Surgery
  • Neeraj Gandhi, Bioengineering
  • Partha Dutta, Cardiology
  • Tamara Dubowitz, Epidemiology
  • Will Evans, Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • Zachary Freyberg, Psychiatry

2025 Big Proposal Bootcamp Alumni

  • Rachel BezansonPhysics & Astronomy

  • Evan SchneiderPhysics & Astronomy

  • Shannon WanlessHealth and Human Development

  • Phil HackneyLaw

  • César Escobar-VieraPsychiatry

  • Natalie LelandOccupational Therapy

  • John KeithChemical and Petroleum Engineering

  • Jingtong HuElectrical and Computer Engineering

  • J.S. NelsonLaw

  • Gelsy TorresBioengineering

  • Hayley Weddle, Educational Foundations, Organization, and Policy

  • Rachel StarryResearch & Learning

  • Ann SinsheimerLaw

  • Andrea Peña-VasquezGSPIA

  • Heidi Donovan, Nursing-Health & Community Systems

  • Margaret (Peg) RosenzweigNursing-Acute/Tertiary Care

  • Ravi MadhavanBusiness Administration

  • Andrele St. ValLaw

  • Martinna BertoliniPeriodontics/Preventive Dentistry

  • Melissa Libertus, Psychology

  • Michael LotzeSurgery

  • Francisco SchopferPharmacology and Chemical Biology

  • Kaushik Seshadreesan, Informatics & Networked Systems

  • Michael GlassSociology

  • Pernille RoegeHistory

2024 Big Proposal Bootcamp Alumni

  • Albert To, Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
  • Christine Leeper, Surgery and Critical Care Medicine
  • Clive D’Souza, Rehabilitation Science and Technology
  • Dan Clark, Periodontics and Preventive Dentistry
  • Danielle Tufts, Infectious Disease and Microbiology
  • Diana Leyva, LRDC/Psychology, DSAS
  • Emily Wanderer, Anthropology
  • Jeff Wisniewski, ULS Communications and Web Services
  • John Linarelli, Law
  • Justin Kitzes, Biological Sciences
  • Katie Suda, General Internal Medicine
  • Kyaien Conner, Social Work
  • Lucas Berenbrok, Pharmacy and Therapeutics
  • Mike Ramsey, Geology and Environmental Science
  • Ruth Mostern, History 
  • Ryan Minster, Human Genetics
  • Simone Brixius-Anderko, Pharmaceutical Science
  • Teresa Hagan Thomas, Health Promotion & Development
  • TK Kozai, Bioengineering
  • Xiaowei Jia, Computer Science
  • Xulong Tang, Computer Science
  • Yalini Senathirajah, Biomedical Informatics