Ion Caltech Today
Construction and Parking
Construction progress of the Frank J. Malina Laboratory as of October 2026.
Construction Impacts
- Frank J. Malina Laboratory for High-Speed Flight Dynamics: Construction on the south side of the Guggenheim Laboratory is ongoing.
Parking and Traffic
- There are no new parking and traffic updates at this time.
Pedestrian Access
- There are no new pedestrian access updates at this time.
Community Member Milestones
- Celebrating a new role:
Jessica Schultz
In October, Jessica became a full-time administrative assistant in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. She assists the division with purchasing lab supplies, creating monthly expense reports, coordinating with study participants, and updating lab websites. Prior to this, she was a staff assistant at JPL in Mission Systems and Operations.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Tony Cox
Tony joins Caltech as head coach of men’s and women’s swimming and diving, leading training, competition, and recruiting while helping student-athletes balance athletics and academics. A two-time NCAA champion and Olympic Trials qualifier who competed at Auburn and UC Berkeley, he brings 15+ years of coaching experience, including founding TC Falcon Swim Club.
- Celebrating a new role:
Madison Quan
In October, Madison was appointed head coach of the women’s basketball team. Having led the team as interim head coach during the 2025–26 season, she says that she looks forward to continuing the work she has already begun with the players and building on the foundation they’ve established together.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Phyllis Gretchenuk
Phyllis joined Caltech on September 14 as the director of finance and operations in the Office of Communications and External Relations (OCER). She brings previous experience working in business roles in higher educational institutions at Arizona State University, the Seattle Colleges, and the University of Washington, as well as business and operations at the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, the city of Los Angeles' public relations firm.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Annelisa Busch
Annelisa joined Caltech as a guest relations coordinator at the Athenaeum, where she is often the first face guests see. She coordinates with professors and offices across campus on hotel accommodations and dining reservations and assists members and Caltech staff in other ways they need. Prior to Caltech, Annelisa worked in the food service industry and as a receptionist in a medical office.
- Welcome to Caltech:
Deeksha Mohanty
Deeksha joined IPAC in August as an applications developer on the Data Science Team, where she will work on preparing large astronomical catalogs for scientific analysis and developing tools to help researchers access, explore, and derive scientific insights from the data. Prior to Caltech, she completed her M.S. in computer science at Michigan State University.
Resources
The SFCC’s experienced mental health professionals offer staff and faculty up to five confidential consultation sessions to assess needs and discuss next steps.
Share the impact of Caltech’s discovery and innovation using social media graphics, PPT slides, FAQs, and videos of Provost Tirrell discussing federal funding for research.
Caltech community members are eligible for a free Metro Pass that gives you unlimited rides on buses, rail lines, and local transit options, including convenient connections to campus.
Media Mentions
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