Vertically Integrated Program
Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) are multi-year, multidisciplinary projects that emphasize innovative and research-active education. It opens opportunities for students to develop professionally valuable skills while making real-world contributions.
Helen Zhou
Helen is a sophomore at NYU, majoring in Computer and Data Science. She enjoys journaling, drawing, and photography. She is excited to explore new possibilities in gardening with IDM Grow and looks forward to engaging in projects and learning new things.
Ana Vataj
Ana is currently a freshman at NYU's Tandon School of Engineering, majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. She is also part of the organization Sprout Up, which helps to spread awareness about the environment. She is currently part of a Sprout Up group expanding social media presence in the New York area. In her free time, she has an abundance of house plants and a garden that she cares for. With limited space her self she would like to learn more about and find creative solutions to the challenges posed by urban gardening.
Rebecca Levy
Rebecca is currently pursuing a B.S in Sustainable Urban Environments at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. She hopes to learn more about biomaterials and alternatives to single use items through prototyping and learning from her peers and experts.
Sage Bergerson
Sage Bergerson is a NYU junior from Minneapolis, MN studying neural science and computer science. Inspired by creative and effective solutions to social challenges, she hopes to apply her studies to producing tech that has a positive social impact. In the past year she has produced machine learning research on reward learning, developed a market strategy for an AI start-up, aided product design at a biotech start-up, and taught at a summer school which aids youth in developing peaceful leadership skills. Sage also loves spending time in nature, rock climbing, dancing, exploring new cities, and running or biking through both.
Dana Sy-Ching
Dana is a senior at NYU Tandon’s Integrated Design and Media program. With a passion for problem-solving and design, she aspires to create innovative experiences through technology. Her goal is to utilize design to create positive impacts in sustainability, accessibility, mental health, and connectivity.
Gbemisola Opeoluwa Shonibare
Gbemi is a sophomore majoring in NYU Tandon's Integrated Design and Media. She is interested in pursing a career in industrial design in the future. Within IDM.Grow she is leading the project in kombucha leather. Outside of class she enjoys learning new things like crocheting and reading.
Katherine Yu Sun
Katherine is a sophomore at NYU Gallatin studying: Something. Yup, something. She is a creative by spontaneity and STEM enthusiast in secret. When she’s not at Tandon working on dyeing fabric with S. Coelicolor, she’s studying philosophy, political theory, good design, and editing the Literacy Review. In her free time, you can find Katherine eating Thai food, watching the dogs run around Tompkins, or jabbering on about sampled music.
Past Students
Sasha Dagayev
My name is Sasha Dagayev. I'm an aspiring Bioinformatist who is looking to understand more about how to apply some of the learnings about gene expression in plants into a more sustainable future for gardening and agriculture. I also enjoy soccer and chess!
Victoria Li
Victoria is currently a junior majoring in Integrated Digital Media program in Tandon at NYU. Outside of school, she enjoys cooking. She has been to the Dominican Republic for teaching local kids about sustainability and is interested in the IDM grow and has become a member of it. She is excited to discover her ability in urban gardening and looking forward to exploring new possibilities.
Sujay Nayak
Sujay is a postgraduate at NYU's Tandon School of Engineering specializing in Systems, Control and Robotics. He is an automation engineer with industrial experience in implementing embedded and SCADA systems. He believes automated agro farming is the way to the future. At IDM.Grow Sujay hopes to learn and explore the aspects of growing a plant and in turn exercise his engineering skills to automate the farming process.
Joel Cabrera
Joel Polanco Cabrera is a junior at NYU majoring in Integrated Digital Media. He is part of the IDM Grow team and is focusing on how to make gardening more accessible to people with alternative abilities. When not studying, you can find Joel coding for website, gardening my plants or trying new foods!
Aaliyah Gomes
Aaliyah Gomes is pursuing a B.S. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at NYU Tandon School of Engineering and a minor in Environmental Studies at NYU CAS. She hopes to help build pathways to an attainable, accessible, and intersectional sustainable future through the ordered disorder of nature. Also, is a fan of dirt.
Evelyn Herrera
Evelyn Herrera is a senior at NYU majoring in Mathematics. As a part of IDM Grow, Evelyn is interested in the community aspect of gardening and ways to make it accessible throughout NYC. Originally from Chicago, IL, she is staying in Brooklyn for the current school year spending most of her time studying or with her roommates walking around the city and trying new foods. She also enjoys watching sad or scary movies, baking, and doesn't let any chance to nap go to waste.
Clara Luce
Clara is a junior at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study concentrating on Spatial Thinking at the intersection of Biochemistry and Design. She is also pursuing a minor in Chinese language. At IDM.Grow her main interests lie in how the scientific process and design process can be combined to create efficient, accessible, and beautiful urban agricultural systems. At IDM.Grow she hopes to gain urban gardening skills and enrich local communities through creating urban green spaces. When not studying she can be found hanging out with her cat, in the Gallatin maker space, or trying a new recipe.
Jeremy Eng
Jeremy is a creative technologist and multimedia artist. Born and raised in the city, Jeremy was exposed to a wide array of cultural influence from a young age. From these experiences, he believes that the root of human conflict and discord stems from misconceptions and a lack of empathy, and he strives to rectify this by integrating technology with traditional design to produce informative and compelling experiences. Jeremy was involved in the development of an data analyst tool "Altera" and is currently working with various NYC restaurants to redesign their interior layout in preparation for the return of interior dining. Jeremy currently resides in Brooklyn and when he's not busy with school, he's creating dishes, protesting, or participating at freestyle rap events.
Wisaam Saleem
Hi! My name is Wisaam and I'm a senior at NYU studying Business and Technology Management. Outside of school some hobbies I enjoy are swimming, weightlifting, woodworking, and video games. I also love spending time with family and my two cats, Momo and Yue. Super excited to join the IDM Grow team and I'm looking forward to working together this semester!
Simon Bayona
Simon is a designer. His current independent study works on bringing the world of vertical and hydroponic farms to younger audiences. These forms of local agriculture often have large barriers to entry that limit their exposure to those who might need them. He is working with local gardening and education institutions to learn how to create a design that will effectively teach kids the functionality and the importance of these systems and systems like them.
Frederic Chen
Frederic Chen is a sophomore at NYU majoring in Integrated Digital Media. His interests are in graphic design, video production, and photography. As a part of IDM Grow, he hopes to learn more about sustainability and urban gardening as well as finding more excuses to grow plants in his apartment. Currently, Frederic lives in Brooklyn and when not in class, he can be found at local plant stores and baking bread.