Garret May is a rising fourth-year Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. His research focuses on nano-catalyst synthesis, liquid organic hydrogen carriers, and the ways materials science intersects with environmental justice. He’s passionate about building community within academia and using that collective strength to drive broader change in science and engineering.
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Twin Falls, Idaho, Garret has always been drawn to both the arts and sciences—he was a theater kid and dancer who also competed in robotics. He still looks for ways to bring those parts of himself together, blending the analytical side of science with the creative heart of the arts.
Garret is a strong advocate for disability protections and accessibility in STEM, drawing from his own experiences navigating academia with ADHD. He believes that “it’s important for everyone to see themselves represented in a wide variety of careers so they can pursue their passions. Diversity is a positive feedback loop, and STEM spaces need to be accessible to everyone.” For him, more diversity means stronger communities and more interdisciplinary connections—critical elements for solving complex problems.
Looking ahead, Garret hopes to become a professor of Materials Engineering and to design engineering ethics curricula that center environmental justice and connect technical innovations to their broader social and political impacts.
Outside of his research, Garret enjoys baking, reading, running, and playing board and video games.