OUR TEAM
Anna Flinchbaugh
Anna is in her third year of the dual degree M.S. in Library and Information Science and M.A. in History of Art and Design graduate program at Pratt Institute. Within the History of Art and Design, her research revolves primarily around the intersection of the environment and design in late nineteenth-century Britain. This builds upon her undergraduate degree in Human Ecology, earned from Middlebury College in 2014. In her work at the Material Lab, Anna is interested in helping to build organizational systems that positively impact the research experiences of Material Lab visitors.
Vineet Hingorani
Originally from Bombay, India, Vineet recently graduated with his M.S. in Architecture at Pratt’s School of Architecture, where his research directive questions the role of design in the anthropocene era. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from University of Bombay in 2017 and has a few years of experience working in the realm of architecture, interior and urban design. He has an avid interest in phenomenology in design and looks to expand and gain further insight into the subject with each project. Vineet is a 'self proclaimed' cinephile and on a cozy Friday evening one can find him cozied up in bed, catching up on the latest shows and films.
Shamika Khare
Shamika recently graduated with her M.Arch from the School of Architecture’s Graduate Architecture and Urban Design program. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Sinhgad College of Architecture at Savitribai Phule Pune University. Prior to joining the Material Lab, Shamika has worked as an Architectural Designer at SO Design Developers where she gained experience in urban design, high-end residential, and commercial sectors on projects ranging from design conception to construction documentation. Additionally, Shamika served as a volunteer at the Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development (COSTFORD), where she gained experience with energy-efficient materials, and low-cost housing models. Shamika is drawn towards design for its potential for synthesis and is excited by opportunities to develop more sustainable approaches in architecture. Shamika is also interested in the future of automation in architecture, and her current work investigates new adaptations and applications for modular architecture.
Nanjin Li
Nanjin is a second-year MFA student in the Communication Design program at Pratt Institute. She received her BFA degree from the School of Art Institute of Chicago and worked as designers in agencies like Landor, Ogilvy, and small start-ups. Before joining Material Lab, she has been a designer for CNC lab and Laser Lab at School of Design.
Dhruv Mishra
Dhruv Mishra is currently pursuing his M.I.D. degree Graduate at Pratt’s School of Design. Hailing from India, Dhruv has previously worked as a furniture and space designer for an interior design firm in New Delhi and consecutively as a toy and game designer in Bengaluru, where he was on the team for India’s first manual for creating accessible parks and play spaces. In his coursework at Pratt and the Material Lab, Dhruv aims to find balance in his designs through the use of technology and innovative materials.
Megan Soheili
Megan is a recent graduate of the School of Design’s BFA program in Interior Design. Serving in various leadership roles within the International Association’s student chapter, most recently as president, Megan has been an advocate for bringing Pratt’s interior design community together. As a minor in sustainability, she aims to reduce environmental impact in construction, design approach, and material selection, and she is passionate about ways in which placemaking can prevent community displacement. In her work, Megan is interested in how craft, materials, lighting, and color can change a space and allow users to experience ephemeral qualities of their environment.
Tara Vellara
Tara Vellara recently graduated with her MFA in Interior Design at Pratt. Prior to studying at Pratt, Tara received her Bachelor of Architecture from Dayananda Sagar School of Architecture. Her transition from the field of architecture to interior design arises from her interest to act with the end use at a personal level, as she believes that interiors can alter design radically due to its powerful ability to alter and affect an individual psychologically and physically.
Jae Wendell
Jae is a recent graduate of the School of Design’s B.I.D. program. In addition to serving as Research Assistant within the Material Lab, and student liaison for the Material Lab Prize, Jae has worked as a Peer Advisor at the Learning/Access center, co-hosted a weekly radio show on WPIR Pratt Radio, and participated in Track and Field. While studying at Pratt, Jae has studied abroad in Sweden, and in their free time enjoys biking and gardening.
Jay Lemire
Jay Lemire is the founding director of the Material Lab at Pratt Institute’s School of Design, where he leads a range of programming, mentorship, and professional development initiatives that revolve around material literacy and design research. Prior to joining Pratt, Jay served as Research Specialist at Robert A.M. Stern Architects, and before that, managed research to support design and business development at Ralph Lauren in New York. He has been a visiting instructor at Pratt Institute, and a teaching assistant at New York School of Interior Design. Jay holds a B.A. in English Literature from Marymount Manhattan College and a M.A. in Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture from Bard Graduate Center. He is a recipient of the Winterthur Research Fellowship.