Where could STEM take you? Three CWRU students offer a glimpse
From the GPS that guides our daily commutes and the buildings where we live, learn and work to the software that powers our devices, streamlines everyday tasks and keeps essential systems running, STEM is all around us.
Observed annually on Nov. 8, National STEM Day celebrates the impact of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) on our everyday lives and beyond. The observance also highlights the importance of hands-on learning, curiosity and creative problem-solving in inspiring the next generation of innovators.
In recognition of National STEM Day, learn about three students at Case Western Reserve University who put their interests in STEM into action.
Annelise Reilman
Third-year engineering physics student with a concentration in control and systems
From coordinating sound equipment for student theater productions to exploring how brain waves can be transformed into music, Annelise Reilman finds creative ways to connect her interests in engineering and the arts. Originally from Culver City, California, she grew up with two engineer parents who encouraged her curiosity about how things work.
Although she always knew she would pursue a STEM field, a conversation with a systems engineer during a visit to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory sparked her interest in bringing together different areas of expertise to solve complex problems—ultimately leading her to Case School of Engineering.
“Coming to CWRU as an engineering physics major, I really appreciate all of the choices that I get about the courses I take, allowing me to dive into all of my specific interests,” she said. “I really enjoy being a STEM student here. I am surrounded by a wide variety of others interested in STEM and my classes are high level and taught by professors who are not only good teachers, but are also interesting and do fun research.”
A research assistant of the new Brain Media Lab, Reilman explores the intersection of engineering, neuroscience and music. Working alongside students and faculty from CWRU and Cleveland Institute of Music, she helps investigate how brain activity can be translated into sound. One of her projects involves using an Arduino—a small, programmable computer that can control electronic devices and respond to information it receives from sensors—to control a record player's speed based on alpha-wave signals.
“I honestly don't think that my experience here would have been the same at all without being able to connect with my fellow peers and the faculty here,” she said. “CWRU creates a very welcoming environment for students to be able to get to know professors and engage in meaningful collaborations.”
Beyond campus, Reilman completed a systems engineering internship at Honeywell, where she helped develop training materials and led sessions teaching 30 new hires to use an internal software program. She also expanded her global perspective while taking engineering courses overseas through a study abroad experience in Spain.
Today, Reilman applies collaborative skills she gained to foster community with fellow students as co-head of sound for CWRU Footlighters, treasurer of the Physics and Astronomy Club for Women and Gender Minorities, and a member of the Baja SAE team. Post graduation, she hopes to use the knowledge she’s gained to help design and maintain equipment that supports experimental research.
Jonah Reinis
Fourth-year mathematics and computer science student
Ask Jonah Reinis about common misconceptions surrounding mathematics, and he'll explain how mathematicians don't simply choose a problem from a list of unsolved questions and spend their lives trying to find answers.
“In reality, a good mathematician comes up with questions and definitions, instead of pondering alone in a room until an eventual declaration of ‘true’ or ‘false’ in regard to open problems,” he said.
A Los Angeles native, Reinis considered two subjects when deciding what to study in college: math and English. Seeking an academic experience that would challenge him beyond what he encountered in high school, he chose to attend Case Western Reserve University, where he now pursues a double major in mathematics and computer science.
On campus, he takes advantage of undergraduate research programs and graduate-level coursework while serving as president of the CWRU Math Club and secretary of Tabletop Empire. Reinis also works with a friend to co-develop Watson, a proof assistant based on set theory that uses context-free grammar to define syntax over arbitrary formal languages.
Following graduation, Reinis hopes to earn a PhD in Applied Mathematics with interests in computational imaging and inverse problems before potential careers in academia, software engineering or teaching. Until then, he continues to make the most of his time in Cleveland, a city he has come to appreciate beyond the classroom.
“Cleveland is an awesome place and my second city,” he said. “I love going out to The Flats and swing dancing, going to Guardians and Cavs games, and enjoying all of the regional food, like pierogies or other Polish delicacies.”
Rhea Choksey
Third-year chemistry, chemical biology and business student with a concentration in healthcare and minors in mathematics and marketing
Rhea Choksey’s interest in chemistry began in high school, when an honors chemistry teacher encouraged her to explore the subject beyond the classroom. After taking AP chemistry and participating in an independent research course, Choksey became co-president of her high school’s chemistry club—experiences that helped shape her decision to study chemistry at Case Western Reserve.
“I’ve always loved math and science growing up, so I knew I wanted to pursue something STEM-related,” said Choksey, who is from Orlando, Florida. “I chose CWRU because I wanted to attend a university where I could explore different STEM disciplines, get involved in research early and pursue interdisciplinary studies.”
She found an opportunity to put that curiosity into action shortly after arriving on campus. When Choksey discovered the university didn't have a student chapter of the American Chemical Society, she founded the ACS Chemistry Club in October 2025. The organization has since grown to nearly 200 members, bringing together students through hands-on mini lab experiments, research-focused events and general body meetings.
“Being able to clearly communicate research findings and work with others toward a common goal is essential in STEM,” she said. “My experiences in classes, laboratories and student organizations have helped me grow in these areas.”
Choksey’s busy schedule as a STEM student includes coursework, research and leadership responsibilities across several student organizations. In the Mathur Nano Lab, she works as an undergraduate research assistant, studying DNA origami nanostructures as a potential gene delivery system. She also serves as outreach chair for Case for Sight, secretary and public relations chair of the Yoga Club, and volunteers at UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital.
This semester, Choksey has traded her usual Cleveland routine for a semester abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Between coursework, she explores new cultures and travels to different countries. Outside her academic pursuits, she makes time for movie outings—particularly Marvel films, action movies and romantic comedies—and theme park visits.