Meet Team CECD

Who is Team CECD?

Team CECD consisted of three student researchers: Nicholas Carignan, Ainsley LaFlamme, and Conner Nguyen. These three students did not know each other before joining the team, so let’s take some time to get to know them individually! The team has a unique dynamic, always able to rely upon each other when in need and hold each other accountable!

The team, from left to right, Ainsley LaFlamme, Conner Nguyen, and Nicholas Carignan

Getting to Know the Team

While you get to know the team, understand that these three are such different people in their own unique ways, but were able to come together after their fourth group member unexpectedly could attend the IQP due to an injury before leaving. These three had to come together in the field and complete the project with a man down. This brought them close not only as a team, but as friends too! Let’s get to know them now!

Ainsley LaFlamme

Otherwise known as “Alaf” in the group, Ainsley is currently a third-year Biomedical Engineering student at WPI. At home, she is involved in Chi Omega and loves hanging out with her friends and going out for sweet treat runs. Some of her hobbies include shopping, running, and spending time with friends! While in Cape Town she facilitated the interviews the team conducted and spear-headed the media creation while in Cape Town. Some of her favorite things from Cape Town have been the food, new friends, the shopping, morning kayaking, and the scenery! She’s definietely the team diva!

Nick Carignan

Nicholas, Nick, “Nicholas-Pickolas”, or the team’s personal favorite, “NICK-PICKKKK” is currently a third-year double major, Robotics and Mechanical Engingeering student. On campus, Nick is on the varsity Rowing team and loves hanging out with friends, too bad he’s always stuck in the RBE lab. Outside of school, Nick is nothing short of an adventerous spirit, he loves hiking, rowing, skiing, running, working out, and eating pasta with chicken! He’s definitely the go-getter of the group and has to play “dad” when Conner and Ainsley start yelling at each other like little kids. Definitely a level-head in the group, Nick took charge of video editing and creating the social media calendar.

Conner Nguyen

Last, but certainly not least, is Conner! He doesn’t have a nickname becuase he’s always coming up with nicknames for everyone else, but he’ll respond to anything you call him. Conner’s currently a third-year Biochemistry BS/MS student at WPI. On campus, Conner’s involved in the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity, Mental Health Club, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), and he works at the campus Starbucks and as a research assistant at UMass Chan Medical School. At home, Conner loves playing soccer and volleyball, skiing, running around with his dog in the woods, thrifting, and loves eating! While in Cape Town, Conner led the writing of the How-to guides for the CECD and picked up slack where the team needed. Although he loves doing a lot, he often is the most distracted, thus distracting Ainsley, causing Nick to step in and kill all the fun. Booooo Nick!