Physics PhD Student at Stony Brook University
About Me
I'm a PhD student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook University. I'm a DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellow, additionally supported by the Institute for Advanced Computational Science.
I've contributed to a number of research projects, from computer science middle school curriculum to gamma-ray pulsars, to explore and expand my research capabilities. I often work at national laboratories, including SLAC National Accelerator Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, and the National Renewable Energy Lab.
I currently work on the AMReX Astro suite of hydrodynamic simulation codes.
I also advocate for kids, and I work to improve students' quality of life. I like to pay attention to effective science outreach, communication, and pedagogy. In my free time, I enjoy music, dance, and games.
News
- [January 2025] Classes begun in electrodynamics and lab studies
- [December 2024] Interdepartmental Physics and Chemistry 5K hosted
- [November 2024] Supercomputing 2024 attended in Atlanta, GA
- [November 2024] Work begun to examine student quality of life at Stony Brook University
- [August 2024] Support received from Institute for Advanced Computational Science through New Recruit Award
- [August 2024] Classes begun in statistical mechanics and simulation
- [August 2024] Comprehensive exam passed in quantum mechanics
- [August 2024] Floating photovoltaics simulation presented to High-Performance Algorithms and Complex Fluids group at National Renewable Energy Lab
- [July 2024] Hydrodynamics benchmark presented at Computational Science Graduate Fellowship program review in Washington, DC
- [May 2024] Internship begun at National Renewable Energy Lab
- [May 2024] Paper on integration methodology for supernovae simulations accepted to The Astrophysical Journal
- [April 2024] Computational methods class TA'd at Stony Brook University
- [February 2024] SUNY Great Award received
Education
- Ph.D. Physics - Stony Brook University
May 2023 - Present - B.S. Physics, B.S. Computer Science - Utah State University
Sept 2018 - May 2022
Projects
Examining Reaction Networks used in Convection Models in Helium Shells of Sub-Chandrasehkar White Dwarfs
This project simulates the explosion of a dense white dwarf star. In the model, a helium layer surrounds the star. Initial ignition of the helium layer can cause the helium, then the star itself, to burn and explode as a type of supernova. Computer simulations of this phenomemon, by necessity, ignore elements or chemical reactions, in order to simplify the problem enough to be tractable. In this work, I explore the sensitivity of the explosion to such modifications by comparing complicated simulations with their simpler counterparts.