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Education
2007 – Present University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois
Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (in progress)
Master of Science in Physics (expected Fall 2008)
2003 – 2007 Honors Tutorial College, Ohio University Athens, Ohio
Bachelor of Science in Physics, Summa Cum Laude
Mathematics and Spanish minors
1999 – 2003 Brookside High School Sheffield, Ohio
High School Diploma, Salutatorian
Experience: Research
June 2008 – present University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois
Numerical Studies of the Liquid-Glass Transition (Advisor: Gene Mazenko)
I am working with a model of the liquid-glass phase transition known as the random diffusion model using a mode-coupling theory. My main work is in developing and implementing numerical techniques for the solution of differential equations arising in the model. These differential equations provide information related to the presence/absence of an ergodic-nonergodic transition and help identify critical parameters of the liquid-glass transition.
Nov 2007 – June 2008 University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois
Surface Plasmon Propagation with Application to Quantum Dot Fluorescence (Advisor: Philippe Guyot-Sionnest)
This project studied the generation and propagation of surface plasmons on thin films of gold and silver and studied how quantum dot fluorescence was altered when placed on such films. Our work began by studying both single and layered films of metals and looked at the effects of adding monolayers of quantum dots. We found that dot layers changed the plasmon resonance conditions significantly, yet predictably. We also built a fluorescence microscope to observe and compare dot "blinking" on bare glass and on silver films. This experimental work was augmented by theoretical work investigating (1) the possible enhancement of the magneto-optical Kerr effect for the determination of quantum dot magnetic moments and (2) directionality of dot emission in the presence of plasmon modes.
Jan 2006 – June 2007 Ohio University Athens, Ohio
Honors Thesis: Spectral Estimation with Wavelets (Advisor: David Drabold)
The thesis consists of (1) development of continuous wavelet transform techniques in Mathematica for the extraction of non-stationary amplitude and frequency information, and (2) analysis of various data series. Confirmation of technique is addressed by analysis of classic series including Wolf’s relative sunspot numbers and molecular dynamics simulations of carbon and silicon trimer molecules. The bulk of the original work is the study of energy transfer between excited hydrogen atoms and a surrounding silicon lattice.
Experience: Teaching
June 2008 – present Chicago, Illinois
Private Gifted Mathematics Tutor
Tutor gifted elementary students in mathematics
Sept 2007 – June 2008 University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois
Teaching Assistant
Lead discussion sections, laboratory sections and office hours for introductory calculus-based physics courses
Dec 2005 – June 2007 West Elementary School/Ohio University Athens, Ohio
Founder and Project Leader of an After-School Science Club
Ran an outreach program at a local elementary school with the OU Society of Physics Students (SPS)
Apr-May 2007: Five week program at West Elementary School (Athens, Ohio)
Jan 2007: Received the national SPS Marsh W. White Award for outreach - $300
Oct 2006: Solicited and received a national “SPS Outreach Catalyst Kit”
Apr-May 2006: Initial five week program at West Elementary School (Athens, Ohio)
Summer 2007: Ohio University Chapter of SPS named “Outstanding Chapter 2007”
Jan 2007 – Mar 2007 Ohio University Athens, Ohio
Teaching Assistant
Led two laboratory sections of an introductory algebra-based physics course
Sept 2003 – June 2006 Athens City School District Athens, Ohio
Gifted Mathematics Tutor
Tutored gifted elementary students in grades 2-5 in mathematics
Experience: Computation Skills
High Proficiency:
Mathematica, C++
Moderate Proficiency:
LaTex, Adobe Dreamweaver (for web development)
Limited Exposure Only:
FORTRAN, Matlab
Organizations
Honor Societies:
Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics Scholastics) – inducted 2007
Phi Beta Kappa (Scholastics, Educational Breadth) – inducted 2006
Omicron Delta Kappa (Leadership, Scholastics) – inducted 2006
Golden Key International (Scholastics) – inducted 2006
Alpha Lambda Delta (Freshman Scholastics) – inducted 2004
Professional:
American Physical Society – member since 2003
Society of Physics Students – member 2003-2008
-President of Ohio University Chapter 2006-2007
-Ohio University named an “Outstanding Chapter 2007”
Scholarships
*UNDERGRADUATE*
2005-2007: Honors Tutorial College Dean’s Scholarship
2003-2007: Robert C. Byrd Scholarship
2003-2007: Society of Exploration Geophysicists Scholarship
2003-2007: Ohio Board of Regents Academic Scholarship
2003-2007: Ohio University Presidential Scholarship (Full Tuition)
Courses Related to Physics
*GRADUATE*
PHYS 316 – Classical Mechanics, Fall 2007
PHYS 322 – Electrodynamics I, Winter 2008
PHYS 323 – Electrodynamics II, Spring 2008
PHYS 330 – Mathematical Methods in Physics, Fall 2007
PHYS 341 – Quantum Mechanics I, Fall 2007
PHYS 342 – Quantum Mechanics II, Winter 2008
PHYS 352 – Statistical Mechanics, Spring 2008
PHYS 361 – Introduction to Solid State Physics, Fall 2008
PHYS 443 – Introduction to Quantum Field Theory I, Fall 2008
PHYS 448 – Field Theory Methods in Condensed Matter, Fall 2008
PHYS 335 – Advanced Experimental Physics Project, Fall 2007 - Spring 2008
*UNDERGRADUATE*
PHYS 297T – Physics Tutorial: Newtonian mechanics, Fall 2003
PHYS 298T – Physics Tutorial: oscillations, thermodynamics, and electricity, Winter 2004
PHYS 299T – Physics Tutorial: electricity, magnetism, and optics, Spring 2004
PHYS 303 – Computer Simulations in Physics, Spring 2006
PHYS 397T – Physics Tutorial: special relativity, quantum mechanics, Fall 2004
PHYS 398T – Physics Tutorial: quantum mechanics and atomics, Winter 2005
PHYS 399T – Physics Tutorial: molecular, solid state and nuclear physics, Spring 2005
PHYS 411 – Thermodynamics, Fall 2005
PHYS 412 – Statistical Mechanics, Winter 2006
PHYS 427 – Electricity and Magnetism I, Fall 2006
PHYS 428 – Electricity and Magnetism II, Winter 2007
PHYS 429 – Electromagnetism and Relativity, Spring 2007
PHYS 451 – Quantum Mechanics, Fall 2006
PHYS 497T – Physics Tutorial: classical mechanics, Fall 2005
PHYS 498T – Physics Tutorial: classical mechanics, Winter 2006
PHYS 499T – Physics Tutorial: mathematical methods in physics, Spring 2006
PHYS 272 – Electronics Laboratory I, Winter 2005
PHYS 273 – Electronics Laboratory II, Spring 2005
PHYS 371 – Electrons Laboratory, Fall 2005
PHYS 372 – Photons Laboratory, Winter 2006
PHYS 373 – Nucleons Laboratory, Spring 2006
MATH 263A – Calculus I, Fall 2002
MATH 263B – Calculus II, Spring 2003
MATH 263C – Calculus III, Fall 2003
MATH 263D – Calculus IV, Winter 2003
MATH 340 – Ordinary Differential Equations, Spring 2004
MATH 410 – Matrix Theory, Spring 2006
MATH 440 – Vector Analysis, Winter 2005
MATH 441 – Fourier Analysis and Partial Differential Equations, Spring 2005
CHEM 151 – Fundamentals of Chemistry I, Fall 2004
ET 181 – Computer Methods in Engineering I (Programming in C++), Fall 2005
ENG 309J – Writing in the Sciences, Winter 2006
Non-Academic Employment
Nov 2005 – Dec 2005 United Parcel Service Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Driver Assistant
Assisted with the delivery of UPS packages during the holiday season
June 2003 – Aug 2004 (summers) Allen Refrigeration Services Avon Lake, Ohio
Service Technician Assistant
Assisted in the servicing, installation, and maintenance of heating, cooling and refrigeration units
Mar 2001 – June 2003 Goodtimes, Ltd. Avon, Ohio
Ride Attendant
Led various outdoor motor and water amusement park rides
2002: Promoted to Event Coordinator (supervisory position)
Further Interests
Tropical fish aquaria, numismatics (coin collecting), the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, Italian cooking, Surrealism
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