Lexu "Gavin" Zhao
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PhD student Theoretical Physics, 2024 - Present
B.S. Mathematics, 2020-2024
B.S. Physics (Astrophysics), 2020-2024
My research spans theoretical condensed matter physics, astrophysics, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into scientific exploration. I'm interested in emergent phenomena in condensed matter systems using renormalization group theory and applying quantum computing to theoretical physics. In astrophysics, I'm interested in primordial black holes as dark matter candidates, the holographic universe, and the quantum information on the black hole horizons. My prior work focused on stellar astrophysics, including spectral typing of main sequence stars and cool dwarfs using Gaia DR3 data. A central theme of my work is using AI-driven techniques to uncover novel insights from small-scale complex condensed matter systems to the large-scale structure of the universe.
“In other words, after the laws of physics, everything else is opinion.” ― Neil deGrasse Tyson
“In other words, after the laws of physics, everything else is opinion.” ― Neil deGrasse Tyson
Education
Education
Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences (CASS) at UCSD
PhD in Physics
University of Florida 2024-present [Gainesville, FL]
Research Interests: Astrophysics, Condensed Matter Theory, AI in Science
Fellowship: Supplemented Teaching Assistantship stipend with an additional $5,000 for the first year.
B.Sc. in Astrophysics (Honor), B.Sc. in Mathematics
University of California, San Diego 2020-2024 [La Jolla, CA]
Research Interests: Stellar Astrophysics, Primordial Blackholes, Dark Matter, Holographic Universe, Quantum Computing, etc.
Advisors: Prof. Chris Theissen, Prof. Quinn Konopacky, Prof. Yizhuang You
Leadership: 2021-2022 President of Astronomy Club @ UC San Diego
UCSD Cool Star Lab: Summer 2023 Undergraduate Research Program
Selected Conferences:
243RD MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 7 – 11 JANUARY 2024
Highlights
Highlights
Machine Learning Specialization Certificate -- Stanford University and DeepLearning.AI (Issued Jan. 2025)
Building Supervised/Unsupervised Advanced Learning Models, Applying ML Techniques to Real-World Problems
243RD MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 7 – 11 JANUARY 2024
Titile: Template Creation for Spectral Typing: A Study of Gaia DR3’s Low-Resolution Spectra
NASA L’SPACE Academy Fellow: Advancing in NASA Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience (NPWEE)
I have had the distinguished opportunity to participate in the NASA L’SPACE (Lucy Student Pipeline Accelerator and Competency Enabler) program, a distinctive initiative aimed at honing the competencies of the STEM workforce through extensive training in NASA proposal writing and evaluation. This academy provided an immersive experience in crafting innovative concept proposals and gaining invaluable insights into the proposal review and scoring processes, all through the discerning lens of a NASA reviewer.
During this program, I, alongside a dedicated team, developed and refined a proposal centered on addressing one of NASA’s crucial challenges, specifically within the taxonomy of Exploration Destination Systems (TX07). This taxonomy encompasses a spectrum of technologies integral to ensuring successful space activities, ranging from mission operations to in-situ resource utilization.
Our work was an integral part of NASA's groundbreaking Lucy Mission to the Trojan Asteroids, aiming to explore the enigmatic Trojans—outer Solar System asteroids orbiting synchronously with the gas giant Jupiter. These remnants of our early Solar System offer an unprecedented glimpse into the primordial building blocks of our planetary neighborhood, promising to unlock new dimensions of our cosmic understanding.
This experiential learning not only enriched my academic voyage in astrophysics and mathematics but also fortified my analytical, collaborative, and problem-solving skills, positioning me strategically for advanced studies and career paths in space science.
2023 Undergraduate Summer Research Award, UC San Diego
I am honored to have been selected for the Undergraduate Summer Research Award by the Dean of the School of Physical Sciences at UCSD. The award supports my ongoing research, Spectral Typing all of Gaia Data Release 3: A Study of Low-Resolution Spectra. I eagerly look forward to presenting my research in a September poster presentation. Poster
Github
2023 August 16th, Summer Research Conference (SRC), UC San Diego
I had the opportunity to present my research at one of the region's most prestigious academic events. This conference holds the distinction of being the largest undergraduate research assembly in the region. Attracting participation from 55 diverse academic institutions, including notable universities and private institutions, this conference is truly a focal point for groundbreaking research and intellectual discourse in the scientific community.
Research Focus: Guided by Professor Chris Theissen and Quinn Konopacky, my research was centered around creating spectral templates to facilitate comprehensive studies of stars and stellar populations, utilizing the vast and precise data procured from the Gaia satellite. The core objective was to augment the precision and reliability of these templates, thereby providing a potent tool for expansive astronomical studies and enriching our collective understanding of stellar phenomena. Research talks can be viewed on YouTube: Astronomy & Astrophysics session.
2023 Physics Honors Program, UC San Diego
Selected for the Physics Honors Program in Fall 2023 and recognized for exceptional academic and research performance, demonstrating academic excellence and producing intensive honors thesis research.
Contributed to the academic community by presenting research at UC San Diego’s Undergraduate Research Conference (URC).
“Terrific!” I closed the book Fermat's Last Theorem by Simon Singh. All the rush of uneasiness escaped my body in a triumphant sigh as if I was Andrew Wiles, the anchor of this momentous trans-century academic relay.That was the first time I scanned over the beauty of mathematics, thus falling in love with it.I’ve never realized the glamour of math, a subject I previously regarded as a “cumbersome tool" to unlock the door of good grades until I saw so many intellectual elites and their generations have been tirelessly dedicating their life to this field. Take Fermat’s Last Theorem as an example, it plagues a tremendous amount of mathematicians who had successively devoted themselves to proofing this theory over centuries. Unlike other laws that are at risk of being discarded when people are dissatisfied or discontented about them, the law of math is the divine rule that everyone in the universe must obey, no matter their gender, age, social status, or time in history because it is the language in which the world is written. The history of math laying in my eyes, to some degree, seems like an intellectual competition or a splendid epic that is worth everyone’s esteem.
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