Q: What are your physics/science interests?

Currently, my research interests have mostly been in theoretical nuclear physics. I have greatly enjoyed my research in the field so far and I would like to continue. However, I have also been intrigued by the field of quantum computing and quantum topology and have been doing directed studies and such in it. I am very interested in math as well, in particular, I enjoy studying algebra and topology. It is fun to study quantum computing from the mathematics point of view and the physics point of view.

Q: What are your other interests?

I enjoy running, playing magic the gathering, and art stuff like painting, drawing, and making bad music. I also like watching bad movies that are just not enjoyable at all such as the Adam Sandler film "Click". I've probably seen that movie like 60 times, I'm not even exaggerating. No offense if you like that movie or anything.

Q: What would you like to do after college?

I plan to attend grad school for physics and then after that it would be nice to be a professor at some point, but one can only dream. But I would be happy as long as I can do research in some field of physics I find stimulating.

Q: Tell us one strange but interesting fact about yourself.

I am scared of caterpillars but I am not scared of centipedes or anything like that. So it's not about the legs. I think they are just too girthy to have that many legs maybe. I don't really know. I especially hate the furry ones. If I could kill all the caterpillars in the world I would. (no hate on butterflies or anything but it's a sacrifice that must be made for the greater good)

Q: What first sparked your interest in Physics?

I have always liked math and before I was introduced to physics, I wanted to be a math professor some day. However, as soon as I was first introduced to physics I changed my aspirations to physics. Oftentimes during my lunch hour in high school, I would sit with my physics teacher and he would tell me about basic quantum theory and its implications. Looking back it was just some really basic stuff, but it really turned my brain to soup. After that I was very hooked on the subject and have been ever since. I then decided to double major in math because I never felt satisfied with physics unless I really understood the mathematical foundations backing it up.

Q: If you could have any pet, what would it be?

I already have a snake named Joseph but he doesn't do much. It would be nice to have an orangutan because they are cute and they would be fun to chill with. Sadly they get so big I would have nowhere to put them and then they couldn't climb and be happy. So perhaps a permanently injured small orangutan. Not injured on my behalf or anything, but like a natural accident such as if one fell out of a tree and then hurt their spine and stunted their growth. Then I would take care of them and give them a happy home with mangos and coconuts.

Q: If you had a free month and unlimited funds, how would you spend your time?

I would gamble at a casino. Well I'm not 21 yet so if it were next month or something while I'm still 20 then I would play bingo a lot.

Q: If you could get a grant to study anything what would it be?

I would study knot theory and differential geometry. I did an independent study with a professor in quantum topology my sophomore year and I really enjoyed the knot theory aspect and how it correlates with differential geometry. As far as I am aware, those fields aren't super lucrative so it would be nice to be able to freely study those fields of mathematics. My professor at the time also talked extensively of the volume conjecture which would bridge quantum stuff with hyperbolic geometry which I find quite fascinating. This field has a lot of interesting relations to physics and I would like to be able to study that without having to worry about anything.