Q: What are your physics/science interests?

My interests lie in high energy and nuclear theory. I enjoy learning about the world at a fundamental level trying to understand the building blocks of matter and their interactions. I find the unfamiliar structures you encounter studying nature on a small scale incredibly interesting. 

Q: What are your other interests? 

Aside from physics, I enjoy playing piano, singing, and hiking. I’m excited to conduct a choir at my university starting this fall (2023), and I also sing at weddings sometimes.  

 Q: What would you like to do after college? 

Following my undergraduate degree, I will pursue a Ph.D. in theoretical physics followed by postdoctoral fellowships with the goal of making a career conducting theoretical research. I would love to lead my own research group someday and am open to career opportunities in both academia and industry. 

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

I was in a rock/pop band from middle school through early high school. There are some great videos of 14-year-old me singing songs like “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Joan Jett and “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence at restaurants around my hometown.  

Q: What first sparked your interest in Physics? 

In physics, I find that I can best utilize my creativity. Math provides a structure with which you can articulate just about any relationship you can imagine. In studying the natural world, you can then see how well your description matches reality! 

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

Honestly, a lap dog sounds just about perfect.  

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

I would spend a month traveling the U.S. and Europe. I would love to go hiking in the Grand Canyon, visit New York City, and spend time around the Mediterranean. 

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

I don’t have my heart set on a research question yet, but I have had a taste of research beyond the Standard Model. Supersymmetry research was interesting last summer as well as dark matter research at my home institution the past two semesters. Regarding nuclear physics, I would like to learn more about the role of quarks and gluons in strongly interacting particles.