Q: What are your physics/science interests?

Within physics, I'm really interested in nuclear and particle physics, quantum systems, and optics. I also enjoy several different astronomy topics as well, such as AGNs, (early) stellar evolution, cosmology, and astrochemistry. I've also recently become really into marine science; I think the overlap between physics and oceanography is very interesting, especially for simulating the ocean and other systems with models.  

Q: What are your other interests? 

I consider myself a cinephile, so I watch a lot of films and then yell at my friends to watch them. I also play a lot of video games, and I do (amatuer) photography. I've been playing violin with my university's orchestra for two years, and I'm planning to continue that as well! I also enjoy writing, and I have amassed a collection of poems and short stories over the last several years. 

 Q: What would you like to do after college? 

I'm very unoriginal, so I'm planning to continue doing research by going to graduate school. I'd also like to take some time to travel and pursue my more artistic interests. 

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

I won an outdoor cooking competition that took place in a thunderstorm by making jambalaya in a dutch oven.

Q: What first sparked your interest in Physics? 

I first fell in love with astronomy while watching documentaries on the History Channel, but I didn't become interested in physics specifically until recently. I watched Oppenheimer and found some of the topics covered in the film (quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, etc.) to be incredibly fascinating. I started a research project at my home university modeling electron showers, and the rest was history.  

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

I don't own any pets, so I really just want to have a cat.  

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

I'd buy a pirate ship and sail around the Mediterranean Sea. That was, I can combine my love of traveling and oceanography together, and also look cool while doing it.  

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

I'd study how to make things shrink and grow like Ant-man; it seems like it'd involve a lot of fun theoretical physics, and would also be incredibly useful!