“Impossibilities are merely things of which we have not learned, or which we do not wish to happen.” - Charles W. Chesnutt

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” - Plutarch

My first experience with Physics research came relatively late in my undergraduate education. Nevertheless, it changed my life and set me on a lifelong path to make access to scientific research more equitable. In my last year as a Physics major at Fordham University, on a whim I decided to enroll in an independent study course. I had not seriously considered Physics research as a career option and looking back it is most likely due to my lack of access to the field until then. That semester I participated in scientific research for the first time and found that it fulfilled me unlike anything I had done before. Aside from confirming that my future would be in Physics research the experience made clear to me that access to Physics research had to improve at small Physics departments like the one at Fordham. I was disheartened by the fact that it had only been in my last year as a Physics major that I discovered the personal fulfillment that scientific research could provide and was determined to improve access to Physics research at such institutions. In 2013, I was accepted to the Physics PhD program at the University of Arizona and from the start I had a goal in mind to improve access to Physics research. Upon learning about the demographics in Physics research at the University and nationwide, I further focused my goal: to improve access to Physics research at small liberal arts schools and to allow for better inclusion of under-represented minorities (URM) into Physics research. In the following years I was able to begin putting part of my plan into action and to begin charting a path to realize my goal. Looking forward, I hope to use my my developing career to set up the next steps in fully realizing my goal. 

During my first visit to the University of Arizona as a prospective student, I briefly met with Dr. Srinivas Manne. We spoke about outreach prospects in the Physics Department and he mentioned several valuable opportunities. The most compelling opportunity was to become one of two graduate mentors with the University of Arizona Physics Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program because of the special role it played in allowing access to scientific research for students at Pima Community College (PCC) that are in the process of transferring to the University of Arizona. I saw that the role of the Physics REU as a bridge program for URM students in Physics and Engineering aligned perfectly with my goals. At the moment, the two positions were filled, but I expressed my interest for the future. In 2015, I was hired as one of two graduate mentors with the REU. Due to the efforts of faculty members at PCC, our pool of applicants had been highly qualified and very diverse. I strove for the inclusion of URM students in our shortlist and am proud to say that in my time with the program we were able to attract highly qualified REU classes that were close to 50% female. 

In my work as a graduate mentor with the Physics REU I have sought to inspire URM students to continue Physics and Engineering research. I believe that the dire lack of diversity in Physics research is symptomatic of the lack of access to Physics research at the undergraduate level. Only 22% of Physics undergraduates are women, 16% are doctoral candidates, and a shockingly low 5% are full professors [1] . A trend can be seen in the decrease of women doing Physics research after the undergraduate level. The problem is even more acute for black and brown budding physicists [2] . Though the solutions to such problems are not clear cut, efforts can be made to encourage URM Physics undergraduates to participate in Physics research. Much of this work can be done at the national level through inclusive policies at REU sites. Much of the work can also be done by allowing for better access to Physics research at small liberal arts schools and schools catering to URM students in Physics. As an Adjunct Professor at PCC, I have had the opportunity to interact with students from similar social and economic background as my own. I have tried to impart to these students that they too can participate in scientific research despite coming from underprivileged backgrounds. I was able to recommended students as applicants apply for the University of Arizona Physics REU. These students have gone on to become successful REU applicants and complete amazing scientific research.

As I continue in my career as an educator and mentor, I hope to instill values of equity and inclusion in the students I meet and advise. 

[1] https://www.aps.org/programs/women/resources/statistics.cfm

[2] https://www.aps.org/programs/minorities/resources/statistics.cfm

Courses

Below is a list of courses/labs I have taught or have been a teaching assistant for.