Experience

Harvard University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Student Researcher

  • Jul 2019 - Present

  Graduate student researcher at Harvard University working in Professor Jennifer Hoffman's laboratory. Currently studying Hexaborides (mainly focusing on Samarium Hexaboride) to understand the interplay between topology and strong electron correlations and topological superconductivity to design platforms for performing topological quantum logic. These research avenues have the possibility to create novel electronics (such as dissipationless transistors) and greater robustness in quantum computation. Show less



Cornell Center for Materials Research

• United States
• Research Services

• Undergraduate Researcher

  • Jun 2018 - Aug 2018

  In the summer of 2018, I performed research with Professor Dan Ralph at Cornell University in the Laboratory for Atomic and Solid-State Physics through an NSF REU. I worked directly with Dr. Jonathan Gibbons and post-doctoral researcher Arnab Bose. The goals of my research included generating out-of-plane anti-dampening torques utilizing the anomalous Hall effect and measuring the line-width change of materials based on the thickness of the material. Part of the project included creating Magnetic Tunnel Junctions (MTJ) consisting of thin film out-of-plane ferromagnets and a thin film of an antiferromagnetic material which would be used to exchange-bias one of the ferromagnetic layers. The MTJ is comprised of two ferromagnetic layers, a free layer and a fixed layer, with a spacer layer between them. The fixed layer is used to generate a spin current that tunnels into the free layer, through the spacer layer, where the spin of the electrons will apply torques causing a precession of the magnetic direction of the free layer. The spacer layer also acts to keep the two layers from magnetically coupling. I grew samples and tested them with vibrating sample magnetometer measurements and anomalous Hall effect measurements to determine if they possessed the correct magnetization in each layer. I performed Spin-Torque Transfer Ferromagnetic Resonance measurements to characterize samples to determine what torques could be generated and on measuring line-width changes as a function of thickness. I successfully grew the films with the desired magnetization directions and next steps in the research include creating the MTJ stacks to attempt generating out-of-plane anti-dampening torques. Show less



Bethel University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Undergraduate Researcher

  • Jan 2018 - May 2018

  At Bethel University, I worked with Professor Brian Turnquist, utilizing his proprietary algorithm focusing on applications of anomaly detection and, specifically, identifying seizures from patients suffering from epilepsy. Seizures must be recognized quickly so that doctors can perform necessary procedures. Machine learning has not been successful since machines have been limited to recognizing specific seizures for a specific patient after repeated trainings. Additionally, algorithms must be trained, that is, the algorithm must be shown many instances of seizures, which still requires a doctor to identify the seizures in an EEG scan. I suggested we test Dr. Turnquist’s algorithm on seizure data, then found the usable data, and determined what preprocessing steps must be performed on the data to maximize the algorithm’s ability to identify seizures. I assisted in experiments by giving the algorithm the data to learn. The result was the anomaly detection algorithm learned the abnormality of a seizure and was not patient or seizure specific. As long as the data did not have a varying offset, the algorithm performed extremely well without any other preprocessing steps. Our results are being shared with Medtronic to showcase the algorithm and obtain more testing data. The research potential is great since the algorithm utilizes a minimal processing power compared to equivalent machine setups. It could potentially run on smart phones, eliminating the need for bulky machinery and a visit to a medical office. Show less



Osaka University

• Japan
• Higher Education
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Nakatani RIES Fellow at Osaka University

  • Jun 2017 - Aug 2017

  I explored Terahertz (THz) Physics in Osaka, Japan, through the 2017 Nakatani Research and International Experience in the laboratories of Professor Masaysoshi Tonouchi at the Institute of Laser Engineering in Osaka University. I worked under Professor Iwao Kawayama and postdoctoral researcher Renee Bagsica. My project focused on exploring the charge dynamics of highly aligned carbon nanotubes (6,5) through Terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy using nanotube samples manufactured at Rice University in the laboratory of Professor Junichiro Kono. The purpose of the research was to explore the efficiency of photon emission, anisotropy qualities, and the ease of disassociating electron-hole pairs, that is, how do electrons behave in these films. I used a MaiTai laser to pass a femto-second pulse beam through a beam splitter resulting in two paths that functioned as a probe and a pump. The pump was redirected through a chopper and halfwave plate before being focused onto the sample. This put electrons into excited states and when a voltage was applied, would result in the generation of THz waves that were redirected onto a sensor. I focused on taking data with varying pump wavelengths and power levels that illuminated the carbon nanotube (CNT) sample producing the THz radiation, the polarization of the pump beam, and the voltage bias applied to the CNT sample. I also applied my computer programming techniques. Outside of my research and on my own time, I wrote a program for a post-doctoral researcher on a different setup to control a future apparatus. Show less



Bethel University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Undergraduate Researcher

  • Jun 2016 - Aug 2016

  At Bethel University, with Professor Nathan Lindquist and a team at Invenshure Corp., I researched developing a mobile platform for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to identify molecular components in a solution. The goal of the research was to determine whether the optics of a phone camera are sufficiently powerful to be used for SERS measurements. Success would mean the use of SERS would not be limited to bulky equipment in the laboratory. Adapting a phone to perform this procedure could permit field measurements with inexpensive equipment. I created an apparatus to attach to a phone with an assortment of 3D printed parts I designed and parts I purchased from Thor Labs. I wrote code requirements and trained two Invenshure employees on the concepts and design of the system. The apparatus I designed involved passing a laser through a beam splitter and focusing the light onto a sample. The light from this sample would then reflect back and through the lens emerging as parallel rays. These rays would be reflected off the beam splitter and through a filter to remove the laser light, and then passed through a diffraction grating before entering the camera lens of the phone. The phone would average a series of pictures to produce a spectrum. The number of pixels from the central maximum to the bright spots in the spectrum determined the Raman Spectrum of the sample. The research was successful in proving the concept and Invenshure is looking at next steps for possible applications. Show less