As a first-year PhD student in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley, I develop computational approaches to understand how microbial communities influence ecosystem carbon cycling. My research combines ecological modeling with machine learning to bridge molecular and ecosystem scales, aiming to improve predictions of carbon dynamics in natural systems. At Sandia, I will apply these methods to algal biofuel systems, leveraging their controlled environment to validate computational frameworks before scaling to more complex ecological applications. Beyond research, I write about the intersection of environmental science and philosophy on my blog Only the Wild Ones, and I can usually be found running, swimming, biking, or skiing, depending on the time of year.

As a fourth-year PhD candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities, I study how to improve the properties of the rare-earth free permanent magnet candidate α′′-Fe16N2. My project focuses on the enhancement of the coercivity of iron nitride, using thin films synthesized with facing-target-sputtering as the testing bed for our efforts. At Sandia, I will be broadening my knowledge of thin film deposition, studying the combinatorial synthesis of spin transition oxides via pulsed laser deposition. Outside of work, I am an avid foodie, an active bookworm, and enjoy playing video games.

I’m a third year Materials Science and Engineering Ph.D. Student at Penn State working with Dr. Stephanie Law. Prior to graduate school, I received by BS in Physics from Suffolk University. My research is focused on synthesis and development of thin-film materials for applications in infrared technology. At Sandia, I will be working on developing a photoreflectance setup for the characterization of semiconductor materials and devices to gain insight into the material and device performance. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading, weightlifting, and needlework. 

I am currently a first year Electrical Engineering PhD student at Arizona State University where I also received a M.S. in Electrical Engineering. I am a Bay Area, California native and I resided there until I graduated from Santa Clara University with a B.S. in Engineering Physics. My research interests include the physics, fabrication, and modeling/simulation of microelectronic devices, as well as how these devices are affected by radiation. Outside of my research I like to play and watch sports, ride my bike, and barbeque. 

Hello there! I am Eric, a 2nd year PhD student in Mathematics at Purdue University. My current research interests are in Dynamical Systems and Machine Learning methods. My latest research was in Generative Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Algorithms, where I applied clustering methods and Principal Component Analysis to determine the optimal autoencoder for sequences of unlabeled data. My work at Sandia is on Machine Learning applications for Data Driven Closure Models. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. After completing my graduate studies, I aspire to become a mathematical research scientist, and outside of academics I like to make origami figures and play percussion instruments.