About me
I’m an applied physicist and engineer with a balance of experience in both theory and experiment, especially in the optics lab and at the electronics workbench.
I’m curious, meticulous, and forward-thinking. No matter the topic, I’m enticed and inspired by unexplored problems and energized by the learning process. I thrive in dynamic atmospheres where I’m absorbing new material on the fly.
I’m also a passionate STEM educator, having taught students at a variety of levels for over 10 years. I’m fascinated by the connections between concepts. I find simple pleasure in uncovering an elegant truth beneath a complex façade, and in viewing the familiar world from new angles. That’s why I enjoy curriculum development and, pedagogically, why I prize learning experiences that empower student-centered discovery.
On a personal note, I’m naturally introspective and reflective. I tend to cogitate on technical problems and life’s cares alike, in a continual mental hum. I enjoy crisp design, a great book (check out my reading list on Goodreads!), a jungle of houseplants, and a clean cup of hand-poured black coffee.
- Fourier Optics
- Adaptive Optics
- Wavefront Estimation and Control
- Super-resolution Microscopy
- Phase-contrast Microscopy
- Optical Tweezers
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PhD, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, 2022
Princeton University
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MS, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, 2014
Princeton University
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BSs, Applied Physics and Mathematics, 2010
University of Wisconsin—River Falls
Skills
Imaging systems, spatial filtering, wavefront modulation and sensing, interferometry, optical tweezers, collimation, alignment
MATLAB, Mathematica, LabVIEW, COMSOL Multiphysics, C, HTML, CSS, git
Hardware prototyping, mixed-signal and logic design, data acquisition, FPGAs, troubleshooting, unit testing
State-space methods, optimal control, state estimation, Kalman filtering
English, Spanish
Curriculum development, AP, special needs, IEPs, student-centered learning
Professional Development
Teaching + Mentorship
Featured Experience
Brightmont Academy is a private school that specializes in a one-on-one instructional approach that is geared to provide individualized attention to students with special needs, including autism, learning disabilities, emotional impairments, and/or academic gifts.
- Created lesson plans and activities that match the unique learning styles, interests, imaginations, and abilities of individual students in grades 6–12
- Developed custom university-level curriculum for gifted students, including special topics in mathematics and advanced science lab activities
- Assessed student skills and degree of mastery to determine individual needs and, where necessary, modify course curricula and activities to comply with individualized education plans (IEPs)
My experience was a little deeper than a typical TA role involving grading, holding office hours, and organizing and teaching weekly precept lectures. I also taught the mechanical engineering lab portion of the engineering school’s freshman survey course twice, and mentored three graduate students in teaching it in subsequent years. I drew on examples from my own research to generate lessons for the MATLAB unit and designed and taught lab activities for the robotics unit.
- Intro. to Engineering, Math, and Physics
- Aircraft Flight Dynamics
- Space Systems Design
- Thermodynamics
Let’s Connect
- 1 920 410 0978
- Seattle, WA
- Message Me
- Tweet or DM Me