Ri D
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Harvard University
Expertise
superconductivity, batteries, physics, math, fractals, semiconductors and solar cells, sustainable energy technology, applied computer programming projects related to physics or math, STEM education improvements (either through a social lens or through pedagogy lens)
Bio
My first three years of graduate research focused on designing new materials which can be used to build batteries. These materials need to have the right electronic properties so that the batteries will charge quickly, deliver enough power, have a long shelf life, and many many other considerations! The science in designing new battery materials is a fascinating intersection of chemistry, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics. The primary tool I use to study material properties is called Density Functional Theory, which can be done by a computer! Now my work is focused on ways to improve physics education. I study how methods like peer instruction, project based learning, and active learning improve student's learning outcomes. I work on developing new methods which have statistically significant impacts on student outcomes. I am also interested in studying how social identities including gender and race impact physics education and the experience of students within underrepresented communities. In my free time, I love going on adventures outside. I like to hike, kayak, snowboard, and go camping. Since the weather is bad all too often, I also like to stay inside and cook, dance, listen to tons of music, rock climb, and read. I also spend a lot of time playing with my two cats.Project ideas
Writing a program to model a fractal
Fractals are "self similar" images, meaning as you zoom in on one part of the image, you see that the image keeps being repeated. You can zoom in infinitely and find that this image repetition continues (for an example, look up youtube videos of the mandelbrot set). Fractals are not only beautiful to look at, but the math behind them is also interesting and useful! You can write a program in python to generate several different fractals. By the end, you will have gained invaluable coding skills, new math knowledge, and some really neat pictures to show off.
Build a new device utilizing superconducting levitation
Superconductivity is a fascinating and complicated physical property that certain materials possess. Superconducting materials inside of a magnetic field will even levitate! In this project you can obtain a superconducting material and explore this levitation property, and build a device of your choosing which would somehow rely on this levitation property.