Blake M
- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at Tulane University

Expertise

Nuclear Physics, Astrophysics, science of historical and modern energy production

Bio

I am a graduate student working towards my PhD in Nuclear Physics at Tulane University. I presently am working on the Beamline 3 project studying Neutron decay. I have previously worked as a research assistant studying beta decay on the He-6 CRES project at the University of Washington. I also work as a physics teaching assistant at Tulane. I consider myself to be knowledgeable about radiation, nuclear reactors, and the standard model of particle physics. I am passionate about learning, and am eager to mentor students who feel the same! In my free time I enjoy playing puzzle games and story games that force you to piece together stories, such as Subnautica, Outer Wilds, and Tunic. I am so deeply involved in scientific research that when I attended UW during COVID and couldn't go to class, I took to making working model rocket engines in my parent's garage to launch cardboard rockets thousands of feet into the air!

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

A review of current fusion (or fission) reactor designs

A literature review of current or proposed reactor designs and mechanism in context with their efficiency, energy-density, fuel source, and waste products to recommend a reader (such as someone who writes grants for reactor design) what sort of nuclear energy scientists should seek to build. This would involve a review of theory (including how nuclear fusion or decay works), real data analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and ultimately writing a multiple-section research paper reviewing the subject and, if your research leads you to it, making a formal recommendation.

Coding skills

Python, C++

Teaching experience

I have worked for several quarters as a TA at my undergraduate and graduate universities, and have advised high-school students in research projects that were similar to my own.

Credentials

Work experience

Tulane University (2024 - Current)

Teaching Assistant

University of Washington (2022 - 2024)

Research Assistant

University of Washington (2021 - 2022)

Teaching Assitant

Education

University of Washington

BS Bachelor of Science

Astronomy, Comprehensive Physics

Tulane University

MS Master of Science candidate

Nuclear Physics