Valerie H
- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at Columbia University

Expertise

experimental quantum physics/low-dimensional materials engineering

Bio

I am a current physics graduate student at Columbia studying electronic and optical properties of low-dimensional materials. I received my BA in physics and German from UC Berkeley in spring 2020. Because my field of research lies at the intersection of physics, materials science, and engineering, I am interested in cross-disciplinary communication as well as science communication more broadly. Since I began physics research in college, I have also been passionate about accessibility and diversity in science, and I engage with both of these by participating in various mentorship opportunities. Outside of physics and STEM outreach, I am interested in language-learning, frisbee, and rock climbing.

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.

Frontiers of 2D materials research

This project will introduce the student to recent advances in low-dimensional quantum physics and explore potential applications of these new material phases. You will write a review paper in the style of a scientific journal article surveying key results and potential future directions of this research.

Coding skills

Python, Matlab

Languages I know

Chinese, German, Spanish (intermediate), French (beginner)

Teaching experience

I served as a volunteer project mentor through the Bay Area BASIS science program, leading small teams of middle schoolers in designing and carrying out their own semester-long science projects. I also tutored high school students in science and math throughout my four years in university. Currently, I am an introductory physics lab course lecturer for Columbia engineering undergraduates; in past semesters, I have been both a private tutor and a teaching assistant for both problem-based and lab-based introductory physics courses.

Credentials

Education

University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley)

BA Bachelor of Arts

Physics, German

Columbia University

MS Master of Science

Physics