Home Institution: Oregon State University
Research Project: Gravity Wave Detectors
UW Mentor(s): Stephan Schlamminger, Jens Gundlach, Blayne Heckel, Eric Adelberger

Q: What are your physics/science interests?
A: I am very interested in astronomy/ cosmology. I am really drawn towards dark matter and other theoretical aspects of this field. I have always been fascinated with this area since my freshman year in high school when I learned what String Theory was, and today I am really interested in dark matter searches, or neutrino detection. In college I learned about neutrino detection and wimp detection in a cosmology course and I always thought it would be fun to work with detectors that are kilometers under mountains. However, by being at this REU for a few weeks I also really like my gravitational wave detection project, more commonly known as LISA, and could really see myself continuing in this direction. To me this is as fascinating and very similar to the "new physics" of neutrinos and dark matter that I have always been drawn to. However, even though I like the "new physics" and theoretical aspects of cosmology/physics I am still an experimentalist at heart, and really enjoy just working in the lab collecting data and building devices.

Q: What are your other interests?
A: My second biggest interest after physics would defiantly be music and band. I have been in marching band since my sophomore year of high school and am currently in the Oregon State Marching Band (Go Beavs!). I have played alto saxophone since the sixth grade, but have moved onto bassoon in high school which I play for concert band. I have also played mellophone in the marching band, but I have recently started playing the tuba and am going to join the sousaphone line this year as a senior. My other interests are knitting, biking, drawing (although I'm not particularly great at it), and just hanging out with friends and having a fun time.

Q: What would you like to do after college?
A: After graduating from OSU I want to go to graduate school and eventually get my PhD in physics or astronomy. After that I would love to do my own research at a university so that I can still do experimental physics, but also so I can become a professor and help other aspiring students learn all the fun and interesting facts that physics has and can answer.

Q: Tell us one strange but interesting fact about yourself.
A: The most interesting fact is that I have a twin sister, Nicole, who is also going to OSU with me. And to answer your questions, she is older then me, but only by a minute so it hardly counts ;). Another interesting fact is that I think pickles and ranch make a very good snack, especially if I'm sick (weird I know).