Home Institution: Cornell University
Research Project: Search for Dark Matter
UW Mentor(s): Leslie Rosenberg

Q: What are your physics/science interests?
A: Yes.

That is, I like it all: classical and quantum; theoretical and experimental; high energy, solid state, and astrophysics--the whole works. Unfortunately, The Establishment doesn't usually let one pursue all subfields of physics, so I'm presently trying hard to check them all out before I have to specialize in one of them.

Q: What are your other interests?
A: Skiing, rock climbing, mountaineering, hiking, biking, water skiing, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, traveling, buildering, and reciting long lists of gerunds.

Q: What would you like to do after college?
A: Grad school seems like a logical next step. After that, I have no solid plans.

Q: Tell us one strange but interesting fact about yourself.
A: I have a preternatural phobia of disclosing personal information (especially via the web).

Q: What first sparked your interest in Physics?
A: My interest in physics began while I was still in elementary school. I was already keen on science and math, and I asked my dad what sort of discipline integrated both. He pointed me toward physics, and it did not take long to realize that this was definitely right up my lane. I fell in love with elements of relativity early on, where concepts of spacetime and the warping thereof described by the theory struck a resonant note in my young imagination. Kinematics and mechanics were also perpetual affections of mine, perhaps because I grew up on a farm in the presence of myriad machines and all forms of moving contraptions. But in general the more I've learned the more I've liked learning about physics, and my interest has grown ever since first being introduced.

Q: If you could have any pet what would it be?
A: A Fabergé chicken (one that lays eggs).

Q: If you had a free month and unlimited funds, how would you spend your time?
A: First I would rent a fleet of aircraft carriers (from the Cold War Overstock Rent-a-Navy Supercenter) and rally a contingent of mercenaries, desperados, thugs, strongmen, revolutionaries, volunteers, engineers, activists, hippies, hobos, and whatever other class of people generally willing to work weekends. I would fly them via stealth helicopters to remote regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, central Asia, and Central America, and equip them with a full arsenal of shovels and pick-axes (fitted, of course, with cutting edge shovel and pick-ax technology). Then I would have them dig wells. They would also deliver food & medical aid; build houses, schools, & hospitals; and clean up disaster areas, according to what was needed in any given region.

If they ran out of wells to dig, the mercenaries might also march through Syria with tranquilizer guns to calm things down there (or maybe the hippies could march through with wheelbarrows full of flaming hashish).

Q: If you could get a grant to study anything what would it be?
Here's the list:

10) Magnetic levitation
9) Metamaterials
8) Spin ice
7) Gravitational effects on skis (i.e. "hucking yer meat")
6) Tepuis
5) Squirrel suits
4) Squirrel suits on tepuis
3) Gravitational effects of hucking yer meat in squirrel suits on tepuis (not on skis)
2) Fabergé chickens
1) Gravitational effects of hucking yer Fabergé chickens in squirrel suits on tepuis on skis (this would take a substantial grant)
0) How to effectively respond to hypothetical questions, without degenerating into a convoluted, facetious banter, at 12:17 AM
-1) How to incorporate >10 entries on a top 10 list
i) Hypothetical questions
12:32 AM) How to effectively respond to hypothetical questions, without degenerating into a convoluted, facetious banter, at 12:17 AM
12:32 AM) Good night