Home Institution: University of Iowa
Research Project: Computational Condensed Matter Theory and Response Functions: Real-time and Real-space Methods and Cloud Computing Platforms
UW Mentor(s): John Rehr, Fernando (Fer) Vila, Andrew Lee

Q: What are your physics/science interests?
My current research interest is in theoretical materials science, including using computational methods to study the behavior of novel nanoscale structures..

Q: What are your other interests?
I enjoy traveling and exploring new places. My hobbies include racquetball, canyoning, and riding my motorcycle. I most enjoy intelligent and insightful conversation, sometimes with other people. I also enjoy dry humor.

Q: What would you like to do after college?
Right now, I plan on attending graduate school and continuing my studies in condensed matter physics or related fields. Beyond that, I expect that I will have a better idea after a few years as a graduate student, but I will certainly continue studying physics in some form.

Q: Tell us one strange but interesting fact about yourself.
I personally own 10 different instruments. I can play exactly none of them.

Q: What first sparked your interest in Physics?
My interest in science fiction as a child, such as Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park, most likely led to my interest in the sciences. My interest in physics developed when I was older, as I grew more curious about the nature of the universe.

Q: If you could have any pet what would it be?
Luck dragon.

Q: If you had a free month and unlimited funds, how would you spend your time?
Since I have unlimited funds I would first say that I would hire someone else (maybe an entire firm) to spend my own endless supply of money on as many charitable and noble causes as possible in the one month timeframe. This would likely have a severe impact on the world economy, but I would hopefully be too busy traveling to notice. I would spend 5 days each at 5 different places, since that's an acceptable amount of time to explore somewhere new. There are many places I have never been, but if I had to pick 5 destinations this minute, I would say: Greece, Egypt, Alaska, France, and New Zealand. I would use my funds in many creative ways, such as bribing my way into the restricted areas of the pyramids and ancient Greek ruins, rappelling down the Eiffel Tower, mushing a dogsled, and skydiving over New Zealand. The last six days of my month (I'm assuming a 31 day month), would be spent relaxing. Just kidding, I would fund a personal holiday to the moon.

Q: If you could get a grant to study anything what would it be?
I would like a chance to study materials science applications for alternative energies, such as innovative materials for energy storage and conversion, using computational methods.