CV

Education

Physics and Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO

January 2020 — Present

Relevant Work

Awards and Certifications

Uplift Research Grant, University of Colorado Boulder

August 2023

Academic research grant awarded to students at The University of Colorado Boulder. Includes weekly workshops throughout the academic year that focus on technical skills to aid in research.

Radiation Safety Training

August 2022 — August 2025

Radiation Safety Training for Sealed Source Users, issued by BioRAFT on behalf of The University of Colorado Boulder. Valid through August 2025.

Employment History

Topological Data Analyst at CU's REU in Mathematics in Association with Dr. Pflaum, Boulder, CO

May 2024 — Present

●   Learning the basics behind topological theory and its applications

●   Creating and presenting coded visuals of assigned problems, such as:

●   Random Sampling on circles, n-Spheres, and n-Tori

●   Energy landscapes of alkanes, ammonia, and cyclooctane

●     

●   Studying topological applications to quantum chemistry via Gamess

Undergraduate Researcher at Shaheen Lab, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO

August 2023 — May 2024

●   Investigated the parameter space of Julia-based reservoir computers to better predict the chaotic Lorenz '63 and Belousov Zhabotinsky systems. Included explorations of ridge regression, activation function, and node number, among other parameters, to reliably increase the "dead-space" of Lorenz system predictability (forecast horizon) from 0 to 15+.

●   Learned basic supercomputing on the Alpine Supercomputing Cluster to better aid in reservoir computer simulations

●   Studied using reservoir computing to better understand the function of enzymes

●   Gave several presentations on my research topic at the Uplift and Physics Undergraduate Research Symposiums

Physics LA & Tutor at Front Range Community College, Longmont, CO

August 2019 — May 2020

●   Assisted in the preparation of students for college-level physics classes and exams

●   Aided with hands-on activities and labs to help students better understand physics concepts

●   Mentored and tutored students in a variety of physics topics, resulting in improved grades and test scores

Academic History

Chaos Theory , APPM 3010

●   Learned the foundations of Chaos Theory in the hopes of applying it to the study of fusion. 

●   Of particular relevant topics were smooth dynamical systems, bifurcation theory, Lyapunov exponents, and fractals, which I applied to my work in the Shaheen Lab to explore modeling the Oregonator system, a mathematical model of the Belousov Zhabotinsky reaction

Quantum Mechanics 1, PHYS 3220

●   Covered Schrödinger equation, wave functions, probability, formal operator methods, three-dimensional systems such as the hydrogen atom, among others.

Electricity and Magnetism 1 & 2, PHYS 3310/3320

●   Covers the consequences of Maxwell's equations including planewaves, wave guides, and radiation

Electronics for the Physical Sciences, PHYS 3330

●   Two lectures and one three hour laboratory per week that covers the fundamentals of analog and digital electronics necessary for the physics major

●   Topics included:

●   Circuit Analysis/Debugging

●   Basic Soldering

●   Use of Digital and Analog Oscilloscopes, power supplies, and waveform generators

●   Analog: Voltage Dividers, Filters, Op Amps, BJTs

●   Digital: Boolean Logic, logic gates, clocks, and Arduino

●     

●   Final Project consisted of constructing and presenting an analog theremin and a Chua Circuit

Introduction to Scientific Programming (ASTR 2600)

●   Currently taking this class

●   Will master fundamental principles of (scientific) programming, adeptly employing Python to create intricate programs like an N-body simulation and to visualize data for tackling astronomical and astrophysical challenges.

●   Will develop confidence to delve into advanced programming techniques in Python and other languages, recognizing its indispensable role as a pivotal tool for future scientific research and technical pursuits.

Astrophysics 1 (w/ Associated Lab), ASTR 3730

●   Included one python-based lab per week that gave context to lecture material using real-life Gaia data

●   Applied the principles of gravity, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics to understand stars and stellar evolution

Organic Chemistry 1 & 2 (w/ Associated Labs), CHEM 3311/3321 3331/3341

●   Courses included weekly wetlab experience in organic synthesis. Gained skills in identifying functional groups and molecule identification via NMR and IR spectroscopy for all products made 

●   Gained knowledge in mechanism analysis, stereochemistry, regiochemistry, reaction kinetics and their consequences for organic synthesis

Ordinary Differential Equations & Linear Algebra, MATH 3430/2135

●   Developed techniques in solving and analyzing dynamical systems. Gained an understanding of vector spaces, linear transformations, and eigenvalue problems. 

Microbiology (w/ Associated Lab), EBIO 3400/3410

●   Included general microbio lab techniques (sterilization, culturing, indentification, incubation, and analysis)

●   Covered the characteristics of various microorganisms including their metabolism and genetics with applications to infectious disease pathology. 

References

Dr. Sean Shaheen from the Shaheen Research Group (CU Boulder)

sean.shaheen@colorado.edu

Lauren Hurley from the Shaheen Research Group (CU Boulder)

Lauren.Hurley@colorado.edu