Freshman Year (2022-2023)
In just two semesters at the University of Cincinnati (UC), I've experienced tremendous growth and seized numerous opportunities. Grateful for all the learning experiences, both inside and outside the classroom.
During my first semester, I excelled in a range of classes, from introductory to advanced levels, despite the challenge of four midterms in a single week. With the support of my family and friends, I managed to balance my workload and achieve success.
As an Undergraduate Research Assistant (RA) under the guidance of Dr. David Reeping, I contributed to the NSF-funded project "SUCCESS." My role involved analyzing engineering programs from various institutions across the United States, leveraging coding skills to automate data entry and web scraping processes. Engaging in weekly research group meetings, I gained insights into quantitative and qualitative analysis, as well as literature review papers. This freshman work experience proved immensely rewarding, allowing me to work toward set goals while exploring enriching paths.
In my second semester, I faced the challenge of maintaining a full schedule while working as an RA. Unfortunately, I had to drop the demanding Differential Equations class to maintain a balance. Despite this setback, I persevered and received the prestigious Research of the Year Award from the College of Engineering's Tribunal for my contributions to engineering education and summer research.
Continuing as an RA with Dr. Reeping, I focused on validating entered data and developing code to identify discrepancies and errors. Additionally, I assisted in writing sections of his research paper and honed my data analysis skills using the MIDFILED dataset containing student information from various institutions across the US.
As an SI Leader for College Physics 1, I had the opportunity to nurture my passion for teaching and explore my long-term goal of pursuing a career in academia. Conducting regular sessions to help fellow students grasp concepts and tackle extra problems, I formed strong bonds with my peers and fostered a supportive learning environment.
Looking ahead to the summer, I'm thrilled to collaborate with Dr. Cahay, ECE department head, and Dr. Mikheev, a physics professor, on a project involving superconducting nanoelectronics and the use of SrTiO3. I will be involved in designing patterns for wafer manufacturing and testing, alongside exploring Intel's quantum SDK for quantum circuit experimentation. Furthermore, I'm excited to embark on a co-op opportunity with Duke Energy in Fall 2023. These incredible prospects are a result of the valuable experiences and support I received throughout my first year.
Thank you to everyone who has played a part in my journey so far. I eagerly anticipate what lies ahead as I continue to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact in the field of engineering.
Sophomore Year (2023-2024)
As I reflect on the past year, I am filled with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude for the opportunities and achievements that have come my way. My journey in physics research has been particularly rewarding. Since joining Dr. Evgeny Mikheev’s lab in the Physics Department, I have been deeply involved in the study of superconducting nanoelectronics with perovskite oxides. My work has focused on fabricating and experimenting with materials like SrTiO3 and developing devices such as Hall bars and TLM patterns. Recently, I have shifted my attention to experiments with superconducting microwave resonators and interdigitated capacitors. These experiences have not only honed my technical skills but also deepened my understanding of quantum materials and their applications.
In addition to my physics research, I have been actively engaged with the Engineering Education research group under the guidance of Dr. David Reeping. Together, we have been exploring the intricacies of Curricular Analytics, analyzing the interconnectedness of courses within academic plans of study. Our research aims to quantify curricular complexity and its impact on student success metrics, such as retention and graduation rates. This year, I had the opportunity to contribute to a new paper that will be presented at the ASEE 2024 Annual Conference. This work has been instrumental in broadening my research horizons and strengthening my skills in data analysis and educational research methodologies.
One of the highlights of this year was my participation in the Physics Department’s Annual Poster Competition. I was thrilled to win the runner-up prize for best research poster presentation. This recognition was a testament to the hard work and dedication I have poured into my research projects. It also underscored the importance of effectively communicating complex scientific concepts to a broader audience. Winning this award has inspired me to continue pursuing excellence in my research endeavors and to remain committed to contributing to the scientific community. Overall, this year has been a transformative period of growth, learning, and achievement, and I look forward to the new challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Junior Year (2024-2025)
Reflecting on my third year at the University of Cincinnati, I am struck by how much this year has shaped my identity as a researcher and engineer. Building upon my foundation in physics and electrical engineering, I delved deeper into hands-on fabrication, scientific communication, and the iterative process of discovery.
This year, my work in Dr. Mikheev’s lab evolved significantly. I began learning the process of fabrication, including cleanroom processes like lithography and etching, giving me a much better understanding of how ideas on paper become functioning devices. Designing and testing superconducting microwave resonators became a central focus. I wasn’t just assisting anymore—I took ownership of experiments, developed my own measurement codebase, and trained new lab members. I have also designed new experiments to study certain material properties—a milestone that underscored my growing independence as a researcher.
One of the most rewarding moments this year was giving a scientific talk at the American Physical Society's Global Physics Research Summit 2025. Presenting my work on superconducting devices to an audience with particular interest in my field pushed me to understand and communicate complex ideas—a skill that’s becoming increasingly vital as I look toward graduate school and future collaborations. I got placed into a good session for my talk, so there were around 50 or so people to watch it. It was a bit daunting to talk for 10 minutes in front of an audience who would know more about the field and the physics than me, but that's what made it an even better experience.
On the same project, I'm also working on writing a manuscript to discuss the exciting findings from my measurements and analysis. It's titled 'Superconducting dome in homoepitaxial Strontium Titanate thin films'. I'm currently working on revising it after feedback from my PI and will publish it as a preprint after we show it to our collaborators as well.
As I look forward to senior year, I'm filled with anticipation. I plan to finalize and submit our manuscript to journals, further refine our resonator designs, and deepen my understanding of quantum systems—possibly through a summer internship or research opportunity. The journey is far from over, but this year has helped me define my path more clearly than ever.