Curriculum Vitae

Bachelor of Science

University of Puget Sound

Physics, Mathematics

• Artificial Intelligence
• Mathematical Modeling
• Abstract Algebra
• Electromagnetic Theory
• Quantum Mechanics
• Statistical Mechanics

Doctor of Philosophy

Northwestern University

Materials Science and Engineering

• Computational Materials Science
• Machine Learning
• Solid State Physics
• Inverse Methods
• Data-Driven Research Methods
• Phase Transformations in Materials
• Data Visualization

Graduate R&D Intern

Sandia National Laboratories  |  Computational Materials Division

• Developed data shuffling method for Materials Learning Algorithms (MALA)
• Expanded MALA neural network surrogate models from pure elements to binary compounds
• Designed active learning algorithm to overcome redundancy in massive data sets and improve edge case learning
• Maintained >95% accuracy on defective semiconductors with a 95% reduction in the training set size

Graduate Research Fellow

Northwestern University  |  Materials Theory and Design Group

• Leveraged machine learning and first-principles methods to study structure-property relationships in inorganic materials
• Developed workflow tools to improve group productivity
• Mentored and developed onboarding/training material for younger graduate students
• Wrote peer-reviewed publications, grants, and referee feedback on reviewed papers
• Attended conferences, hackathons, and seminars to absorb and disseminate knowledge of the field

R&D 100 Award for Materials Learning Algorithms project (contributor)

R&D World

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

National Science Foundation

Integrated Data-Driven Discovery in Earth and Astrophysical Sciences Fellowship

Northwestern University

Peter K. Wallerich Scholarship

University of Puget Sound

Raymond and Olive Seward Scholarship

University of Puget Sound

McGill Family Scholarship

University of Puget Sound

Thomas Malcolm and Hilda Enden Jack Scholarship

University of Puget Sound

Puget Sound Trustee Scholarship

University of Puget Sound

Machine learning the electronic structure of matter across temperatures

Physical Review B

Testing the Limits of the Global Instability Index

Applied Physics Letters Materials

Carrier-induced metal-insulator transition in trirutile MgTa\(_2\)O\(_6\)

Physical Review Materials

AB\(_2\)X\(_6\) Compounds and the Stabilization of Trirutile Oxides

Inorganic Chemistry

Database, Features, and Machine Learning Modeling to Identify Thermally Driven Metal-Insulator Transition Compounds

Chemistry of Materials

Structural signatures of the insulator-to-metal transition in BaCo\(_{1−x}\)Ni\(_x\)S\(_2\)

Physical Review Materials

Optimization and Validation of Efficient Models for Predicting Polythiophene Self-Assembly

Polymers

Screening for Novel Ferroelectric Materials

Northwestern University

• Built a high-throughput, closed-loop screening workflow incorporating machine learning and first-principles calculation to identify novel ferroelectric material candidates
• Characterized strain-dependent ferroelectricity in 7 novel candidates

Decoratypes: A New Materials Taxonomy

Northwestern University

• Generalized the concept of anti-structures to include \(n\)-ary compounds and arbitrary site-based properties, termed decoratypes
• Created a high-throughput identification workflow and screened >80,000 structures to identify and classify decoratype families

Generalized Tolerance Factor for Inorganic Crystals

Solid-State Materials Chemistry and Data Science Hackathon

• Facilitated rapid project progression from infancy to working prototype in 2 days with a 3-person interdisciplinary team
• Created a symbolic learning model to produce cheap, transparent stability predictions for inorganic crystals
• Attended hands-on workshops to hone my skills in design and tuning of machine learning models and curation of data

Testing the Limits of the Global Instability Index (GII)

Northwestern University

• Analyzed the effect of various bonding models to construct a more robust GII calculator
• Quantified the sensitivity of the GII metric to chemistry, structure, and data source in small, clustered data sets and large (>20,000 sample) data sets
• Overhauled understanding of GII as an absolute metric for structural stability, proposing new guidelines for effective use

Carrier-Induced Metal-Insulator Transition in Trirutile MgTa\(_2\)O\(_6\)

Northwestern University

• Mapped the electronic and magnetic phases across electron doping in MgTa\(_2\)O\(_6\)
• Investigated coupling between electronic state and established structural indicators
• Assessed the similarities and differences in the transition-driving forces between the trirutile and rutile structures

Structural Signatures of the Insulator-to-Metal Transition in BaCo\(_{1−x}\)Ni\(_x\)S\(_2\)

Northwestern University

• Discovered the origin of structural distortions observed by experimental collaborators using first-principles calculation compatible with anomalous sulfide disorder observed in experiment
• Transformed our understanding of the insulator-to-metal transition by connecting it to the origin of the distortions
• Presented the new ground state structure compatible with previously unexplained distortions

High-throughput molecular simulations into the morphology of P3HT:PCBM blends

Boise State University

• Developed coarse-grained molecular dynamics model of self-assembly in conducting polymer blends
• Mapped morphology phase diagram using radial distribution, clustering algorithms, and simulated X-ray scattering

Reviewer

• 2022  |  Chemistry of Materials  |  1 article
• 2023  |  Communications Physics  |  1 article
• 2024  |  APL Machine Learning  |  1 article

Curriculum Developer, Mentor

Coding Club  |  Pedersen-McCormick Boys and Girls Club

• Developed intermediate and advanced Python lessons and projects for high school-age students
• Tutored/mentored local high school students at weekly code literacy lessons

Mentor

Junior Science Club  |  Pedersen-McCormick Boys and Girls Club

• Engaged young students with weekly educational science sessions
• Developed exciting, hands-on, and informative curricula for weekly science sessions

Student Representative

Strategic Planning Steering Committee  |  University of Puget Sound

• Drafted the university’s 10-year vision, goals, and evaluative metrics with a team of 20 faculty, administrators, trustees, and students meeting every 3-4 weeks for a year
• Gathered, condensed, and presented student feedback to the steering committee to advocate for student needs

Media Coordinator

Advocates for Detained Voices (club)  |  University of Puget Sound

• Raised over $5,000 to help fund cancer treatment for a detained person
• Organized events for awareness and charity to support local immigrants
• Helped run a support stand providing legal resources and humanitarian aid for visitors to the detention center