Experimental physicist driven by the fundamental mechanisms of nature and solving how they work. I enjoy tackling complex challenges and breaking them down into parts—answering one piece at a time. I love the inevitability of discovering underlying issues to be resolved depending on the desired resolution.Through my research experience, my curiosity and constant desire to learn something different led me to acquire new technical skills and innovative methods to apply in my work. Most notably, I repurposed a single point diamond turning CNC lathe into a nanometer-level precision positioning system allowing detailed mapping of the coordinate system for an entire experiment. Additionally, I integrated lasers and optics for imaging oscillating levitated particles and wrote or manipulated existing Python code to analyze their motion as part of measuring a fundamental constant of nature. On the same project I also designed parts in CAD software and 3D printed or machined those parts for building up the experiment in order to make improvements. I welcome the opportunity to work on any project that requires me to learn a new skill or information about a subject area.In all facets of my life I enjoy collaboration. I’ve worked with machinists to help design parts to determine how best to manufacture them for implementation in an experiment. I mentor undergraduate students to teach and help them design ways to actively stabilize a floating experimental table and I regularly assist other graduate students to design and build parts, or assemble complex equipment, ranging from constructing optical elements like interferometers to 3D printing plastic molds to mold parts from composite material. Additionally, I’ve teamed up with physicists at other institutions in helping attain data for real-time image analysis code that precisely measures the translation of particles between images down to the shot-noise limit.Outside of my research I am a country swing dance instructor, teaching large groups of people at the bar and traveling to conventions to compete. You can also find me working out, reading about religion or philosophy, staying up on the news, or serving in my local church.