Daniel Smith Email & Phone Number

Why do things work?This is the type of question most of us would ask our parents when we were young. Throughout myacademic career, this question is the driving reason I study Physics and Computer Science. Ever since myfreshman Physics class in high school, I was amazed that everyday phenomena could be expressed usingmathematical equations. I knew then, Physics would be the subject I wanted to study and I worked hard to overcome an underwhelming start. In college, Iexperienced the same sort of feeling while taking my first computer science course. This time, I wasfascinated to learn how the video games I played looked like inside their cartridges.I enrolled in the Physics and Computer Science programs at Bridgewater State University in 2016. Duringmy time there, I participated in the BSU Experimental Astrophysics Research (BEAR) Team and workedon the different research projects in progress. As I became an upperclassman, I started my own projectfocused on Spectroscopy using a new spectrograph the department obtained. My goal was to create anew permanent set up which would allow for new and additional research projects than previouslyavailable. Through my connections at BSU, I was one of four undergraduate students selected for a SolarEclipse Expedition to Chile in the summer of 2019. This expedition was headed by Dr. Shadia Habbal, awell-known Solar Physicist from the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii. From thisexperience, I was able to participate in a professional research project and see how a large researchgroup operates.After 5 years at BSU, I graduated with my bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Computer Science in 2021. Iwas accepted into the Physics Master’s program at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. My Master's Research Project focused on 3D modeling of Schwarzschild black holes embedded in asymptotic Anti-de Sitter Space. This project was developed using C# and ran in the Unity game engine.Currently I am a Scientific Data Analyst for JRAD. My position has me model data for visualization and to preform analysis. I believe my years in academia has prepared me well for this position. Through my 7 years of studies, I have found many different hobbies to keep myself active when I need to take a break to clear my mind. I enjoy working out at the gym to improve my health and to set new goals for myself. Other hobbies I enjoy are video games, card games such as Magic the Gathering, and anime. Over the years I have found new friend that I can talk with about these hobbies and enjoy with together.