My goal is to use physics to solve real world challenges. I'm making this happen by combining my applied and theoretical skills in physics, systems and data to push the performance of complex multidisciplinary technologies and experiments with a focus on optics and photonics. Creating and understanding complex systems and instruments requires me to combine multiple skills and ideas daily. This requires technical & physics skills, communication, lots of problem solving, thinking ahead and staying enthusiastic when things go wrong. But in those moments when the understanding and technology harmoniously fit into place, I feel a deep satisfaction and joy. I also strongly believe science communication IS science. When you communicate your research, you learn more about it. I enjoy the whole process, from agonizing over how to stay within the word limit in a paper to choosing which figures to put in a presentation. My favorite moments are those unplanned discussions, often after encountering challenges, that force you to develop new ways of understanding a problem.