I have experimentally and theoretically investigated the fundamental nature and application of plasmons in metallic nanostructures, terahertz (THz) and microwave metamaterials, and the nonlinear properties of superconductors. To carry out these studies, I have developed several instruments including a nonlinear microscope and supercontinuum source for ultrafast spectroscopy of single nanoparticles, custom optical microscopes, a scanning photocurrent microscope to characterize nanoparticle-enhanced photodiodes, a high-intensity THz source, and, quite literally outside the optics lab, a solar-thermal energy conversion apparatus. While my doctoral studies primarily focused on nonlinear optical measurements of individual metallic nanostructures, I also enjoyed several close interdisciplinary collaborations to which I contributed theoretical support and assistance with instrumentation. This work spanned a broad range of topics including plasmon-enhance fluorescence for biomedical imaging, using nanoparticles to couple light into nanowires, photovoltaic and thermal harvesting solar energy, and spatially profiling the near field around metal nanoshells using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). At the Institute of Physics, CAS I focused on propagating Ag nanowire plasmons. I am currently studying THz, microwave, and IR metamaterials for ultra-thin planar optics, the nonlinear THz properties of superconductors, and high-intensity ultrafast THz sources.Skills: Ultrafast & nonlinear optics, lasers, spectroscopy, instrument development, microscopy, numeric and quasi-analytic modeling of electromagnetic wave scattering, working in / managing interdisciplinary teams, analog and digital electronics, programming (currently C, C++, Python, Matlab, Labview, previous experience in Java, VHDL, and assembly on x86, 68HC12, and PIC architectures), familiarity with FPGAs, DSPs, CAD