Helicon Systems Operator

Dissertation title: Investigation of Alfvén eigenmode instability and effect on thermal confinement in NSTX and DIII-D Phase I: Researching Compressional (CAE) and Global (GAE) Alfvén eigenmodes on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). This research involved analyzing data from over 1000 different experimental data points. Tasks: Spectral analysis of magnetic fluctuation measurements through Fast Fourier Transforms and correlations between different signal acquisition diagnostics using IDL. Building a database of extracted analysis from experiment in order to determine correlations between excited waves and plasma parameters.Statistical analysis of database. Phase II: Researching CAEs/GAEs on the DIII-D tokamak to understand the underlying physics exciting these modes. Tasks: Designed and led an experiment in July 2017 as part of the joint NSTX-U/DIII-D Collaborative Research National Campaign. Spectral analysis of data taken during the experiment from a pair of toroidal magnetic fluctuation sensing loops. Developing codes and procedures for efficient data analysis. (IDL)Hands-on technical work in characterizing various diagnostic components, including bandpass filters and DC breaks using a network analyzer.Running simulation codes such as TRANSP, NUBEAM, and FIDASIM using the OMFIT integrated modeling and experimental data analysis software. (Python)

Teaching Assistant for undergraduate physics courses.Taught discussions sections as well as lab sections.Assisted with lesson planning and exam grading.

Worked for the ATLAS Collaboration at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, on the search for 4th-generation quarks.Responsibilities: data analysis, Monte Carlo simulation using ROOT

Characterized photomultiplier tubes (PMT) for the XENON-100 and XENON-1T dark matter search.Assembled a 7-PMT prototype detector.Responsibilities: data acquisition, experimental setup and design, data analysis using ROOT

Optimized the optical trap in the Physics-111 advanced lab for experimental development.Designed a new instructional experiment to measure the step sizes and stall forces of dynein motor molecules.Responsibilities: experimentation, laser and microscope calibration, laser alignment, experimental design, data analysis using MATLAB

Worked on two research projects at PEER Institute.1) Researched kinetic isotope effect of pyruvate decarboxylation in mice using CO2 breath isotopeParticipated in experiment design and executionAcquired skills: basic laboratory procedures, safety protocols, spectrophotometer operation Winner of Siemens Science Competition Semifinalist 20082) Lead researcher on the optimization of methanol synthesis through the use of ionic liquids as a mediumFormed and led a research team Acquired skills: Task delegation, experiment design, operation of gas chromatograph-mаss spectrometer (GCMS), data analysis Winner of Siemens Science Competition Regional FinalistPresented research at Georgia Tech