I grew up in Roanoke, VA, surrounded by the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. For my undergraduate studies, I attended the University of Michigan, where I earned a degree in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences. Now, I am pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at DukeUniversity under the mentorship of Professor Olivier Delaire.
Q: What motivates you?
A: What motivates me most is seeing my ideas come to life through experiments and simulations. When I first wrote my NSF GRFP proposal, many of the goals seemed ambitious and far-reaching. However, within just six months of receiving the fellowship, I’ve already seen meaningful progress toward those goals. Watching these once-abstract ideas take shape in real-world applications keeps me inspired to push my research further.
Q: Can you summarize your research area?
A: My research aims to deepen our atomistic understanding of thermal transport in energy materials by combining lattice dynamics with machine learning techniques. Specifically, I use experimental inelastic neutron scattering (INS) data alongside first-principles simulations to study phonons—collective atomic vibrations within materials. Currently, I'm working on predicting harmonic interatomic force constants from INS data using supervised machine learning for direct inversion as well as traditional iterative optimization methods. Additionally, I'm investigating thermoelectric properties in FeSi (iron silicide) to better understand its temperature-dependent phonon behavior—a phenomenon that could have significant implications for its use in energy applications.
Q: What's your favorite part of research?
A: My favorite part of research is the opportunity it provides to develop new skills while building connections across different fields. During my graduate internship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), I had the chance to collaborate with leading scientists and gain hands-on experience in a cutting-edge research environment. This experience not only expanded my technical knowledge but also broadened my professional network—both of which have been invaluable throughout my PhD journey.