Who inspires you?
My family 🙂 

Why did you choose to study physics?
I chose physics when applying for college because I wanted to study science, but not biology or chemistry. I eventually landed on particle physics when applying for graduate school because I was drawn to how tangible and concrete it all felt. To me, a lot of what we think about in our research derives from physics’ first principles, and the juxtaposition of the simplicity of the process to the complexity of the detectors is really compelling. 

Why did you choose UChicago?
I chose UChicago both for its proximity to Fermilab and it being in the city of Chicago!

What are the best things about your PhD program?
The best thing about the physics program is the people! I really like hanging out with the other graduate students in my group and in my cohort, and we all get along very well. 

What was the best surprise about UChicago or life in Chicago?
The most surprising thing about life in Chicago is that I don’t mind the weather (I’m from southern California). The spring, summer, and fall definitely makes up for winter for me, and even then, I really like seeing the snow.

If you could share any advice to your colleagues, what would it be?
My advice is to future grad students: don’t sweat it. It will be fun and it will be difficult, but it’s all a part of the journey. You’re going to learn a lot about yourself in the next few years!