{"id":112,"date":"2021-09-15T19:07:29","date_gmt":"2021-09-15T19:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/?page_id=45"},"modified":"2023-11-16T11:48:29","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T17:48:29","slug":"phd-physics-placements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/phd-physics-placements\/","title":{"rendered":"Ph.D. in Physics Placements"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our graduate students continue to work in research<\/span>\u2014<\/span>both in teaching and in lab positions at universities or in the industry.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> Here are a few of our alumni stories.\u00a0\u00a0 Add your story to this page.<\/a><\/p>\n

Ph.D. Alumni Stories<\/h2>\n

\u00a0 Daniel Kidd \u201818<\/h4>\n

\"\"Director of Research Data Science at Spring Venture Group<\/em><\/h3>\n

Dissertation: Accelerated Time Propagation in Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory
\nAdviser:\u00a0 K. Varga<\/p>\n

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Jorge Salas \u201817<\/h4>\n

\"\"Consultant & Developer Vanderbilt University<\/em><\/h3>\n

Dissertation: Stochastic variational approach to interaction of atoms and strong external fields
\nAdviser:\u00a0 K. Varga<\/p>\n

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Jordan Hachtel \u201816<\/h4>\n

\"\"R&D Associate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN<\/em><\/h3>\n

Dissertation: \u201cThe Nanoscale Optical Properties of Complex Nanostructures\u201d
\nAdviser: Sokrates T. Pantelides<\/p>\n

Jordan had a unique and very rewarding experience for his doctoral research. In principle, he pursued a joint theory-experiment program. After initial training in theoretical\/computational research while at Vanderbilt, he moved to Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) where at the time, as Distinguished Visiting Scientist, he maintained a group of theory post-docs embedded in the electron-microscopy group led by award-winning microscopist Stephen Pennycook, who was among the pioneers of scanning transmission electron microscopy. Jordan continued some theoretical research, but he quickly became an avid microscopist, being mentored in experimental work by a team of expert ORNL microscopists and by Vanderbilt Professor Richard Haglund on optical aspects of STEM-based cathodoluminescence and having access to superb, world-class facilities. Jordan\u2019s Ph.D. thesis received a \u201cSpringer Publishing Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award\u201d in 2017. He was hired as a post-doc in the ORNL group and then as a staff scientist. He has since received several microscopy awards.<\/p>\n

Arthur Russakoff \u201815<\/h4>\n

\"\"Research Engineer at I. M. Systems Group Inc. (IMSG)<\/em><\/h3>\n

Dissertation: The Interaction of Small Molecules and Short Intense Laser Fields
\nAdviser:\u00a0 K. Varga<\/p>\n

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Junhao Lin \u201815<\/h4>\n

\"\"\u00a0Associate Professor, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, PR China<\/em><\/h3>\n

Dissertation: \u201cRevealing structure-property correlations in 2D layered materials using synergistic combination of electron microscopy and atomic-scale calculations\u201d<\/p>\n

Adviser: Sokrates T. Pantelides<\/p>\n

“I spent nearly six years at Vanderbilt to purse my Ph.D. degree. My adviser Sok is knowledgeable and professional in the field of condensed matter physics. He gave me rich ideas whenever we discussed, and also lead me to the right track of independent research. The faculty members in the physics department are very helpful and friendly to each student and offer help to all students whenever they need it. The Vanderbilt campus is wonderful, and I will always be grateful for having my graduate study at Vanderbilt.”<\/p>\n

Sarah Crews \u201814<\/h4>\n

\"\"Technical Staff Scientist, MIT Lincoln Laboratories<\/em><\/h3>\n

Dissertation: \u201cMechanics of Drosophila embryogenesis and heat-shock induced developmental defects\u201d
\nAdviser: M. Shane Hutson<\/p>\n

\u201cGraduate studies in the Vanderbilt physics department taught me to think at a system level to scope and define a problem, and then pull together interdisciplinary ideas and techniques to find a solution.\u00a0The ability to see the big picture and identify where to dive deep for an innovative technical solution has been invaluable for my career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ken Lewis \u201813<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Board certified (DABR) Diagnostic & Nuclear Medical Physicist
\nBoard certified (CHP) Health Physicist
\nAssistant Professor in the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center<\/h3>\n

Dissertation: “Coherent scatter computed tomography (CSCT) \u2013 a Monte Carlo simulation study”<\/p>\n

As a Medical Physicist, his focus is on clinical image quality, patient dosimetry, imaging protocol development, and radiation safety. As an educator, he participates in teaching courses for both the VUSM Doctorate of Medical Physics program and the Radiology Residency training program.<\/p>\n

Brandon Cook \u201812<\/h4>\n

\"\"Acting group lead for the Programming Environments and Models group at NERSC.<\/em><\/h3>\n

Dissertation: Ab initio methods for quantum transport in nanomaterials
\nAdviser:\u00a0 K. Varga<\/p>\n

Brandon is the acting group lead for the Programming Environments and Models group at NERSC. \u00a0He\u00a0works on understanding and analyzing performance and productivity on a system, workflow and application level, developing future benchmark suites, analyzing future architectures, developing tools to help NERSC users\/staff be more productive and exploring future programming language features and programming models.<\/p>\n

Holley Lynch \u201812<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

Associate Professor of Physics, Stetson University<\/em><\/h3>\n

Dissertation: \u201cInvestigating Cell and Tissue Mechanics During Drosophila Embryogenesis Using Laser Microsurgery\u201d
\n<\/span>Adviser: M. Shane Hutson<\/p>\n

\u201cMy experiences at Vanderbilt prepared me for my current position, which emphasizes both teaching and involving undergraduates in research. I entered Vanderbilt knowing I wanted to be a teacher-scholar and the resources both in the physics department and at the Center for Teaching helped me get there.\u201d<\/p>\n

David Pigg \u201812<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Research Scientist,\u00a0 Siemens Healthineers<\/em><\/h3>\n

Dissertation: “Coupled-Cluster Solution of the Time-Dependent Schrodinger Equation for Atomic Nuclei”
\nAdviser: Sait Umar<\/p>\n

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Timothy Pennycook \u201812<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Assistant Professor, \u00a0University of Antwerp (Belgium)<\/h3>\n

Dissertation: “Understanding Materials through Scanning Transmission Electron
\nMicroscopy & Density Functional Theory”
\nAdvisor: Sokrates T. Pantelides<\/p>\n

Professor Pennycook develops scanning transmission electron microscopy for material science.<\/p>\n

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Joe Driscoll \u201811<\/h4>\n

\"\"Principal AI and Embedded Engineer at AutonomouStuff\\<\/em><\/h3>\n

Dissertation:\u00a0 Electron field emission in nanostructures: A first-principles study
\nAdviser:\u00a0 K. Varga<\/p>\n

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Ryan Hatcher\u00a0\u201807<\/h4>\n

\"\"Vice President of Engineering & Innovation, Ultra Intelligence & Communications, Austin, TX<\/em><\/h3>\n

Thesis title: \u201cDynamic response of electronic systems: an implementation and application of time-dependent density-functional-theory\u201d
\nAdviser: Sokrates T. Pantelides<\/p>\n

Ryan studied physics as an undergraduate at Wake Forest University but had a strong bend for computational work. He got a master\u2019s degree in computer science at Vanderbilt and then wanted to pursue a Ph.D. degree in computational physics. He had an interest in expanding his research in time-dependent density functional theory and got excited about writing a new computer code from scratch. He did, working closely with then-post-doc Alan Tackett. His thesis research addressed a long-standing problem, the calculation of the so-called stopping power for energetic ions injected in materials, and the results were published in the premier journal Physical Review Letters<\/em>. He also had an opportunity to work on radiation-induced displacement damage in semiconductor devices with a post-doc, which enriched his physics knowledge. Upon graduation, he quickly secured a job doing computational materials research at Lockheed-Martin, advanced to the position of Senior Research Scientist, joined Samsung Electronics in Austin, TX as Principal Scientist, returned to Lockheed-Martin as Principal Scientist, where he currently works.<\/p>\n

Ricardo Ruiz \u201803<\/h4>\n

\"\"Staff Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Director, Center for High Precision Patterning Science<\/em><\/h3>\n

Ricardo Ruiz, Ph.D. 2003, Staff Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Director, Center for High Precision Patterning Science (CHiPPS, https:\/\/chipps.lbl.gov\/people\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Fellow, American Physical Society, 2016 (Citation: For outstanding contributions to the fundamental understanding of directed self-assembly of block copolymer films).\u00a0 https:\/\/foundry.lbl.gov\/about\/staff\/ricardo-ruiz\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Szabolcs M\u00e1rka 1999<\/h4>\n

\"\" Walter O. LeCroy, Jr. Professor of Physics at Columbia University and a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\n

His long term astrophysics research is focused on the effort to directly detect gravitational waves of cosmic origin, which will allow us to study cosmic processes and objects unreachable through conventional methods based on electromagnetic observations. His present interest is in multimessenger astrophysics and in enhancing the astrophysical reach and reliability of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO). His recent interest in biooptics research is focused on insect neural systems, their connections to the insect\u2019s genetic makeup, sensory signal processing pathways, and locomotion.<\/p>\n

Alan C. Calder 1997<\/h4>\n

\"\"Associate Professor, Stony Brook University<\/h3>\n

Dissertation: Multidimensional Simulations of Core Collapse Supernovae using Multigroup Neutrino Transport
\nAdviser: Sait Umar<\/p>\n

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Mehmet Cem Guclu 1995<\/h4>\n

\"\"Professor, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey<\/h3>\n

Dissertation: Monte Carlo Calculations of Lepton-Pair Production in Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions.
\nAdviser: Sait Umar<\/p>\n

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Mario Affatigato 1995<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fran Allison and Francis Halpin Professor of Physics and Chair, Coe College. \u00a0Fellow, American\u00a0Ceramic Society.<\/h3>\n

American Physical Society Prize for Research in an Undergraduate Institution, 2013 (Citation:\u00a0 \u201cFor high- impact research on optical and structural properties of glasses, stewardship of professional societies and journals, and extensive international collaborations, melded with energetic, compassionate supervision of undergraduate research participants.\u201d)<\/p>\n

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Jack Wells 1994<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Scientific Program Manager, Nvidia.<\/h3>\n

Before joining Nvidia Jack was the\u00a0 Director of Science, Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility.<\/p>\n

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David Dean 1991<\/h4>\n

\"\"Deputy Director for Science at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Laboratory (Jlab).<\/h3>\n

David previously was the director of the Quantum Science Center of ORNL, and Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences of ORNL.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0Plan your Ph.D.<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Apply Now<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our graduate students continue to work in research\u2014both in teaching and in lab positions at universities or in the industry.\u00a0 Here are a few of our alumni stories.\u00a0\u00a0 Add your story to this page. Ph.D. Alumni Stories \u00a0 Daniel Kidd \u201818 Director of Research Data Science at Spring Venture Group Dissertation: Accelerated Time Propagation in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":26,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-headline-img.php","meta":{"spay_email":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1451,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112\/revisions\/1451"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}