Term: 2023-2026

Reuse and recycling of polyethylene is vitally necessary, but current strategies are prohibitively expensive and paradoxically entangle deterioration of materials’ properties with the processes intended to increase their value. A key factor in solving this problem lies in fundamental mechanistic investigations and catalyst design. As a Miller fellow, I will conduct research to reduce the world’s most abundant plastic waste by converting it to more valuable, useful products via catalytic C–H functionalization of the polymer backbone, thereby incentivizing commercial efforts for plastic waste...

My interests are mainly in quantum information and numerical linear algebra. Broadly, I wish to understand in which domains quantum computers could give significant speedups over classical computers. My past work includes showing that certain classes of "quantum machine learning" algorithms can be simulated with classical algorithms better than previously expected; and giving better algorithms to characterize quantum systems.

Host: Umesh Vazirani

Ph.D. Institution: University of Washington

I have broad interests in the theory of quantum matter, with my research to date focused largely on emergent phenomena that occur in systems containing a large number of interacting quantum particles. Sometimes the problems I work on are abstract, such as studying the way in which computational problems can be encoded in certain quantum systems. At other times they are more concrete, such as using hints from experiments to understand how unusual types of superconductors function. In all cases, I am always eager to apply insights from mathematics and theoretical computer science to better...

During my doctoral studies, I used moiré engineering of two dimensional materials to uncover novel correlated electronic phases. As a Miller fellow, I plan to combine the chemical design of novel quantum materials with the versatility of two dimensional devices to further probe correlated electrons.

Host: James Analytis

Ph.D. Institution: Columbia

My research focuses on time domain astronomy and high energy astrophysics. I use sky surveys and multi-wavelength observations to study the most energetic transient phenomena in the Universe, such as the explosion of stars, and the extreme environments around compact objects. At UC Berkeley, I aim to combine observations with theory to understand the accretion and jet physics during the tidal disruption of stars by massive blackholes. I also hope to use these transients to probe the demography of black holes.

Hosts: Wenbin Lu, Raffaella Margutti

Ph.D. Institution: Caltech

Practically as a Water-Energy-Environment Nexus Expert, Energy Access and Sustainable Development enthusiast, my research of over a decade have been involved in quantifying energy needs with a view of establishing baseline for energy use or need sustainably. My Doctoral study, supervised by Professor O.C. Izinyon and Professor J.O. Ehiorobo at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin City, Nigeria, scientifically developed and applied an optimization model named Small Hydropower Resource Assessment and Sustainability Analysis (SHPRASA). This research provides valid hydrological data and...