About Me

I'm a current 1st year M.S./Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at UCLA, part of the Terahertz and Infrared Photonics Group. My research will focus on the generation of terahertz radiation using quantum cascade vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers (QC-VECSELs), and the application of these devices.

I received my B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UC Irvine in 2026, specializing in semiconductors and optical electronics. It was here that I first gained exposure to photonics when I joined the Shcherbakov Nanophotonics Lab. My work in that lab focused on studying the unique properties of low-dimensional semiconductor materials such as phonon polariton propagation and single photon emission. As a Quantum Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (QUROP) fellow, I led my own independent research project on the polarization and enhancement of single photon emitters in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) using plasmonic nanostructures. Through this project I gained experience in nanofabrication, building custom optical setups, and performing full-wave electromagnetic (EM) simulations. As part of the Campus Wide Honors Program, this work culminated into my senior thesis, which I presented at the 2026 UCI Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Beyond my research lab, I also developed a passion for computer science and AI principles during my senior design project, "HoloPhase", where I helped develop a system for real-time holographic phase retrieval using a physics informed inverse design model. This project inspired me to explore how AI principles can be used in conjunction with photonic devices for their further development and application.

However, some of my most meaningful experiences during my undergrad came from contributing to the engineering community by helping start an engineering project program within my organization and during my time as a learning assistant. Both of these experiences made me passionate about continuing to give back to the engineering community and helping to improve education and opportunities available to students.