Research:

My research focuses on the plasmonic response of noble metal nanoparticles. I am interested using simulations and experiments to understand the near-field enhancement of gold nanorods. Coupled with ultrafast lasers, the enhancement of electromagnetic fields can be used to create nanoscale ablation in the vicinty of the nanoparticle. The localization to sub-diffraction limited focal volumes near plasmonic nanoparticle could be used to create ultrasmall features for next-generation computing or to photodisrupt cells that have been molecularly targeted.

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at San Diego - June 2005
• B.A. in German Studies from the University of California at San Diego - June 2005
• M.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin - May 2007

• Engineering Doctoral Fellowship from the University of Texas at Austin - Fall 2005 to Fall 2009
• Provost's Honor List at the University of California at San Diego - 5 Quarters
• Washington State Engineer's Society Education Scholarship - Fall 1999