My dad was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer when I was 8. Although eventually recovering, he suffered through months of chemotherapy and radiation—losing taste and hair alongside strength and comfort. As with most patients, early detection would have played a crucial role in preventing the near-fatal development. These memories never left my mind—years later, upon discovering the applications of nanotechnology to biomedical imaging, I immediately developed a fascination. Specifically, quantum dots are nanosized particles that may replace radioisotopes in bioimaging. They have higher brightness and stability, allowing for more sensitive, reliable detections of tumors. Driven by its personal relevance, I conducted research on quantum dot photoluminescence at UCSD, controlling the brightnesses with high-powered lasers and extreme temperatures. Seeing concepts like quantum confinement, which I’d previously only encountered in textbooks, manifest into QLED-TV screens and solar panels made me excited that my learning too could become physical. The desire to touch the world with my own ideas was sparked. I aspire to design quantum dots that are not cytotoxic and can remain intact in tumor environments. Involving concepts ranging from electromagnetism (stabilizing core-shell structures so that they can emit signals stably) to thermodynamics (preventing Auger electron-hole recombination to minimize energy loss) to quantum mechanics (calculating optimal band gaps of hybrid materials for most sensitive signals), designing this only emphasizes the relevance of physics and how it enables technology to promote the wellbeing of humans. While my passion for science and nanotechnology started with cancer, I soon found a desire to also work on improving technology to benefit humanity in similar ways. Driven by this desire, I conducted my own research at UCSD on the implementation of porous silicon as anodes in lithium-ion batteries so that batteries store energy more efficiently. In designing nanoparticles, I performed all the calculations myself: from solving current density patterns for etching to finding optimal pore size of particles. I found my project particularly exciting because it was increasingly relevant to the real world—phones, EVs, solar cells, and other electronics continue to demand greater battery life and lower charge times. Furthermore, with the ongoing climate crisis, renewable energy and energy storage is becoming more and more important to nature and human survival. I feel very fulfilled in the fact that I am able to improve these technologies to push for a greener world and definitely see myself continuing to pursue this field of research. Overall, my research showcases how physics is tangible—not merely abstract or theoretical—and interwoven into the very fabric of advancement. Its seamless transition from theory to application is beautiful, and being able to solve problems that impact countless people continues to drive my work as an aspiring physicist.

My dad was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer when I was 8. Although eventually recovering, he suffered through months of chemotherapy and radiation—losing taste and hair alongside strength and comfort. As with most patients, early detection would have played a crucial role in preventing the near-fatal development. These memories never left my mind—years later, upon discovering the applications of nanotechnology to biomedical imaging, I immediately developed a fascination. Specifically, quantum dots are nanosized particles that may replace radioisotopes in bioimaging. They have higher brightness and stability, allowing for more sensitive, reliable detections of tumors. Driven by its personal relevance, I conducted research on quantum dot photoluminescence at UCSD, controlling the brightnesses with high-powered lasers and extreme temperatures. Seeing concepts like quantum confinement, which I’d previously only encountered in textbooks, manifest into QLED-TV screens and solar panels made me excited that my learning too could become physical. The desire to touch the world with my own ideas was sparked. I aspire to design quantum dots that are not cytotoxic and can remain intact in tumor environments. Involving concepts ranging from electromagnetism (stabilizing core-shell structures so that they can emit signals stably) to thermodynamics (preventing Auger electron-hole recombination to minimize energy loss) to quantum mechanics (calculating optimal band gaps of hybrid materials for most sensitive signals), designing this only emphasizes the relevance of physics and how it enables technology to promote the wellbeing of humans. It is my firm belief that all technology can be improved upon to become safer, more accessible, and higher-impact so that it can benefit more people in better ways. Driven by this desire, I conducted my own research at UCSD on the implementation of porous silicon as anodes in lithium-ion batteries so that batteries store energy more efficiently. In designing nanoparticles, I performed all the calculations myself: from solving current density patterns for etching to finding optimal pore size of particles. I found my project particularly exciting because it was increasingly relevant to the real world—phones, EVs, solar cells, and other electronics continue to demand greater battery life and lower charge times. Furthermore, with the ongoing climate crisis, renewable energy and energy storage is becoming more and more important to nature and human survival. I feel very fulfilled in the fact that I am able to improve these technologies to push for a greener world and definitely see myself continuing to pursue this field of research. Overall, my research showcases how physics is tangible—not merely abstract or theoretical—and interwoven into the very fabric of advancement. Its seamless transition from theory to application is beautiful, and being able to solve problems that impact countless people continues to drive my work as an aspiring physicist.

The excitement that I felt after my acceptance into a competitive UCSD research program was short-lived. A week before starting, the professor informed me that updated UCSD regulations restricted individuals under 16 from accessing the lab. At that time, I had just finished my freshmen year of high school and was 15 years old. Consequently, my entire program was forced to shift online into a limited format, depriving me of dearly anticipated wet lab experiences and research projects. I was informed that I would most likely only be able to attend online lectures and nothing else. Although I was initially disappointed, I decided to make the most of what I still had access to. I reached out to the professor and arranged Zoom calls to observe lab experiments remotely, trying to follow along myself. My home was transformed into a makeshift lab and I improvised with household items—I used eyedroppers as pipettes, butter knives as cleavers, and pressure cookers as autoclaves. I emailed other participants in the program, seeking ways to contribute to ongoing projects, and ended up assisting multiple undergraduates analyze spectroscopy data and run mathematical models. Still feeling that there was more that I could take advantage of, I started a project on portable spectrometers in the hopes that I could help future students in similar situations access physical material remotely. Using samples provided by the professor and his lectures, I assembled instructional kits with experiments that could be done with the spectrometer at home. By the end of my summer, I felt extremely satisfied with what I had accomplished—the exact opposite of how I expected to feel at the beginning. The following summer, I continued the program and dove right into my own research project with the skills I had strived to develop the previous year despite being online. Additionally, the portable spectrometer kit that I helped assemble was not only given to an online participant of the program due to contracting COVID and allowed them to continue learning hands-on, but it has also been sent out to multiple school districts and allows middle to high school students to have physical access to nanotechnology equipment. Although my challenge presented by UCSD’s lab requirements was extremely frustrating at first, I was able to not only experience unexpected fulfillment, but I had actually used the experience as a way to learn and try again with honed skills that could be used to assist and mentor others. My initial disappointment transformed into realization: setbacks aren’t dead ends but rather opportunities for innovation.

My dad was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer when I was 8. Although eventually recovering, he suffered through months of chemotherapy and radiation—losing taste and hair alongside strength and comfort. As with most patients, early detection would have played a crucial role in preventing the near-fatal development. These memories never left my mind—years later, upon discovering the applications of nanotechnology to biomedical imaging, I immediately developed a fascination. Specifically, quantum dots are nanosized particles that may replace radioisotopes in bioimaging. They have higher brightness and stability, allowing for more sensitive, reliable detections of tumors. Driven by its personal relevance, I conducted research on quantum dot photoluminescence at UCSD, controlling the brightnesses with high-powered lasers and extreme temperatures. Seeing concepts like quantum confinement, which I’d previously only encountered in textbooks, manifest into QLED-TV screens and solar panels made me excited that my learning too could become physical. The desire to touch the world with my own ideas was sparked. I aspire to design quantum dots that are not cytotoxic and can remain intact in tumor environments. Involving concepts ranging from electromagnetism (stabilizing core-shell structures so that they can emit signals stably) to thermodynamics (preventing Auger electron-hole recombination to minimize energy loss) to quantum mechanics (calculating optimal band gaps of hybrid materials for most sensitive signals), designing this only emphasizes the relevance of physics and how it enables technology to promote the wellbeing of humans. It is my firm belief that all technology can be improved upon to become safer, more accessible, and higher-impact so that it can benefit more people in better ways. Driven by this desire, I conducted my own research at UCSD on the implementation of porous silicon as anodes in lithium-ion batteries so that batteries store energy more efficiently. In designing nanoparticles, I performed all the calculations myself: from solving current density patterns for etching to finding optimal pore size of particles. I found my project particularly exciting because it was increasingly relevant to the real world—phones, EVs, solar cells, and other electronics continue to demand greater battery life and lower charge times. Furthermore, with the ongoing climate crisis, renewable energy and energy storage is becoming more and more important to nature and human survival. I feel very fulfilled in the fact that I am able to improve these technologies to push for a greener world and definitely will continue to pursue this field of research. Overall, my research showcases how physics is tangible—not merely abstract or theoretical—and interwoven into the very fabric of advancement. Its seamless transition from theory to application is beautiful, and being able to solve problems that impact countless people continues to drive my work as an aspiring physicist.