Get to know some of the members of the SPS better. Most of us are pretty active in various areas of research, and even have lives outside of Physics!

Active SPS Members:

Oladapo Atitebi - CC '10 majoring in Physics and Mathematics

Hobbies: Guitar, keyboard, singing, dancing and math. Research interest: Particle Physics-neutrino and darkmatter; Astrophysics-gamma rays, etc and basically any type of physics or mathematics.

Camille Avestruz - BC '09 majoring in Physics, Mathematics, and Dance
President (Vice-President 07-08)

I am a junior majoring in physics and dance. In my first two years, I worked with Prof. Szabolcs Marka exploring projects related to LIGO. Since Fall 2007, I have been working on two projects. With Prof. Tim Halpin-Healy, I am investigating the statistical mechanics of kinetically roughened surfaces in non-integer dimensions. With Prof. Reshmi Mukherjee and the Neutrino group at Columbia, I have been involved in the setup of hardware testing for the Double Chooz experiment. In my spare time I enjoy music and dance concerts, museums, playing the piano, debate, and spending time in the park.

Gwendolyn Carlson-Holton - GS '09 Physics with a concentration in Computer Science
Webmaster (Co-Treasurer 07-08)

Aside from my love of applying math to the world at large, my interests include dancing, preferably to jungle, video games, preferably first person shooters, and playing on the Columbia Women's Ice Hockey team.

Mikhail Klassen - SEAS '09 majoring in Applied Physics

I'm a Canadian student studying applied physics and applied mathematics. I am currently working with GECo research group associated with the LIGO project. Within applied physics, I hope to specialize in the area of plasma physics with a career interest in controlled fusion energy. My other interests include astronomy, photography, philosophy, theology, reading and web design. I'm also involved in the group Engineers Without Borders at Columbia University.

Vedant Misra - CC '09 Physics
(Webmaster 06-07)

Woven threads of physics comprise the fabric of my being. I live, breathe, and eat physics. I have no time for lesser pursuits because I do nothing but physics, all the time. I sleep on stacks of physics textbooks. Daily, I bathe in a pool filled with fresh, lightly chlorinated physics before I supplicate God's blessing for my devotion to a pure life of physics. After meals,f which consist usually of breads and soups made of the finest physics, I sip from a post-prandial cup of hot, brandied physics while seated upon my physics throne in my library of physics textbooks.

Robert Morehead - GS '09 Astrophysics

I want to be an astronomer when I grow up. Currently, I am very interested in extrasolar planet detection and planetary system formation. I am also looking for research opportunities here at Columbia. I avoid doing homework by indulging my interests in film, learning to kayak, and whatever other momentary hobbies or social events strike my fancy.

Dominick Scaletta - GS '10 Theoretical Mathematics, Physics
Vice-President (Co-Treasurer 07-08)

Outside of numbers, I enjoy mountain biking, reading, socializing and philosophy. Beyond Columbia I plan to attain a Ph.D. in either mathematical physics, or theoretical physics.

Missing from this page? email hbar@phys.columbia.edu.