This summer I went on a road trip across the country to participate in an internship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The trip was filled with numerous camp sites with amazing views. The photo below is from badlands national park.

While at LLNL, I worked on two projects. The first project involved investigating the high-pressure Cr3+ luminescence of a natural MgAl2O4 spinel, up to 54 GPa. The second project focused on the Raman scattering of rhenium under extreme pressures for secondary pressure calibration. These projects provided me with hands-on experience and strengthened my understanding of high-pressure physics.

In addition to my work at Lawrence Livermore, I conducted experiments at Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Brookhaven National Laboratory. This summer’s experiences have been instrumental in my professional development helping me grow as a researcher.

I recently had the joy of teaching students and the local community about the electrical conductivity of minerals at MSU’s science festival. Alongside my colleagues Heidi, Eric, Devika, and Lusia, we engaged with eager young minds through interactive experiments.

The highlight was seeing students’ eyes light up as they discovered new concepts. It was a day filled with learning, laughter, and the shared excitement of exploration.

As we wrapped up, we were already excited for next year, filled with ideas to make science even more accessible and fun. This experience was a beautiful reminder of the power of education and the joy of collective discovery.

Last month, we, CDAC graduate students, traveled to the Stewardship Science Academic Programs (SSAP) Symposium in Arlington, Virginia. While there, I learned about some of the exciting research being conducted across the national labs and was able to present our research: Liquid Structure of Iron-Nitrogen-Carbon Alloys Within the Cores of Small Terrestrial Bodies during the poster session.

The 2nd Winter Workshop on Recent Advances in High Pressure Research provided a platform for researchers to share their latest findings and learn about the capabilities at ASU. I was blown away, not only by the size of ICHIBAN, but also by the facilities on the campus!

During the meeting, Luisa and I had the opportunity to present our recent discoveries, and both of us were honored with receiving both Corning Incorporated student poster awards. Overall, the event was an enriching experience that not only allowed us to share our work but also provided a platform for networking and learning about the future of high-pressure research.

The recent American Geophysical Union conference held in San Francisco, CA was a resounding success. Luisa, Jack, and I were able to showcase our recent research findings!

Luisa presented: “Role of Iron Concentration in the Incorporation of Sodium into Ferropericlase in the Earth’s Lower Mantle”

Jack presented: “Experimental Measurements of the Structure of Liquid Iron Nitrogen Alloys”

I presented “Thermal Equation of State of Transition-Metal-Bearing Davemaoite and Implications for Large Low Shear Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs)”

In addition to presenting our posters, we had a wonderful time engaging with fellow researchers, exchanging ideas, and forging new connections.

On Monday, I had a fantastic time as a co-convener to the DI session; “Exploring Earth’s Mantle Heterogeneities through Imaging, Modeling, Geochemistry, and Experiments.”

The American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco, CA was undoubtedly a valuable and enriching experience for each of us.