Collins Kariuki, 2024 Research Intern

Biography

SPS Chapter: Pomona College

I am a senior at Pomona College, originally from Nairobi, Kenya. I’m majoring in Physics and Computer Science, with a keen interest in superconductivity.

As an aspiring physicist and computational researcher, I excel in technologies like Python, Java, C/C++, React, and Node.js, and delve into condensed matter physics (CMP) and quantum information science (QIS). My experiences as a computational physicist at the Simons Foundation and an Extended Reality Researcher (for public healthcare research) in Germany have honed my dedication to leveraging computational models to address complex physics challenges and improve real-world systems.

I’m exploring new opportunities in computational physics and software engineering, driven by a desire to contribute to projects that extend the frontiers of knowledge for the greater good. With a focus on the revolutionary potential of superconductors, particularly in quantum computing, I’m eager to apply my broad skill set, fresh perspectives, and collaborative mindset in environments that appreciate the integration of physics and computational sciences.

I’m dedicated to making a meaningful impact through physics research, aiming to broaden our understanding of the universe through CMP and QIS, with an interest in high-temperature superconductivity.

During my leisure, I enjoy hiking, singing, playing and watching football, and listening to music and podcasts.

Internship

Host: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Internship Blog

Week 7: (or rather more aptly, week 1) I AM HERE!

Dearest gentle reader (if you know, you know), I am finally here. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Collins Munene Kariuki. I call Nairobi, Kenya home. I recently graduated from Pomona College with a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Computer Science on May 12, 2024, and July 9, 2024, marked the official start date of my internship. Why the delay, you ask? Well, let’s just say I’m happy to finally be here and *cough cough* USCIS.

I arrived in DC late on July 6. After a mishap with my luggage and with the gracious help of my roommate, Charles, and my fellow intern, Reidyn, I embarked on the amazing metro ride from the Washington Reagan Airport to the famous Foggy-Bottom GWU station. I spent the days leading up to July 9 acclimating to the time difference, having been on the west coast for most of the year. That Saturday, I walked with some of the interns to visit DC’s monuments like the Lincoln Memorial (or as I call it, the big guy sitting on a chair looking at the big pointy building in front of him), the Washington Monument (the big pointy building), and the White House. As a Kenyan who grew up watching Hollywood movies, I was thrilled to cross these monuments off my bucket list. Later, I visited one of the many museums, though I must say the summer heat in DC makes me want to stay indoors all day. Alright, enough about that. Let’s talk about work.

During the week, I was introduced to the gist of my project. I was originally supposed to be a NIST research intern, but now I’m an SPS Program Engagement Summer Intern. It’s a big change from what I was supposed to do, but I am thankful to salvage the rest of my internship (thank you, Dr. de la Puente). To better explain my role, here are some bullet points I added to my resume (I spent almost 35 minutes coming up with these):

• Reviewed and processed over 200 chapter report submissions from SPS chapters across the US, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records in zone-specific Excel sheets for detailed activity reports and data analysis.
• Collaborated with the SPS Council to facilitate the chapter report review process, providing weekly status updates and promoting timely submissions through strategic communication channels, including newsletters and social media.
• Streamlined data management by updating records of chapter advisors, presidents, and treasurers, and preparing comprehensive activity reports for each zone, contributing to the national office’s ability to support and engage SPS chapters effectively.

I am thorough if nothing else. I really appreciate this role because I am directly contributing to the mission of SPS and I’m proud of the work I’m doing.

In closing, I want to thank the rest of the interns for the welcome pizza party they held for me and for introducing me to g-UNO, a different version of UNO I had never played before (but is there really a standard UNO?). Special thanks to Charles for making sure I feel welcome and well-acquainted. Speaking of which, after bouldering with Charles at a close by climbing gym (an amazing experience, though my arms still ache), I got another chance to check off something from my bucket list: I visited Costco. I was amazed to see they sell a whole seasoned rotisserie chicken for $4.99. What in the name of economic loss-leading capitalist realism is going on here? I just know my mum back home in Kenya would love Costco. Goodbye! See you next week.

Week 2: “Why spend 30 minutes on a task when you can spend 30 hours automating it?” - Every Computer Scientist ever.

Hello there! In my last blog post, I shared the objectives of my internship at AIP, but I overlooked a key aspect of my role here. I am tasked with finding an effective way to automate the chapter activity report update process at AIP. To understand the current challenges, I decided to manually update the Zone 1 chapter activity Excel sheets. This hands-on approach would help me identify the best automation strategy.

Having completed this manual update, I now realize why “proficient at Excel” isn’t on my resume. Although I can manage basic Excel formulas, the process was incredibly time-consuming, even with just 16 schools to update. This experience reminded me why I opted to learn Python instead of taking a Microsoft Office course back in Kenya. Teaching myself Python has been far more beneficial.

Despite the tedious nature of the manual work, it was essential. However, I knew I needed to automate this process to avoid repeating it for the remaining 17 zones. Thus, I combined my knowledge and expertise to develop a Python script to streamline this task. Let the automation journey begin!

I have a confession to make. I LOVE coding. I can easily spend hours hammering away at my laptop, immersed in writing code (whether it’s elegant or not is another matter). Even more, I enjoy documenting my coding process. So, I fired up Notion and began creating detailed notes with Toggle titles like there was no tomorrow. I was in the zone! Column by column, I updated the activity report, feeling ecstatic because my code worked. But it wasn’t without its challenges.

Let me share one problem I encountered. During the manual update process, I often relied on data consistency, such as using school names as the definitive reference for updating activity reports. However, inconsistencies can occur, such as one Excel sheet listing “University of Massachusetts - Amherst” and another listing “University of Massachusetts Amherst”. While these names look similar to us, they are different to a computer. How could I solve this?

My mind immediately went to the Levenshtein distance, a concept I learned in my Algorithms class. The Levenshtein distance, also known as the edit distance, measures the difference between two strings. It calculates the minimum number of single-character edits required to transform one string into the other. I thought, “I can code this easily.” But with limited time left in my internship, I decided to see if someone had already created a library for this. Thankfully, someone had (one of the many reasons I love Python). While I’m still finalizing everything, I’m excited because I get to code. And that’s my favorite part.

In addition to my work activities, I had some fun experiences this week. I toured NIST and saw the impressive million-pound-force machine (see attached picture). Visiting NIST was bittersweet, but I enjoyed exploring the beautiful campus and imagining a future where I might work there. Special thanks to Charlotte and Jenna for organizing the tour!

I also visited Ford’s Theatre (where President Lincoln was assassinated) and the accompanying museum with Kai and Sonja. It was fascinating to soak in the history, especially being able to see and touch artifacts over a century old, including entering the room where Lincoln succumbed to his injuries.

I played spike ball with some fellow interns near the Lincoln Memorial – such a quintessential DC experience! They got to see my competitive side, which was a lot of fun. Watching the sunset by the Potomac River was a beautiful and relaxing end to the week.

Overall, it was a wonderful week filled with memorable experiences. As my time in DC winds down, I’m going to miss the city and the amazing people I’ve met.

Week 3: From Chili Bowls to Star Gazing (not Literally): A Week of Unforgettable Adventures and Achievements.

Dear reader. This week was fantastic. Let’s start with an adventure to an iconic restaurant in DC, Ben’s Chili Bowl, with my fellow interns, Kaden, Jaden, and Johnny. For a long time, I didn’t know what chili really was. I always associated it with the pepper and avoided ordering it because I don’t like spicy food. Interestingly, I’ve read that peppers evolved to become spicy to ward off predators, yet here we are, enjoying them. Personally, I don’t enjoy spicy food because I never understood the appeal of making your taste buds scream in pain and convincing your brain you’re enjoying it. Despite ‘chili’ being in the restaurant’s name, I decided to try something new, and Ben’s Chili Bowl did not disappoint. Although the half-smoke hot dog was slightly spicy, I enjoyed every bite. If you ever find yourself in DC, I highly recommend visiting Ben’s Chili Bowl.

On Friday, the interns had the incredible opportunity to tour NASA Goddard (a big thanks to Charles for organizing it). I have to admit, the experience was truly remarkable. As a young boy growing up in Kenya, I was fascinated by space and dreamt of becoming an astronaut, like many kids do. I was captivated by the mysteries of the universe. However, as I grew older, I faced discouragement, especially from one of my aunts, which led me to abandon that dream. Instead, I developed a deep love for physics, particularly at the microscopic level. Yet, the idea of exploring space never fully left my mind.

Now, while astrophysics isn’t my primary focus, I still hold a great appreciation for it. Visiting NASA, now for the second time after my earlier visit to the Pasadena branch, left me in awe of the immense logistics involved in their missions. The vast unknowns of the universe are staggering, a feeling intensified by the Hubble Deep Field image and the anticipated achievements of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The question of whether we are alone in the universe is profound. Considering statistics and probability, it seems unlikely, but it’s a mystery that will take a long time to unravel.

The intern Olympics were an absolute blast. My team, which included Charles, Reidyn, and me, finished in second place. While our performance in the Winter Olympics (indoor tournaments) was less than stellar, we excelled in the Summer Olympics, dominating outdoor sports like the relay race, soccer, and spike ball. It was an incredibly fun experience, and I particularly enjoyed playing soccer after such a long hiatus. These memories will stay with me forever. Special shoutout to Maia for being an outstanding defender!

Regarding work, it’s unfortunate that I have limited time left to complete all my goals. However, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far. I plan to continue writing instructions for the next intern who will take over my project, even after my internship ends, because I am deeply invested in this project. I love the automation progress I’ve made. Now, I need to finish (or rather, start) my presentation, but I’m confident it will be a breeze (fingers crossed). See you in the final blog installment!

Week 4: Farewell, DC: Reflecting on an Unexpectedly Short but Memorable Journey.

So, this is the last week, huh? As a recap, I’ve been here for just under 4 weeks due to circumstances beyond my control. Despite the short time, I’m grateful for every small project I worked on because it’s better than doing nothing—something I really dislike. These past few weeks have been amazing. The people, the food, everything (except for the humidity) has been great. I’ve made friends and acquaintances, and I’ve gotten into a nice routine: waking up, making an omelette, having breakfast while watching an episode of a show (most recently, ‘This Is Us’), packing up, walking to the metro, doing the Wordle of the day, getting to the office, preparing a cup of coffee and drinking it while reading the NYT, and then working... you get the idea.

However, there’s one thing I still need to get used to—presentations. Truth be told, I’ve never been a fan because I get too much in my head about them. Are the slides good enough? Am I conveying the right message? Given my short time in DC, I was hoping to avoid presenting, but alas, I had to. Fortunately, my supervisor, Alejandro, was kind enough to offer some concrete advice on how to tackle my presentation, considering the brief nature of my internship. The practice session before the final day also helped ease my nerves, and I think I did well. I’m proud of what I was able to accomplish in the short time I was here.

Reflecting on my time in DC, I will cherish the moments spent with my fellow interns who became friends—the intern Olympics where I discovered my love for spike ball, the small conversations we had while walking to and from different places. It’s the little things that stand out. DC has been a fun place, but it has also reaffirmed my love for the quiet suburbs. However, I will surely miss the highly interconnected metro system. Oh, if only I had a car.

It seems the city wasn’t quite ready to see me leave. My departure from DC, originally set for 6:24 pm, turned into a 10:45 pm departure. I can’t really blame Delta this time because, as far as I know, the delay was weather-related. Although I was visibly frustrated for about 10 seconds, I quickly cheered up. We should be thankful that we live in an era where a tube rises from the ground and transports us through the skies to our destinations faster than ever before. It’s understandable if that tube can’t handle a severe storm. Due to the storm, I missed my connecting flight, which meant an extended layover of over 8 hours instead of the planned 40 minutes. But hey, I got a chance to binge-watch ‘This Is Us’ and read ‘Quantum Supremacy: How the Quantum Computer Revolution Will Change Everything’ by Dr. Michio Kaku, a gift from Kayla and Mikayla.

I will always cherish my time in the DMV area. It’s time to begin a new chapter in my life, but who knows? I might return here someday for a longer stay.