Mujtaba Khalid, 2024 APS Innovation Intern

Biography

SPS Chapter: Las Positas College

My name is Mujtaba Khalid, and I am excited about the opportunity to serve as APS’ Innovation Intern for the summer. I am an incoming junior transferring to UC Irvine this Fall to continue my B.S. in Electrical Engineering. Studying physics has fueled me with passion and shown me the realm of possibilities for future career choices. I am eager to bring that same passion to APS this summer.

In addition to school, I work part-time at a local robotics club, mentoring and preparing K-12 students to utilize their engineering skills and compete in state and worldwide competitions. I also enjoy spending time with friends, hiking, going to raves, and much more.

Internship

Host: American Physical Society

Internship Blog

Week 1: Soaking It All In

Hello everyone!

I am Mujtaba, APS’ new Innovation intern for the summer of 2024. I’m only a week in but I’ve already experienced so many amazing things here. Between the beautiful culture and architecture in DC combined with the amazing work we’re doing here at APS, I know that this summer is going to be filled with special memories that will last a lifetime!

This has been my first experience living away from home so I had no idea what to expect. That being said, my first week could not have gone better! There are already so many great things I’ve experienced, but by far meeting all of the fellow interns has got to be my highlight.This community that SPS has created with the interns is unlike anything I’ve seen from other companies and is something I truly appreciate.Our first week together was filled with so many different fun activities and the occasional fire alarm at 3:00 am which I’m sure nobody will forget.

Our first official day, was fun and eventful. We all took metro together and showed up excited and ready to start! The SPS team was extremely welcoming and during our orientationand had us do a few ice breaking activites to get the summer started. We also had our professional headshots taken, which I was in dire need of. We enjoyed a nice lunch together and did a bit more of the orientation before officially ending our first workday. Later that evening a bunch of us went to the national mall where we walked around and the participated in a few extremely competitive games of spikeball ( no one has yet to beat Jaden and Johnny).

The rest of the week was spent getting accustomed to the new job and living environment. Working at the ACP-DC office has been very nice, it is a beautfiul building in a great location and has amenities like a fitness center and bike storage. Working at the office with my fellow interns makes me feel like part of a team, and adds an “in-person” feel to my remote work style. Now that I’ve talked so much about my experiences in my first week, I’d like to discuss my actual work.

I am working with APS this summer on multiple projects such as the Innovation Fund and the Simons Grant, both of which support research for professors at different universities by providing funding for various projects. Working with my mentor, Tremaine, has been a great experience, and from what I’ve heard, my fellow interns have had similar experiences in their respective departments. She doesn’t make the job harder than it needs to be and made it clear to me from the beginning that I can come to her for help with anything and that I should never hesitate to ask questions. I also love the emphasis APS makes on having a work/life balance. It has allowed me to work a full time job and still be able to enjoy DC’s culture and nightlife. I can even travel while working, another big perk of having a remote first work environment.

I feel very lucky to be apart of the SPS intern program and I’m sure that the work and experiences I have here will be unforgettable. Stay tuned for week 2!!

Week 2: Homesick At Home

My second week, filled with fun and unforgettable events, has given me a new perspective. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of this internship, as it has further reaffirmed my belief that people remember you for how you make them feel. The warm and kind nature of my fellow interns has shown me that close connections can be forged in short periods, and I am truly missing them as I travel back home to California this week for Father’s Day and Eid. From Physics Lectures to Dinner Cruises, each event has taught me something and strengthened my bond with my cohort.

Before my departure, quite a bit of fun went down in Week 2 of the SPS internship. Starting the week off with a calm game night, My roommate Johnny suggested we begin with Go Fish, which resulted in more laughing and dumb jokes than any actual card playing. Having a chill night before heading into the ACP-DC office bright and early that Wednesday morning was fun. The one day I decided to dress casually, I had completely forgotten about the John Mather Lecture that would take place that night, so I had to rush home and change, making it with just a few minutes to spare. It was an honor to listen to the two NASA scientists talk about the future of Space Telescopes. The following day, however, was by far the most fun event that had been planned for us: THE DINNER CRUISE!! Everyone showed up looking their best (Reidyn barely made it), and we were excited to see what the night had in store for us. Between the amazing food, beautiful views, and super chill DJ, the night was a 10/10. It was also great to network and talk with different AIP leadership, some lovely people I feel lucky to work with.

Being able to travel home has been bittersweet as I feel lucky to have the flexibility to travel home and work, but I also wonder what’s happening back in DC. With only 10 weeks to share with them, every day is a chance for new experiences and friends, and I feel like I’m doing a disservice to myself by missing that. Whatever, I don’t want to spend this blog entry complaining; it was my choice, and I am happy to be home (I am counting down the days back to DC).

Week 3: At Home Intern

Week 3: At Home Intern

This week, I am sad to say that I don’t think my blog will be as interesting as it could be. I’ve been home for the past week in California, and I’m eager to get back to DC. Being back in California was great. I’m so happy I spent Father’s Day with my family and caught up with and visited many friends and family. The flexibility of APS’s remote work environment boosts productivity, considering that besides meetings, people can work on their own time and get work done at the best time for them.

I spent this week continuing my work on the Innovation fund, reviewing the highest-scoring pre-proposals, and preparing for the coming weeks, as we will decide who moves onto the full proposal stage. The full proposal stage requires applicants to expand on their ideas from the pre-proposal stage and give in-depth explanations and answers to our questions. Many of the proposals involve innovative ideas that include spreading the knowledge of quantum science through various media such as content creation, curriculum, artwork, and many others.

I’m excited to continue working on this project back in DC and reunite with my fellow interns! Stay tuned for Week 4.

Week 4: Vibes in DC

Back in DC with a week full of BBQ, games, and more fun with my fellow interns. I flew back Thursday morning, excited to celebrate Charles’ 21st birthday, his complete becoming of the Alpha Wolf. After a long day of meetings and fun, we decided to have a little pre-game before going out to celebrate, which always results in some competitive activities. As the night began, we headed to Decades, my first-ever nightclub experience. Everybody was hating on it, but I enjoyed myself. The music was decent, and it was fun to dance with everyone. We ended the night with a trip to WaWa, which is a bigger 7/11 with actual food.

Friday was a much-needed day of relaxation as I had only gotten 3 hours of sleep from the night before and needed some recharging. Most of the other interns headed to the french embassy for a night of performances, wine, and cheese. I, on the other hand, chose to enjoy the comfort of my air-conditioned room as I was trying to decide which courses to take in my first quarter at UCI. I’m feeling very bittersweet about the engineering courses in my future as I think most people do considering that the concepts we learn are so cool but they hurt your head like hell trying to grasp.

Saturday was the grand prize of the week. We started with the 32nd annual BBQ festival, where we stood in long lines under the scorching sun, but it was all worth it to try some fantastic BBQ and many other types of foods, some from local vendors and others from large corporations. The highlight was the food, but a bonus was that they were giving out all kinds of snacks, produce, and other packaged groceries for us to take home! They really know how to cater to broke college students. After almost becoming like Spongebob in that episode where he had no water, we took an Uber back to Shenkman to get ready for Astro On the Mall. We arrived at the Smithsonian Metro stop and walked over to the venue while admiring DC’s beautiful architecture. Once we made it, we began to set up and explore the venue, which was full of many informative and demonstrative physics booths. Aside from that, there was a DJ booth playing some EDM and House Music, which I enjoyed, but it was way too loud for the type of event. I loved seeing the kids get so excited when showing them the different light and sound demos we had set up for them, which were the boom whackers, light diffraction through prisms, and also a “thunder tube,” which was a spring connected to the bottom of a tube with a diaphragm to amplify the sound. It was great to see the parents happy as well, taking their kids to events like these for fun but also trying to spark their interest for their future. It warms my heart, and I love seeing parents who care like this. Overall, this week has been one of the best so far, and I can’t wait for what the rest of the summer has in store.

Week 5: Somehow, I Broke the Only Rule

My workload has slowed this week as the Review Panel determines which 10/22 proposals they want to advance to the next stage. Between Levitating Suits and Quantum Science Art Exhibitions, the 2025 APS Innovation Fund (IF) has proven to have many unique projects, making the decision extremely difficult. This year’s IF is specific to the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), so we are looking for proposals that align with our initiative to spread awareness and broaden the space in which Quantum science is taught.

I started the week in sunny Irvine, California, where I attended the incoming transfer students’ Engineering Advising Session on Tuesday and Wednesday. This event was a mixture of orientation, advice for incoming students, and a chance for us to meet classmates and select our courses for the Fall quarter. I met a fellow Electrical Engineer named Evan, and he took me on a ride in his 2024 Audi S3 while we broke for lunch. It felt good to have a friend to start the school year with, and our courseload for the first few quarters is identical, so I’ll have a lifeline when I’m drowning in EECS courses.

I flew back Wednesday night and arrived Thursday morning without a wink of sleep. I thought toughing it out and then sleeping that evening would be the right move, as I had some emails and other work that needed to be done. As I finished my work, I planned to take a “nap,” the next thing I knew, it was 3:30 a.m. I spent that morning doing some work and watching YouTube, and then I decided to begin a Python course to prepare myself for the coming fall quarter. Friday was pretty mellow; I spent the morning - mid-afternoon at the office with other Interns. I then suggested we watch Ratatouille in the evening at the Kennedy Center, but I did not foresee the jetlag interrupting my plans. When everyone was supposed to be gathering at the elevator, I was sound asleep; I was so upset that I ended up renting Ratatouille to watch it the next day.

Sunday, the day where it all went wrong...Not really. Sunday was super fun! We started off the day early as we had somewhat of a long drive to Cunningham Falls State Park. The forest was not something I expected to encounter during my time in DC, but I was so happy we could hike through the woods. However, my feet and blood sugar were in for disaster between the incline and rocks. I had to choose between golf shoes or dress shoes for the hike, both of which would have served to be useless in protecting my feet. As we hiked a mile filled with boulders and beautiful greenery, we made it to the base of the falls, where my blood sugar decided to start plummeting and even though Reidyn was insisting on staying with me, after I assured him I would be fine he continued with the group, and I took a much-needed breather. After about 15 minutes, I decided to head back to the parking lot but got distracted by huge rocks that looked climbable. I must have strayed off the trail four times, trying to get a picture atop one of the boulders, before getting a call that they had made it back to the parking lot and were ready to head to the lake. As we got down and started walking, I was relieved to have time to sit and relax, at least I thought I would. Right before I was about to sit down, I fell and rolled over and heard a popping sound in my ankle. It instantly swole up to three times its standard size, but I was lucky to fall in front of a family with a podiatrist.

After eight different Lake staff members had assessed and helped me to Chris’ car, it was time for the emergency room. Granted, I thought that going to the ER for a sprain was a bit overkill. I might have torn some ligaments that would require surgery, so I decided to play it safe. Chris, Charles, and Jaden, a special thank you to those guys. While most of the people with us were already extremely helpful, like Reidyn making sure I was okay and Evan and Brynn flagging down the lifeguard, these three guys did everything they could to make the experience more accessible. Chris and Charles came with me to the ER (Chris Drove) and were the perfect combination of seriousness and fun I needed. Charles was asking all the right questions, many of which I wouldn’t have considered. His & Chris’ presence combined made the visit full of laughs and political conversations, making time fly by. It was also the quickest and most painless ER visit I’ve ever experienced, and it seems we came at the perfect time. Jaden has been among the nicest people I’ve met during this internship, but his willingness to help without hesitation solidified that. He is constantly extending a hand to anyone and everyone and has helped me get packages and food these past few days, which I appreciate greatly; I hate being a burden to others. Overall, this week has tested me in many ways, which is furthering my independence and has shown me I’m capable of being on my own, but also that sometimes you need to ask for help, despite how uncomfortable it might make you.