Graduate School Newsblog

Sponsor: Tech Fund 1942 (Dawson)

My time at Michigan Tech was fueled by a passion for breaking down barriers, both in my community and in research. I was intrigued to join Women in Physics (WiP) because of its openness to everyone and its efforts to provide students with free access to the tools they need. The two most memorable experiences during my co-presidency were organizing the Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics (CU*iP) and the WiP Physics Fellowship. These events allowed us to create an environment that promotes camaraderie and support for everyone in the physics community.

As a physics researcher, I want to find new quantum materials that will help technology reach the atomic-scaling limit to minimize device size and power consumption. A specific example is low-dimensional half-metals, as they allow for perfect spin-dependent transport and provide access to the electron spin degree of freedom for spintronics applications. My dissertation is focused on using spin-polarized density functional theory to accurately model the electron-electron exchange interactions and predict novel low-dimensional quantum materials. This work led us to predict the first quasi-one-dimensional van der Waals half-metal, which is notable due to the van der Waals crystal’s weak interchain bonding that allows for clean exfoliation of the one-dimensional unit. This prediction provides an avenue to experimentally realize a half-metal nanowire.

I would like to thank Dr. Yongmei Jin and Dr. Ranjit Pati for their guidance and mentorship, and the physics department for its support. I would also like to thank the Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena for its financial support for the WiP Physics Fellowship. I would also like to thank everyone at Michigan Tech who helped make CU*iP a reality. Finally, I would like to thank the Graduate School and the Dean’s Advisory Panel for the Finishing Fellowship.

I joined Michigan Techn in Spring 2021, as the world was beginning to emerge from the pandemic. I still remember stepping off the plane at CMX and feeling the sharp winter air on a bright, cloudless day. This was my first encounter with a Michigan winter and one of many new experiences that would shape my time here. Beyond academics, Michigan Tech has provided a strong sense of belonging. I found community among fellow Filipinos who keep me connected to my roots, as well as in organizations such as the Nepalese Student Association. Most meaningfully, I met my fiancé here, whose support has been instrumental throughout my journey. These experiences have made my time at Michigan Tech deeply meaningful both personally and professionally.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Issei Nakamura, my research focuses on understanding how molecular features such as size, charge, polarity, and chain length govern viscosity and ion transport in ionic and polymerized ionic liquids using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. These materials are promising for applications in batteries, electrolytes, and ion-conducting membranes because they enable charge transport without volatile solvents. My work aims to bridge molecular design and macroscopic behavior, providing insight into how to tailor these materials for improved performance.

While I value the analytical aspects of research, I am especially passionate about communicating science. I have presented at the APS March Meeting annually from 2023 to 2026 and was honored to win the Graduate Student Government 3-Minute Thesis Competition in Fall 2025, later competing at the regional level in 2026.

As I enter the final stage of my doctoral program, the Finishing Fellowship will allow me to focus fully on completing my dissertation. I am deeply grateful to the Graduate Dean Awards Advisory Panel, the Physics Department, and Dr. Nakamura for their continued support.