A physicist
from Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh-raised, New York-trained, and back home building places where people learn.
I studied mathematics and physics at the University of Pittsburgh, then went to New York University for a doctorate in theoretical physics. I had two advisors there and worked on two projects. With Sergei Dubovsky I studied effective string theory: the symmetries of strings and why their scattering is integrable. With Daniel Zwanziger I studied the Gribov ambiguity, a subtle problem in how quantum chromodynamics describes the strong force.
After the Ph.D. I came back to Pittsburgh to teach. I was an assistant professor of mathematics at Pitt and then an assistant professor of physics at Duquesne for six years, where I taught over 50 courses, chaired the faculty senate's DEI subcommittee, and won the John G. Rangos award for innovative teaching. I'm still an adjunct professor of physics at Duquesne today, and I've since added an adjunct professorship in mechatronics at CCAC and an upcoming course on the history of Arabic science for Pitt's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute — on top of teaching part-time at NYU and Cooper Union before all of it. Teaching showed me how much talent goes undeveloped when people don't have access, encouragement, or a safe place to learn.
That's why, in 2017, I joined seven friends with backgrounds ranging from science and education to extreme sports. Together we bought the closed Johnston Elementary School in Wilkinsburg and turned it into Community Forge. For our first three years we were all volunteers. Today I'm the organization's Director of Programs.
- 2010 – 2015
- Ph.D., Theoretical PhysicsNew York University. Advisors: Sergei Dubovsky & Daniel Zwanziger
- 2005 – 2010
- B.S., Mathematics & PhysicsUniversity of Pittsburgh. Double major
Hard problems, clearly
Ten years of theoretical physics: breaking down complex systems and explaining them in plain language.
Curriculum & teaching
University courses in mathematics and physics, and K–12 STEAM and tech-literacy programs.
Building institutions
Co-founded and grew a nonprofit community hub from an empty building to a full-time staff.
Equity in practice
Programs that close the digital divide and widen access to technology careers.
On the field, I play ultimate frisbee and have served on the board of Pittsburgh's ultimate community.