Featured Researcher: Annie Maloney '25
About the Student Researcher
Major(s) and minor(s)
B.S. in Physics and Astronomy
Minors in Mathematics and Creative Writing
Hometown - city, state, country?
Pittsfield, MA
Area of interest
Computational analysis
Types of research positions
Paid research | Summer position | During academic year | Virtual/On-site hybrid
What's your research story?
I currently work as a project assistant at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) where I investigate aspects of white dwarf stellar atmospheres with Professors Suxing Hu and Eric Blackman. My project is inspired by observations that the atmospheres of some white dwarf stars, which are expected to be relatively pure hydrogen plasma, are contaminated with trace amounts of heavier elements at heights they wouldn't expected to be located at purely from the hydrodynamic balance with gravity. Using the molecular dynamics simulator LAMMPS, I study a possible explanation for this phenomenon, called radiative levitation, at the microscopic scale.
Simulations studying this subject have never been done at this scale before, so I intensively studied observations of white dwarf stars, and foundational literature on the topic of equilibrium radiative levitation (macroscopic scales) to prepare for building such a simulation. My simulations can resolve whether radiative levitation "wins" against gravity, and small-scale interactions like collisions, by analyzing the velocity distributions of the heavier species using a code I wrote in python. Theoretically, these results could be compared to observations of specific stars to determine whether their heavy element presences are only from radiative levitation, or if some other mechanism (like mass accretion from a planetesimal or binary-system-partner) could be responsible.
This has been a long-term, rewarding, experience requiring many hours of independent and collaborative work that I’ve maintained through two summers and now two academic years. I learned many skills I believe will help me in my career—advancing my coding
abilities, becoming familiar with supercomputers and Linux, understanding scientific journal articles through extensive reading, etc.
In case you want to know more about my career track, here’s my linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-maloney-80708b263/
How did you initially secure your research position?
Initially I attempted to apply for REUs for my post-sophomore summer, but was unsuccessful. From connections with my peers who applied for the new LLE undergraduate summer program, and from recommendations from my professors and departmental administrators, I was put in contact with my now PI Dr. Suxing Hu, and joined his group after sharing my resume and having an initial interview.
Departments/programs of research
High Energy Density Physics Group, Laboratory of Laser Energetics.
Has your research experience enabled you to qualify for/apply to other awards or scholarships?
Due to my research experience, I am qualified for and have been prepared to apply for the NSF GRFP (Graduate Research Fellowship Program). The GRFP is a competitive fellowship geared towards undergraduate seniors or early year graduate students to fund multiple years of research during graduate study. Through my current research I was able to craft a research proposal for this study and further hone in on the work I want to do in graduate school. From the skills I've developed during this project, I'm able to clearly demonstrate my readiness for such an undertaking as well.
Any research presentations, awards, or publications?
I have presented my research in a poster format at the Rochester Symposium for Physics Students (RSPS), the LLE Summer Undergraduate Open House, and the American Physical Societys 66th Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics (APS DPP). APS DPP was encouraged by my PI and funded through my Lab. Presenting my work has been a very rewarding experience, and as such I plan to continue presenting my work, this time as a full slideshow presentation, at this years upcoming RSPS.
Can you share some "lessons learned" as a result of your undergraduate research experience?
When I first started doing research, I got into the habit of not sharing when I was struggling with something, especially in cases where I felt like it was something "easy." The truth is, even "easy" tasks can become difficult and/or time consuming in research, and by communicating more often about not only my progress, but about my struggles as well, I allowed for new avenues to be explored and for us to do the worker at a more consistent, and better, pace.
A lesson I definitely learned was to also take the initiative when contacting the people I work with. Instead of waiting a week for a meeting, it is more prudent to simply contact those you work with about issues whenever they arise-- as long as you've put some time into figuring out what might be happening, and have methods you've already tried to solve it with.
What advice can you share with new undergraduate researchers?
Communication is key! Whether your looking for research, or just starting out with a new PI/team, talking is one of the best things you can do. Reach out to professors whose work you're interested in and just talk to them, whether a position is on the table right now or not. In the future, they could keep you in mind.
Get to know graduate students or older undergraduates working in the lab/group, they'll know what to do if you feel like you're falling behind or struggling, give great advice, and can really help you settle into what is essentially a whole new environment.