Spectroscopy, Optics, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Science Club Meeting, March 15, 2021
Getting Started with Numerical Simulations for STEM Research
When asked to imagine a research scientist, many of us would conjure nearly the same image. We might imagine a person in a white lab coat, peering into a microscope or holding a pipette. While plenty of researchers do work in a physical laboratory, a growing portion of modern STEM research actually happens somewhere completely different: on a computer! In fact, it is nearly impossible to overstate the number of disciplines which make use of computer simulations — they’ve been employed by physicists, astronomers, climate scientists, biologists, doctors, and many others. So, if computer simulations are so useful, how do we create them? What do they look like?
This presentation will introduce the very basics of scientific computation from the perspective of a novice programmer and researcher. We will focus on a particularly widely-used and efficacious computational technique: the Monte Carlo simulation. Named for the famous gambling hub, these simulations use random sampling to give us an idea of how real-world objects are likely to behave. After introducing the general structure of a Monte Carlo simulation, we will see an example of how this technique is being employed in the Marcus lab to study the movement of single-stranded DNA.
We will also spend some time discussing what it’s like to choose and work toward an undergraduate STEM degree, including all about how to become involved in scientific research.
Note: While this talk is about computational techniques, there is no coding experience required for it to be accessible! We will discuss simulations in the context of common strategies employed by scientists, but won’t make use of any programming languages. Also, to get a better understanding of the in-person side of this same project, consider watching Claire Albrect’s talk from November 16!
I am currently finishing up my third year at the University of Oregon, and plan to graduate next spring with a pure mathematics major and physics minor. Discovering my academic interests during my time here has been an absolute delight – I never could have imagined all there was to learn and do in my fields of study. I’ve been working with the Marcus lab since summer 2020, but have also had the privilege of dipping my toes into all sorts of research projects in physics, math, and beyond. Most of my experience is in using computational and mathematical techniques to better understand how the world around us works, but I also very much enjoy doing math for math’s sake. I love teaching almost as much as I love learning, and get to practice this skill with 1st through 8th graders as an assistant at the Eugene Math Circle! After receiving my B.S., I hope to continue my academic career by pursuing a PhD in math, and am nervous and excited for this next step!
When I’m not doing research or math homework, you can find me eating Thai food, hiking at Mt. Pisgah, playing video games, hammocking, and pretending I can make latte art.
