Andre Calderon
I am a junior working on a BA in international studies with minors in economics and political science. In my free time I like to train Brazilian jiu-jitsu, watch movies, and read. Currently I'm planning to pursue a career in humanitarian service hopefully beginning with the Peace Corps. This is my first time being an LA but I hope I will be able to help my peers and show that studying science can be a fun and rewarding experience even if you're not pursuing a degree or career in STEM.
Matthew Mata
Hi everyone! My name is Matthew, and I am a junior at CU Denver currently working on my undergrad in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Science. I plan to relocate once my degree is in hand, and I am excited to see where my career path will take me! My passions include traveling, reading, golfing, video games, physics, and astronomy. Getting to be an LA for astronomy is a huge privilege and I am so stoked and excited to work with everyone involved as we get to learn and explore the cosmos!
Parinoz Abdulloeva
Hi friends! I'm a junior/senior, working towards a BS in Physics. My interests include all things particles and the very beginnings (and 'ends') of the universe. I love astronomy and cosmology. This is my second semester as a Learning Assistant. I can't wait to help create an enthusiastic and fun environment in Gen Astronomy I.
Abigail Hollman
Hi everyone! I am currently a fifth year student majoring in biology and physics. I'm still thinking about a couple different career paths, but I love science and learning and the process of education, so I'm probably headed towards teaching! Being an LA fits right in with all those things, so I'm super excited to be LAing again this semester! This will be my 4th semester as an LA, and my 3rd in this class with Dr. Gifford. This class continues to surprise me in the coolest ways as I learn the content more deeply and work with new people with new ideas every semester, and while it is challenging, I hope to help create an environment for everyone to learn and perhaps hate physics less that they did coming in. Outside of school, my favorite thing to do is make music, and I also enjoy reading, baking, and spending time with my friends and family. I'm really looking forward to working with you all this semester!
Diamond Del Cueto
Hi, everyone! I am currently in my third year as a biology major, thinking of a career in pharmacy. I am from Texas and love to cook, bake, watch movies, and hang with friends. I recently took Physics II with Dr. Gifford Fall 2023 and really enjoyed the class. I hope to help make the space an environment where people can enjoy the class even a little bit. I'm looking forward to working with y'all this semester!
Neha Cheruku
Hey, everyone! I'm a senior, and I'm double-majoring in Biology and Public Health. I'm also in the BA/BS-DDS program, and my goal is to become a pediatric dentist or oral surgeon. I've lived in Colorado my entire life, and I love to hike, play volleyball and spikeball, go skiing, and go snowboarding. I also love to cook, bake, and hang out with my friends and family. Despite my original lack of interest in physics, I took Physics II with Dr. Gifford during the spring semester of 2023 and really enjoyed the class/ the learning environment. This upcoming semester, I hope to contribute to a welcoming atmosphere and help you all succeed in this class!
Abigayle Reed
Kendra Martinez
Welcome to Physics II ! I am currently a Junior while majoring in Biology on the pre-Dental track. I previously worked as a Licensed Dental Assistant and found my niche in the Dental field before deciding to come back to school to set my goals on becoming a Dentist. I chose biology as my major because I'd always had interest in it, but growing up I had disliked and shied away from math, chemistry, and physics; anything that involved calculations. Just like some of you might be, I was anxious and concerned about how I would pass a class I considered "outrageously hard", but imagine my surprise when I realized, physics could...just maybe.... be fun? Outside of school and being an LA, I play video games, arts n crafts, and hangout with my 2 best friends! I love watching football, working out, and just being social. If you see me on campus, say hey! I hope by becoming an LA I can help you understand you CAN do this, success is determined by you and no matter what; Dr.Gifford, the other LA's and myself are here to help!
Maggie Price
Hello guys, I am a Biology and Physics double major with a minor in cognitive an behavioral neuroscience. I fell in love with physics after thinking I would absolutely hate it but now I have taken it on as a double major. I plan to go to graduate school and get my phd in Biophysics or Medical physics. I hope to share my love for physics with you guys this semester and I look forward to working with you all! In my free time I enjoy reading and playing videogames.
Abigail Gebremariam
Hi! I am a Sophomore studying Physics and Electrical Engineering. I enjoy different topics related to physics, artificial intelligence and other science concepts. In my free time, I like to spend my time exploring bookstores and trying out different coffee orders! I look forward to working with everyone and hope this will be a great semester!!
Anton Kucera
Isabella Adolf
Hi everyone! I am a 3rd-year physics major who is also minoring in astrophysics. Currently, in my free time, I am learning a bunch of new hobbies like riding motorcycles, and snowboarding. I love to hike and have recently started playing Zelda Breath of the Wild on the Switch! I also volunteer at my local observatory where I get to operate a huge 27 ft long telescope for the Denver Astronomical Society. Additionally, I do nuclear astrophysics research with Professor Villano on his development of a 3He Neutron Flux Detector where I have learned new skills like programming. I look forward to this upcoming semester and meeting you all! Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Ashley Reichenberg (001, 005)
Hello everyone! I am a third year here at CU Denver. I am majoring in chemistry and minoring in criminal justice. I am hoping to go into forensic science once I graduate! I am looking forward to working with you all this semester!
Doaa Alanbagi (001, 002)
Hiii everyone!! I'm a junior student majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry as well. After graduating, I hope to pursue a career in medicine because I have a strong interest in healthcare. I've decided that, having completed Physics II, I want to use this opportunity to provide as much support as I can to other students who are having the same difficulties in physics that I had and become an LA.
Laila Zeid (003, 004)
Hi guys! I am a junior majoring in Biology with a minor in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience! My dream is to go to medical school and become a neurologist. In my free time I am usually reading, baking, listening to music, and learning languages. I was apprehensive about starting physics lab, but I ended up really enjoying the lab. I'm optimistic that I can hopefully ignite a similar passion for physics in you as well!
Richie Smith (002, 003, 006)
Hi! I'm a junior-level physics major with a passion for teaching. I love to skate/snowboard and go to music events around Denver. If you need help with math, please reach out as I tutor outside of class :) Excited work with you all this semester!!
Sosy Kokozian (004, 005, 006)
I am a bio premed major but I have always had an interest in physics! I play 7 different instruments and am in the claim jumpers ensemble here. I really am excited to work with everyone and getting to know you guys!!
Dominik Fedorowicz
Hello everyone, my name is Dominik Fedorowicz, and I am a third-year physics student here at CU Denver. I’m not big on bios but I do love to help people understand who I am. Outside of school I am a fulltime workaholic, spending most night working as a mechanic or learning as much as I can from textbooks and other materials, I find interesting. I also love to hangout with friends out in town or at concerts. Here at the school my passion is physics and engineering, so you’ll find me spending a lot of time in their respective lounges working on fun math problems and getting to know other people. I am a big people person and love answering your questions, I like to think that despite being 6’1 I am a big teddy bear who is easy to talk to and have fun in class. I’m very excited to work with you all this semester and if you ever see me around campus be sure to say hi!!! I look forward to working with you all!
Fatima Mustaffa (002, 006, 007)
Hello everyone! I am a biology major in my third year. I am on the premed track. In my free-time I enjoy hiking and exploring nature as well as different genres of movies. I took physics 2 lab and thought it was one of the most fun and challenging labs. I hope that I can make this course as enjoyable as it was for me. I’m looking forward to working with you all.
Kate Tucker (003, 007)
Natan William Schultz Gomes (001, 003, 005)
Hello! I'm a third-year physics major with great passion for science and education. I'm originally from Brazil with background in Energy Engineering, Environmental Sciences, and Teaching. After graduation, I hope to attend graduate school as my career goals are academic related (research + education). Outside of school, I enjoy sports, music and various art forms. I'm excited to be part of the LA team in the Spring 2024, as well as learning about all different backgrounds, experiences and expectations of the students.
Nikola Hilderbrand (004, 005, 006)
Hi guys! I'm a third year student studying Mechanical Engineering. When I was in the physics labs I liked how much the labs related back to concepts I was going over in my lecture classes. I also liked how students were able to come up with their own experiments and ways of testing predictions. I cant wait to work with you all!
Park Blackwell (001, 002, 004)
Hello! I am in my junior year as a biochemistry major. I am currently interested in going into a PhD program and pursue research in drug development. I am currently doing some organic synthesis work in the Resendiz lab. This is my first semester being an LA and hope I can offer an accepting and patient atmosphere. Although I'm technically a junior, I have been a non-traditional student and spent 10 years doing my undergrad in order to meet financial and career needs. I fully understand and empathize with alternative college lifestyles. Outside of school I have been a chef for 7 years in Denver, and am currently at Rioja. If you are also balancing a demanding career and schooling, trust me I get it. Other than work and school I enjoy reading, hanging out with my dog, BBQing, playing music and doing nothing.
Daniel Mazin
Hello! I am a senior undergraduate student in the Physics program at CU Denver. I'm also a research assistant for Dr. Amy Roberts. Our research is focused on the detection of low-mass dark matter. I'm very excited to be a Learning Assistant for the first time this coming Spring. Please feel free to reach out with any questions!
Heather Hassan
Shi Davis
I am a senior who is studying physics and philosophy! I have been at CU Denver for almost 3 years now and I am working to become a physics educator and do research in Physics Education, specifically around identity and how people begin to associate with being a physicist. Outside of coursework, I like to crochet (I run a little market stall in the summers) and I like to play video and tabletop games with my pals! I look forward to this next semester and working with all of you!
Cecilia Hellman
Stephanie Howell
Hi! I am currently in my senior year with a major in physics. At UCD, I am the president of the UCD Society of Physics Students (SPS) chapter, an organization designed to help students transform themselves into contributing members of the professional community. I am also the student representative for Colorado and Wyoming on the SPS national council. Additionally, I work as an undergraduate research assistant in the quantum sensors lab where I am currently writing my thesis on designing probe inserts to be used for superconducting quantum interference (SQUID) device testing. Here, I also dabble in SQUID on tip fabrication and GUI design for a data acquisition system. After graduation, I hope to attend graduate school with a focus in quantum information science. My long-term career goal is to work in research at NIST or Google. In my free time I enjoy playing the piano, taking care of my many houseplants and hiking in the great outdoors. I am looking forward to being the LA for Thermal Physics this semester!