June 8, 2022 –
Cole Coughlin and Garrett Kozyniak, of the 2022 graduate, graduates of the UM School of Science, have shown that a degree in Physics can be very rewarding.
Coughlin (BSc./22 (Hons.), Will pursue a master’s program at the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics, and Kozyniak (BSc./22 (Hons.), Will pursue a master’s program at UM, developing a non-master’s program blood glucose control device for diabetics, with Dr. Can Ming Hu.
Cole Coughlin, 2022 promotion
Cole Coughlin, Class of 2022BSc. (Hons.), Computer Science and Physics
What made you interested in Physics?
I would say that scientific communicators like Carl Sagan and Richard Feynman showed me that physics could lead us to answers to some of the biggest questions we can ask about the universe as if it had a beginning, and what is it all about? My parents and teachers helped nurture my passion for science and math, and once I learned that being a scientist was a career I could pursue, computer science and physics became an obvious choice as they were and they remain my most important interests.
Why are you interested in this topic?
I’ve always been interested in what makes the world work and it’s true that it was the child who would almost never be satisfied with any answer I was given and kept asking “why?” – until we get so close to the original question we will forget what it was all about. I remember being excited about how confusing quantum mechanics is and how the universe seems to behave in such a way that we would never have been able to guess if we had not been forced to come up with the theory to describe what we see. Being physical allows me to wonder and learn about the smallest things we know and the size of the universe at once and everything in between. My interest in computer science stems from my love of technology and how it can be used to solve problems that we would not otherwise be able to do. Programming has proven to be an invaluable tool for my physics studies, as well as being one of my favorite creative avenues.
What was the most difficult challenge you had to overcome during your career?
During the early years of my career, I had learned that I worked better in social settings that put pressure on me to focus on study and my homework, such as the noisy part of the engineering library, or working with friends. When the pandemic brought us to the Internet, I had to learn to trust myself to motivate myself to work and study, which was a challenge, to say the least. I have been gradually improving and I am sure that being able to motivate myself to work when I need it will be a useful skill in the future.
What do you remember most about your experience at UM?
The Physics Undergraduate Student Organization is the group of UM physics students, and thanks to joining and volunteering at the organization I have met some of the most amazing friends you can ask for. The friends I met encouraged me to run for vice president and then president of the organization, an experience for which I am incredibly grateful. In addition to offering free tutorials for undergraduate students and exam sessions, OPUS gave me the opportunity to form a large group of friends to give ideas and support each other when we needed it most. . I can’t wait to see where the friends I made will go, and we’ll definitely keep in touch a lot in the future, remembering the good old days piling up for exams and struggling with our theses, and somehow passing -very good along the way.
What’s next?
This September, I will be participating in the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Scholars International Masters Program along with 25 students from over 20 different countries, in Waterloo, Ontario. This master’s program lasts 10 months and promises quick training on all the wildest concepts in physics, from quantum field theory to cosmology. I am very excited to be selected for the program and am looking forward to the challenge. After that, I will be looking to start my PhD, hoping to one day become a physics professor and conduct my own research, as well as be able to teach and share my passion for physics.
Tips for prospective students?
My advice to prospective students is to do your best to get involved in the community you are in. OPUS was there to help me during my career with the support of friends and being able to contribute as an executive of the organization was a rewarding experience. . College is hard and in my experience it is much harder alone. So if you can, getting out of your comfort zone and trying to get involved with student groups scared me at first, but one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Garrett KozyniakBSc. (Hons.), Physics and Astronomy
What interested you in your Physics and Astronomy?
What interested me in choosing physics as a specialty is the versatile knowledge acquired that is applicable to other fields, such as biology, chemistry, and engineering, to name a few. At the same time, building essential skills in math, coding and critical thinking. All in all, a specialty in physics is very rewarding.
Why are you interested in this topic?
I’ve always enjoyed building things, especially electronics. Being able to theoretically predict the results of a device or device you have created seems very powerful and interesting to me.
What was the most difficult challenge you had to overcome during your career?
Determining which branch of study I am really passionate about pursuing higher education. I was always interested in the mysteries and the expansiveness of space, which is why I chose a distinction in astrophysics. However, it wasn’t until I took a more practical class that I found experimental physics more satisfying.
What do you remember most about your time at UM?
As I return for postgraduate studies, what I remember most so far is how useful and complacent my teachers are, and their genuine interest in the success of their students. My supervisor is Dr. Can-Ming Hu, and I joined his spintronics lab in the physics and astronomy department. For my dissertation project, I used the theory developed by the Hu Group to design an improved microwave sensor that can non-invasively detect blood glucose levels and hopefully in the future can be used. as a convenient alternative for blood glucose control for diabetics. .
The main reason I decided on this project was that I wanted to make a useful device based on the amazing research found in Dr.’s lab. Can-Ming Hu. Finally, I chose an enhanced detection application that had not yet been done with the work done by the Hu Group.
What’s next?
I am a master’s student scheduled for the fall semester of 2022 with the Hu research group I joined during my honors thesis, where I intend to continue my thesis work and participate in future research projects. I think I can learn a lot more from Dr. Hu and his group.
Tips for prospective students?
Do your best and never give up, so you will never be disappointed.
Jennifer MacRae