2021 Black In Physics Week

Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an assistant professor of physics and astronomy and core faculty in women’s and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire. Her research in theoretical physics focuses on cosmology, neutron stars, and dark matter. Nature physics journal recognized her as one of 10 people who shaped science in 2020, and Essence magazine has recognized her as one of “15 Black Women Who Are Paving the Way in STEM and Breaking Barriers.” A cofounder of Particles for Justice, she received the 2017 LGBT+ Physicists Acknowledgement of Excellence Award for her contributions to improving conditions for marginalized people in physics and the 2021 American Physical Society Edward A. Bouchet Award for her contributions to particle cosmology. In addition to many more distinctions and honors, she is a scholar, an author, and a champion and activist for increasing representation and improving conditions for marginalized groups.

Dr. Simien is an Associate Professor at University of Alabama at Birmingham, his research directive is to sustain an innovative and transformative world-class research program in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics; specifically in the areas of precision spectroscopy as it relates to precision measurements, next generation frequency standards, ultracold atoms and plasmas, quantum information and computation, and nanotechnology. He is a current recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in AMO Physics. In addition, he is member of American Physical Society and serves on the Committee on Minorities in Physics. Moreover, he is an active member of the National Society of Black Physicists, and is passionate about scientific engagement and outreach to all communities with special emphasis to low income urban and rural areas.

Monika Schleier-Smith is an Associate Professor in the Physics Department at Stanford University. She received her Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, following undergraduate studies at Harvard University, and subsequently pursued postdoctoral research at the LMU Munich and Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. Her current research centers on advancing optical control of interactions among laser-cooled atoms, with an eye towards applications in quantum simulation, metrology, and computation. She has pioneered techniques and ideas for simulating phenomena of condensed-matter physics and quantum gravity using tools of atomic physics, and developed protocols in quantum control for entanglement-enhanced sensing. Her honors and awards include the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, President’s Early Career Award for Science and Engineering, a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, and the I. I. Rabi Prize of the American Physical Society.

Naaza Zimba studied physics at the University of Leeds. Driven to use his scientific background in a professional environment, he pursued work as a data analyst after graduation. He strives to combine his passion for data and science communication to tell data driven stories.

Professor Philip Phillips received his bachelor's degree from Walla Walla College in 1979, and his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1982. After a Miller Fellowship at Berkeley, he joined the faculty at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1984-1993). Professor Phillips came to the University of Illinois in 1993. Professor Phillips is a theoretical condensed matter physicist who has an international reputation for his work on transport in disordered and strongly correlated low-dimensional systems. His research focuses sharply on explaining current experimental observations that challenge the standard paradigms of electron transport and magnetism in solid state physics. Phillip is a leader in the field and we’re very excited to have him with us today.

LaNell Alexandria Williams is a current Ph.D. student at Harvard University studying soft condensed matter physics. Her current research interest includes an in-depth analysis of the physics of self-assembled systems by studying the assembly pathway of viruses. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physics at Wesleyan University in 2015. She is on the APS Board and Council of Representatives. And she is the founder of the award-winning “Women+ of Color Project” that shares best practices for applying to grad school and succeeding in academia.

Lauren Chambers is a PhD Student at the UC Berkeley School of Information, where she studies the relationship between data, technology, power, and government. She received her Bachelor's degree from Yale in 2017, where she double-majored in astrophysics and African American studies. Her undergraduate African American studies thesis, “A Different Kind of Dark Energy: Placing Race and Gender in Physics” examines how physics and astronomy theory and praxis are influenced by race, gender, and identity. After college, Lauren spent two years in Baltimore supporting NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope mission as a software developer, and two years at the ACLU of Massachusetts using data analysis to support legal and legislative advocacy campaigns.

Marika Edwards is a GEM Fellow at the University of Florida working towards her PhD in Astronomy and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. She earned her B.A. in Computer Science and Theatre Production/Engineering at DePauw University and her B.S. in Physics/Astronomy and Mechanical Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Her research includes galaxy evolution, instrumentation, cosmology and dark matter/energy. Marika has served on the board of and founded student chapters of multiple organizations, including BlackinPhysics Week, and she is a champion of academic excellence, school/life balance and community service and outreach in her universities and local area.

Sophie Martin is a first-year PhD student on the i4Health CDT at University College London. She received her MSci degree in Physics from Imperial College London in 2020, before deciding to use computational skills towards advancements in healthcare. During her PhD, she hopes to bridge the gap between research and the clinic using explainable machine learning methods and brain imaging, particularly for the early detection of dementia. Outside of her studies, Sophie is passionate about improving the representation of Black, and underrepresented groups in STEM. She is the Director of Media and Marketing for The Blackett Lab Family, a social enterprise which aims to represent, connect, and inspire Black minds in the UK.

Stephanie Rae has been studying traditional and musical improv for the last eleven years. After falling in love with the form at the Washington Improv Theater, she moved to Florida, founded Negative Four Months, and created hit shows including Law & Disorder and The Laughter Games. She later joined the Society Circus Players, performing in festivals including UCB’s Del Close Marathon - in which she conceived and directed a Boyz II Men themed improv show. These days, she directs the Black Improv Alliance, performing with International Players Club, Wakanda vs. Everybody, and Fake Eggs. Stephanie has guest performed with teams all over the world - including ComedySportz Portland, Unscrewed Theatre, and The Groundlings - and taught classes for the Hideout Theatre, Liverpool Improv Comedy, Improv Comedy Bangalore, The Countdown Festival, and Red Carpet Kids, among others. She has worked with corporate clients including but not limited to the Miami Childrens’ Museum, Madison Capital Funding, Masterbuilt, Access Sports, Mayer Brown, Microsoft, and YouTube. She is passionate about amplifying diverse voices and getting more melanin onstage. She also has a law degree - but mostly uses it to correct people online.