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Executive Board

Get to know the people behind the organization!

Itzel Ruiz

PRESIDENT

Itzel is third year applied physics major with a concentration in electrical engineering. Previously, she worked at Fermilab under the Quantum Computing Internship for undergraduates where she studied different gates and how they can be combined to model lattice field theory. Since then, she has continued her prior work with Dr. Segre to research different anode materials for lithium ion batteries. Outside of school she enjoys reading, going to concerts, listening to music, and appreciating the arts.

Alina W. Hussain

VICE PRESIDENT

Alina is a third year pursuing a B.S in Astrophysics and B.S. in Physics. She is currently engaged in research on binary stellar evolution with Dr. Vicky Kalogera, Dr. Zoheyr Doctor, and Dr. Seth Gossage as part of the CIERA REU. Previously, Alina worked with Dr. Emily Leiner on binary star population synthesis. Her favorite things to do outside of school are read and stargaze!

Taran Mellacheruvu

TREASURER

Taran is a third year pursuing a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and B.S in Physics. He is currently optimizing the evaluation of parton distribution functions from t-channel single top quark production with Dr. Zack Sullivan after previous engagements with research in pure mathematics.

Leah English

HEAD OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS

Leah is a fourth year pursuing a B.S. in astrophysics and B.S. in physics. This summer she will be joining Dr. Tjitske Starkenburg in her research on galaxies and galaxy formation at the Northwestern CIERA REU. She previously worked with Dr. Emily Leiner on mass transfer in binary star systems. Outside of school, she enjoys going to concerts, playing instruments, and bouldering! She also works as a Hawk Ambassador, so you may see her giving tours around campus.

Gwendolyn Maddox

SECRETARY

Gwendolyn Maddox is SPS’s secretary here at Illinois Tech. She is super interested in physics as well as data science and is about to go into her second year. Additionally she loves to dance, and has been training in ballet since she was little and is very passionate about it.

Eftihia Giannoudakos

HEAD OF EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH

Effie is a second year pursuing a B.S. in Physics. Currently she is working with Dr. Bryce Littlejohn in his neutrino lab, testing PMTs for a mobile detector. Outside of school she likes to read and play basketball. She also works at the ARC so go catch her there for some physics tutoring!

Brooke Jablonski

EVENT COORDINATOR

Brooke is a fourth year pursuing a BS in Physics and Accelerated Masters in Physics. She wants to specialize in particle and quantum physics. Brooke previously worked with Dr. Bunker on his recent development of a new mathematical method for numerically solving energy levels for different quantum states, her focus was on the 1D time independent schrödinger equation. When she’s not doing physics she loves to paint and work with children!

Gabriela Escobeda

CO-RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Gaby is a second year astrophysics undergraduate actively engaged in research with Dr. Emily Leiner. As the physics representative for the SCRA, she it passionate about making research opportunities more accessible to all students and dedicated to creating a welcoming environment that will help students strive throughout college and beyond.

Benjamin Ameku

CO-RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Ben is a second year undergraduate pursuing a B.S. in Physics. He is currently working under Dr. Carlo Segre and PhD student Karen Andrea Castañeda Marín conducting x-ray emission spectroscopy for catalysts in electrolytic cells. One of his favorite things is to teach others about physics topics.

EXTERNAL POSITIONS

Amelia Marengo

PRESIDENT OF THE ASTROPHYSICAL CLUB

Amelia is a fourth year pursuing a B.S in Astrophysics and B.S. in Physics. She previously engaged in research on exotic stars in N-body simulations with Dr. Aaron Geller as part of the CIERA REU.

Jacob H. Thomas

PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY FOR QUANTUM COMPUTATION

Jacob is a student researcher pursuing a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and M.S in Physics. He is actively engaged in advancing quantum subspace and variational algorithms as well as methods of evaluating parton distribution functions from t-channel single top quark production.

OUR FACULTY ADVISOR

Dr. Goni Halevi

ADVISOR SINCE 2024

Dr. Goni Halevi is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Physics. Dr. Halevi works in computational, nuclear astrophysics and is primarily interested in high-energy transient phenomena including supernovae, compact object mergers, thermonuclear burning, and accretion disks.

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