A Particle in an Electric Field | Ashmi's Uni Journal

Ashmi

Hi everyone!

With the new ATAR Notes website now running, I thought it would be a good change of pace to get a new refreshed journey journal started.

For those that don’t know me, I’m Ashmi but everyone calls me Ash. You can find both my VCE Journey Journal and the first half of my uni journal in the ATAR Notes Archives below:
https://archive.atarnotes.com/forum/index.php?topic=194099.0

What are you currently studying?
Right now, I’m doing my Bachelor of Science, majoring in Physics at the University of Melbourne. After year 12, I enrolled myself into the BSCI/Master of Engineering package, however now I am 100% discarding the Master of Engineering offer. I realised that engineering was not what I wanted to do and that a life in academia and research was more fulfilling. After completing my bachelor's, I also want to continue my studies through a Master of Science (Physics) degree and if my scores are high enough for a scholarship, a PhD.

What area of physics do you want to focus on and what do you want to accomplish?
The area of physics that I want to pursue in the future is in the field of particle physics, in particular the experimental side. The experimental particle physics research area has always seemed to appeal to me, especially in dark matter detection and reinventing the standard model.

There are a few things that have always been on my bucket list to visit and research, such as CERN (especially the Large Hadron Collider!) and any particle physics experiments like Belle II, DAMA/LIBRA and a couple more that I need to refrain from mentioning or else this post will become too long.

The main thing I want to accomplish through this physics degree is to improve on my research skills and start publishing some papers! I also want to go overseas to work on research one day, maybe through an exchange or postgraduate study research.

I’ll end it there for today’s introduction. Hope you continue to stick around to see this journey unfold.

Ashmi

14th November 2022

Hey, AN!
It’s been a very long time since the last update and there is a lot to add to this journal.

For this whole semester, I attempted to make an update for this journal but I was crippled by the exhaustion of overloading. Now that I’ve rested a bit, its time to inform you guys about what I’ve been up too!

So during Semester 2 I took 5 subjects and audited another 2 on top of that. Yep, you read that right and double yep, I’m crazy. My exams were in person this semester (except for Differential Equations being online) which was a scary but interesting experience. My subjects this semester were hard, especially Theoretical Physics 2, but thankfully I have survived.

The good news about overloading is that I now have a lot of wiggle room next year! Plenty of opportunities to underload and focus on my harder 3rd-year cores.

This summer I have a lot going on, mainly internships and research projects. I have one internship which is fully data analysis (which is the boring one lol) and a research project on the SABRE experiment with the Australian Research Council of Dark Matter Particle Physics. I’ll be writing my first journal and thesis for publication, so I’m hyped! This research project is being credited as a science subject so I’ll have another subject knocked out for next year.

I do also have another research project that I was offered, however, I can’t say much as it's confidential till it's fully confirmed tomorrow. If I do end up accepting it, I’ll let you guys know.

Next year is a big year and here are the following subjects I will possibly be taking:

Science Research Project (Summer Term)
Quantum Physics (S1)
Electrodynamics (S1)
Lab and Comp 3 (S1)
Statistical Physics (S2)
Sub-Atomic Physics (S2)
Elements of Quantum Computing (S2)

And then it's graduation after that!

After graduation, I’m thinking two options, either going straight into masters or taking 1-2 years to work in a grad job before coming back. The latter is looking like the better option now as the journey through a masters and a PhD is going to be long, so I may as well save a bit before diving straight in.

If I were to go for grad roles, I’m thinking of a meteorologist (as meteorology in Australia requires a physics degree). Since I haven’t done an honours year, I can’t apply for any research grad roles which sucks, but there are other temporary options out there that would use my physics degree quite well. There are also quite large physics scholarships for female candidates, but I might not be able to get one next year, so I’m assuming the worst and going for a grad job just to have some money before continuing. I don’t like the idea of a gap between a PhD and masters so this time between my bachelors and masters would be the best for now.

Oh yeah, the Physics Students’ Society had many events this semester and our current president will be going on exchange next semester, so it seems I’ll be acting president till the AGM.

I’ll stop here for today and give a few more details when some progress has been made.
See you guys another time!

ArtyDReams

Ashmi

Congrats on finishing the semester Ashmi!! How on earth did you manage all those subjects ahhh.

Hope the internships and research projects go well for you! Keep us updated on those. Meteorology also sounds so cool so I hope that job works out.

Enjoy the holidays! Hopefully I'll see you around sometime soon!

tiredandstressed

oh my goodness 7 subjects gahhh (great to see an update) and congrats on finishing another semester.
Ohh internship sounds interesting, yea data analysis may be boring but I promise you it will be beneficial when you start research at an honours/masters level (so do keep note of the skills you'll attain through the experience).
Sound like you have the next year all planned and sorted which is good to see! I think taking a gap year after graduating will give you good exposure to the field (I did honours straight after and was pretty burnt out). From what I know it is quite common for people to take a break between their honours year to their PhD (this is to spruce up their resume and application with research experience, typically as research assistants). But I am aware of a few people going straight from masters to a PhD (but again nothing wrong with taking a break ~ esp if you dont get in)
note this is in the context of biomedical sciences and may not be applicable to physics
But it looks like a good plan, if you do meteorology plzz explain why the weather has been so darn cold and rainy lately xD
If you need any advice on your thesis do let me know, since I just finished mine this year.
Look forward to the next update, and hope you're able to enjoy a break before internships!

Ashmi

tiredandstressed

Yeah, the data analysis internship is mainly to get some stuff on the CV and also some transferable skills for my other research projects this summer! It feels boring in comparison to the other research projects cause it ain't as cool 🤣 . But yep you are absolutely right about it being super beneficial later down the track.

tiredandstressed I think taking a gap year after graduating will give you good exposure to the field (I did honours straight after and was pretty burnt out).

Ok yeah, this makes me more inclined to take a break for a bit now. It's a little bit harder to take a break between masters and a PhD in physics because the PhD is usually a continuation of the masters (plus you forget everything lol). If there was an honours year offered in physics, I definitely would take that and then a break before a PhD but sadly it isn't offered at UniMelb (and the specialisation I want isn't offered well elsewhere so I'm forced to do a masters).

tiredandstressed But it looks like a good plan, if you do meteorology plzz explain why the weather has been so darn cold and rainy lately xD

I will if I get into the grad program 😆 . I'll keep you updated!

Also, congrats on finishing honours and yes I will probably have some thesis questions coming up soon 😄 !

Ashmi

ArtyDReams How on earth did you manage all those subjects ahhh.

Geoo That's honestly incredible that you have were able to manage all those subjects!!!!

I don't know either but managed to survive! I am defs looking forward to that sweet underloading I have next year.

Geoo have you checked out the space weather department?

Yes! This is one of the reasons I would like to get accepted into the Meteorology graduate program, to do the space weather! I think its something I would enjoy and still uses a lot of the physics I've learnt throughout my degree. Its competitive for entry, so its time to start the prep for it!

ArtyDReams Enjoy the holidays! Hopefully I'll see you around sometime soon!

Geoo try to sneak a week in to have a break

You guys enjoy your break too! Yes, I will sneak a week in for a break somewhere down the track. Enjoy your holidays and hope to also hear updates from you guys too! 😁

Geoo

That's honestly incredible that you were able to manage all those subjects!!!! Congratulations on surviving through the semester!! Underloading is so chill though, so have fun in your last year!!

Meteorology sounds great for after uni, have you checked out the space weather department?
Summer looks so fun with everything you have lined up, i'm sure you'll be super busy, but try to sneak a week in to have a break. Good luck with your research project and internships, and have fun being president!!

Ashmi

Hi everyone,

It has been a while since my last update, and a lot of my future ideas and goals have changed. In fact, I think for the first time in my life, I may have found the answers to a lot of things I've been confused about. Maybe I'll start with what I know now and go from there.

I will pursue a research career and become an academic in physics.
I will work in experimental particle physics.
I will do my postdoc overseas.

Those 3 sentences took way too long to solidify, but now I finally have learnt who I want to become and what I want to be. It has taken so long to make this statement; I feel like it is the stigma and stereotypes faced in physics. Maybe it's my insecurity that female academics in physics are rare and that it is very hard to break past this barrier, maybe it is the lack of awareness that research in physics exists, maybe it is the competitive nature of becoming an academic, maybe its people saying I can never get there, or maybe it's all the above and more.

But I don't care anymore.
I don't care what others think.

Over the summer, I worked on two major research projects, one for the SABRE South experiment for ARC Dark Matter Particle Physics and one for ARC TMOS in optics. What both projects taught me is that a research career is really for me. The particle physics project in particular, taught me that the experimental particle physics group is where I belong. The question now is, do I stay at Unimelb for postgrad or do I look elsewhere? As I've learnt, the answers will reveal themselves with time. I'm investigating a range of EPP experiments around the world, more dark matter experiments, neutrino oscillation experiments and collider experiments. I've also been elected as the new president for PSS, and that brought more clarity and sanity into my life.

This is not an "I want" phase anymore, this is an "I will" and I am going to get there.

I've never seen things so clearly before.
It is like looking through crystal-clear water,
And the reflection of an endless, unbounded sky bouncing off the surface.

They say the sky's the limit,
But I need to aim higher.

It's time to break free from the chains that hold me to the ground;
And run into the unknown that awaits,
Does it scare me?
No, not anymore.
In fact, I'm excited,
To jump into the world that has been waiting patiently for me.

This is the end of today's update, an update much needed for this journal.
I'll come back in the future to provide more thoughts.
For now, it's time for me to get ready to hit the ground running.

BriMT

Ashmi

Fingers crossed for you!!
Congrats on figuring this out 😃

Ashmi

Hello, AN!

I am officially done with exams! (Party time)

What a weird feeling to be doing exams in REB and my lord the fact they put the Quantum Physics exam (my last exam) at the exact same time as the first-year physics exam at 8:30 in the morning was a whole mood. If only they also put the second-year physics exam at the same time then I maybe could have put a PSS club event called "Panic with us on the morning of your physics exam at REB" and got the most well-attended event award. Oh well, that's an idea for next year. Overall it was very funny to see all the physics students panicking together before walking into the silent REB (Yes I did join them in the panic disco).

In regards to what's happening in the future, I got into the Laby Research Scholars Program held by the school of physics and starting another research opportunity! I'll be looking at dark sector searches with the Belle II experiment in Japan which is exciting. This does take up the majority of my winter holidays, which is a bit rough as I haven't had a proper holiday since my first year due to stacking too much on. Thankfully my last semester I barely have any subjects so I can chill a bit.

Just a brief recap on what has happened this semester, I've been trying to organise a possible physics camp under the Physics Students Society (PSS) and some other events. We had a lot of events this semester, at least 2 a week which I am happy with and the turnout has been great. Lots of free food has been provided and I can safely say I've made back my SSAF fees just by the amount of food I've consumed from my own club. Note to younger years, always join an executive committee of a club. As this is my last year, I've gone around teaching the other club members how to do things so that when I leave next year, things are in good hands. I'm really happy with the club committee this year and it sounds like there are some exciting events to come! Being president of PSS has also brought some weird and wonderful opportunities this semester, from being invited to physics breakfasts, giving talks to the wider community, student outreach and more. It has also brought a couple more Unimelb love letters to my name (with a tally of 9 so far, hopefully, I can hit 10 before I graduate). Looking back on everything since I'm nearing the end of this degree, I'm glad I've taken every opportunity that I have seen and can safely say I've made the best of the uni experience (so far). There are so many things I look back on which I smile at (and also cringe), like waking up and volunteering at 7am in the morning on a 1-degree day in Winterfest with 3 random people I didn't know to screaming my lungs out at PSS trivia nights with a physics community to remember. It's been a good time, and I didn't expect to meet so many people yet become friends with so many in different disciplines than my own. I've lost count of how many people I've met along the way, but I'm honestly so grateful that I can walk past the physics building and someone always comes up to say hi (or shouts my name before proceeding to sprint towards me), not just the students but also the academics. I would have never thought anything like this would ever happen back at the start of first year, but I'm glad the effort I've put in has paid off. I've been my happiest and probably my best throughout this degree.

I'm going to attach a paragraph from old Ash at the beginning of this journal (the old AN):

"My last long term goal is that by the time I finish uni, I want to be able to look back and say that I am significantly better than when I first started. When I talk about being better, I mean knowing more quality people (networking), taking things one step at a time rather than focusing too far into the future, developing some self-confidence, improving my communication skills, step out of my comfort zone, engage in the community, if possible having a great academic record and lastly, to be happier than I am right now."

There is one thing left to do before I graduate though, and that is to complete this degree with a "great academic record". I'm currently on a H1 WAM and the goal is by the time I graduate, to still have that H1 WAM. With that being said, it's time for me to plan future PSS events and make sure that this undergrad journey ends with a bang.

That's it for now, see you another time!