#WNBiPonWednesdays Jasmine Ajaz

Welcome back for another week of #WNBiPonWednesday interviews! This week we spoke to Jasmine, a final year undergraduate student, completing her MSci project on inertial confinement fusion. Thank you for your time Jasmine!

As an introduction, what is the topic of your MSci Project and what are you working on now?

My MSci project is focussed on inertial confinement fusion (ICF). We are using a 1D radiation-hydrodynamic code called Gorgon to simulate DT fuel capsule implosions on the scale of the National Ignition Facility seeking to optimise the vast parameter space of the problem, namely the laser pulse shape parameters. Currently, we are working on fine tuning the resolution of the simulations through convergence tests to produce reliable results while keeping the optimisation computationally ‘cheap’.

Describe your path into physics, what kickstarted it?

I always cite a very specific Year 10 physics lesson as my ‘kickstarter’. We were learning about nuclear fusion and my teacher handed me a photocopy of the page on fusion from the A level textbook because I’d finished the task early. The A level textbook talked about practical applications of fusion energy, including the progress of ITER, and my teacher recommended the New Yorker article ‘A Star in a Bottle’ if I wanted to know more. Safe to say I did, and I ended up completing an Extended Project Qualification in sixth form about the viability of fusion energy. 4 years later and I’m researching ICF for fulfilment of my Master’s in Physics! I feel very privileged to be here, and extremely grateful to that teacher for that simple act of outreach which started my whole journey! Shout out to Mr Jeeves!

What was the focus of your UROP project?

My UROP was in the Physics Education Group with Dr Michael Fox, in partnership with Cornell University, focusing on experimental skills. We developed a codebook to analyse first year laboratory reports, testing the robustness of our definitions of different experimental skills such that a future natural language processing algorithm to replace hand-coding could make reliable claims. This has excitingly contributed to an upcoming publication by our collaborators at Cornell, Dr Natasha Holmes and Rebeckah Fussell!

On the WNBiP committee you’ve been outreach coordinator for the last three years, what does this role involve for you? Is there anything you’re working on now?

This role has involved lots of different things over the years! Mainly taking part in Q&A panels, running activities with schools, and always making sure WNBiP have a presence on offer holder/general open days! Right now I’m running a project with Year 12s at the Imperial Maths School; we’re working together to create a carousel of physics and maths-based workshops that they will give to Year 8 students on a big ‘workshop day’ in Blackett at the end of March. The Year 12s are learning science communication skills, and will get to take part in physics outreach themselves, and the Year 8s will have  a (hopefully) fun day out and see physics and maths contextualised outside of their curriculum! Outreach is very important. There is still so much to be done to improve access for students who face multi-faceted marginalisation and I recognise the great privilege of the position I’m in now. I’m very grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve had to improve my skills in outreach, and intend to put them to good use wherever my next steps take me!
What do you do outside of physics? Are you a part of any clubs or societies?
I’ve been a (some would say over-) committed member of Musical Theatre Society since first year. I’ve spent three years on committee as Secretary, President and now Vice-President, and it’s been one of the most fulfilling (certainly most time-consuming!) aspects of my Imperial experience. I wouldn’t change it for anything, having that regular outlet for pure joy, getting to meet so many people who are now so important in my life, and getting so much hands-on experience with very useful life skills via committee, make the stress worth it! Plus I’m way better at handling stress now, so win-win.
Looking back, what advice would you have for your younger self?
The effort you’re putting in will be worth it. Keep saying yes, and keep getting yourself involved in projects you’re passionate about, you will open up so many opportunities. But also prioritise knowing/learning your limits, and be empowered to stick to them!