Annie Cheng

Academics

I became interested in physics in high school, thanks to having a stellar physics teacher, Mr. Sample. My time at the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences (PGSS) and the International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP) further helped solidify my interest in the field.

At the University of Pennsylvania, I majored in physics and completed my bachelor's in 2023. Courses taken include:

• Phys 361, 362 - Electromagnetism I, II
• Phys 401 - Thermodynamics
• Phys 411, 412 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I, II
• Phys 499 - Senior honor thesis
• Phys 518 - Intro to Condensed Matter Physics [Graduate level]
• Phys 530 - Modern Optics [Graduate level]
• Phys 531 - Quantum Mechanics I [Graduate level]
• Phys 662 - Solid State Theory II [Graduate level] [audited]
• Phys 299 - Independent study (condensed matter theory)*
*based on Bruus & Flensberg's Many Body Theory and Bernevig & Hughes' Topological Insulators and Topological Superconductors
• Ese 523 - Quantum Engienering [Graduate level] [audited]
• Ese 525 - Nanoscale Sciences & Engineering [Graduate level]

I am starting my PhD in the fall at Stanford University, which I am very excited about!

Research

I previously worked in the Bo Zhen lab, studying exciton-polaritons in transition metal dichalcogenides. Earlier, I worked in the Charlie Johnson lab. I mostly studied chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthesis of various 2D materials and their heterostructures, which allowed me the opportunity to attend and present at the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (2022), National Collegiate Research Conference (2022), and Penn's Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Research Exposition (2021). I also researched biosensing applications of 2D materials, which resulted in a publication.

Generally I think that 2D materials are all around super cool. Scientifically, I would express this as, "low-dimensional materials exhibit emergent phenomena that give rise to novel correlated and topological states, which can be used in device applications and studies of fundamental physics", but the real (!) reason I like 2D materials is because, when you study these low-D systems, it's like reading a sci-fi novel. Except all the sci-fi is true, and you live in the sci-fi universe!

Clubs

At Penn, I served as president of the Penn Astronomical Student Association (PASA). At PASA, we think that astronomy is fascinating and beautiful... and also rather confusing to non-astro majors like myself! Yet lack of formal astronomy education should not be a barrier against enjoying the stars. Thus, PASA was formed as an interest-based club designed for students of all majors to enjoy the wonders of astronomy. We hold telescope viewing nights, host speaker events (most recently from NASA's very exciting Europa clipper mission!), visit planetariums, and are currently organizing our first-ever camping trip to Cherry Springs State Park, the #1 dark-sky viewing spot on the east coast! Given that we are a rather new club, and have been operating under Covid conditions until this past year, we are super thrilled to have found a community of astro-enthusiasts at Penn. As president, I am most proud of finally achieving official club recognition from the universiy's Student Activities Council, since they had suspended new-club recognitions for the past two years. We also just got a load of funding to buy a 6" Dobsonian telescope and more observing equipment; we're really looking forward to expanding the club in the coming years!

In addition to PASA, I also served on the executive board of Penn's Society of Physics Students, and am an active member of Women in Physics.