Who We Are

Max Watzky | Co-President he/him

Max Watzky is a junior in Benjamin Franklin College majoring in Physics (int.) and S&DS. He is interested in the applications of data analysis and machine learning to physics, and he's currently involved in a biophysics project at Yale's School of Medicine. Outside of SPS, you can find him playing trombone or extending his 600+ day Duolingo streak.

Diya Naik | Co-President she/her

Diya is a junior Physics (Int.) major from Columbus, Ohio. She's excited about both the theory and hardware of quantum computers. She also loves to hear about how branches of physics intersect. Hoping to make physics welcoming to all sorts of identities and backgrounds, she's looking forward to hearing any and all input on improving physics. In her free time, you can find her drawing or rambling about her novel of choice.

Andrés Luengo | Vice President she/her

Andrés is a junior in Trumbull College majoring in physics (int.) and computer science. He was born in Venezuela and now lives in South Florida. He is a member of the Yale AstroML Group, where he researches the pulsations of stars in stellar clusters. In his free time, he plays the french horn and does indoor bouldering.

Richard Lin | Treasurer he/him

Kane Trundle | he/him

Kane Trundle is a second-year student in Branford College, majoring in Physics. His academic interests span quantum mechanics to condensed matter theory, with a focus on applying physics to develop cutting-edge solutions to the climate crisis. Beyond the lab, Kane has a passion for writing and reading short stories and enjoys crocheting unique clothing pieces. He's thrilled to support and contribute to Yale's vibrant physics community!

Giulio Sotti | he/him

Vasilisa Malenkiy | Travel Committee Chair she/her/hers

Vasilisa is a junior Physics (Int.) major from Boulder, Colorado. Her current research in nuclear physics involves developing and simulating instrumentation for rare particle and dark matter detection experiments. In her free time, Vasilisa loves dancing, skiing, and hiking.

Darya Dayanim | Prize Lecture Chair she/her

Darya is a sophomore in Grace Hopper College majoring in Physics. She hails from Maryland and has joined Professor Moore's Lab on the nEXO experiment. Outside of STEM, you can find her playing the oboe, making moves on the basketball court, or enjoying the outdoors. Darya is fluent in Hebrew, should be a lot more proficient in Spanish, and hopes to pick up Persian.

Ethan Martinez | Website & Media Developer he/him

Ethan is a senior in Pauli Murray majoring in physics (int.). He is from Wheaton, IL, where he developed a passion for particle physics growing up near Fermilab. Ethan is currently working on software R&D for a future Muon Collider and works as a ULA for PHYS 200/201. Outside of academics, he plays club soccer and IM cornhole.

Robin Tsai | Mentorship Committee Chair any

Robin is a Math (Int.) and Physics (Int.) major with an interest in conformal field theories and their role in criticality and holography. While Gross-Neveu-Yukawa models have occupied too much of their brain-space lately, they spend much time drawing, playing piano and bass, composing music, caring for two cats, and reading critical theory/philosophy. Did we mention their two cats?

Jerry Li | Community Service Committee Chair he/him

Jerry is a senior in Grace Hopper college studying physics (int.). He's especially interested in computational astrophysics and is currently working on a project studying black hole and galaxy evolution. Outside of physics, he enjoys playing soccer and also likes to draw.

Ilana Greenberg | Community Service

I am a first-year in Ezra Stiles college. I intend to double major in Physics and Mathematics, and hope to explore the intersection of theory and application. Outside of SPS, you can find me writing for the Yale Scientific Magazine or teaching for CodeHaven. I also enjoy speedcubing, creative writing, and memorizing digits of pi! 

Brad Foutz | Community Service he/him

Brad is a sophomore in Silliman from Bayfield, Colorado, majoring in Mathematics and Physics. He hopes to pursue his doctorate in physics and eventually become an astronaut. He loves hiking, walking, reading, and movies.

Yasmine Samolada | Social Media

Yasmine is an undergraduate student in the class of 2027, double majoring in Physics (Int.) and Mechanical Engineering. Originally from Greece, she is interested in high-energy nuclear physics- working with the RHIG on the pfRICH detector of the ePIC experiment- and in nuclear energy research. Beyond academics, she enjoys photography and violin.

Harry Pambianchi | Mentorship he/him

Harry James Pambianchi is a first year in Timothy Dwight College prospectively majoring in Mathematics and Physics. While being new to research with no experience, he is interested in high energy theory and resolutions to quantum gravity. Beyond the blackboard and textbooks, Harry loves to snowboard and is involved heavily with vocal groups on campus, singing and arranging his heart out in The Yale Glee Club and The Yale Spizzwinks.

Ian Li | Mentorship he/him

Ian is a first-year student in Pauli Murray majoring in Applied Mathematics. He is interested in atomic and particle physics. On a regular day, you can catch him cramming for a test in Steep, getting lunch with friends, or playing violin.

Richard Chen | Travel he/him

Richard is a first-year in Saybrook planning on majoring in physics and EECS. He is originally from Texas but now lives in Massachusetts. When he's not working, he enjoys cooking Asian cuisine, binging TV shows, and learning languages.

Lizzie Seward | Mentorship, Travel

Lizzie is a junior in Davenport college studying Physics on the intensive track with a double major in Humanities. Her research interests cover topics in atomic, molecular, and optical physics, with an emphasis on nonlinear optics and quantum communications. Outside of academics, Lizzie plays the saxophone in the Yale Concert Band and in various pit orchestras for campus musicals.

Daniel Wang | Travel he/him

Daniel is a freshman in Morse College majoring in Mathematics and Physics. He is most interested in quantum mechanics and its technological applications through quantum computing. He hopes that SPS will provide other Yale students with a strong physics community, both on-campus and nationally. In his free time, he enjoys photography and hiking.

Shwetlana Jha | Social

Shwetlana is a sophomore Mathematics and Physics major from New York City. She’s interested in quantum computing, specifically quantum error correction and is currently doing theory research at the Yale Quantum Institute(YQI). She’s passionate about the intersection of physics, math, and computer science. In her free time, she loves to dance and listen to music.