Research
A labeled photograph of parts of the conditional mechanical squeezing experiment.
Thesis Work (ongoing): Conditional Mechanical Squeezing of a Micromechanical Oscillator
Led the modeling, design, and building of a free‑space quantum optics experiment to produce optically and mechanically squeezed states with the potential applications to quantum sensing and computing
Designed and implemented upgrades of multiple subsystems including custom photodetectors, laser intensity stabilization control loops, and vacuum systems
Initiated and constructed a new method to measure and tomographically reconstruct quantum optical states with speed, precision, and ease via FPGA-mediated control
Other Work: Seimic Newtonian Noise Reduction via Earthworks and LIGO Commissioning
Contributed to an international team of researchers designing the next generation of gravitational wave detectors by proposing and modeling a method using large earthworks to mitigate low-frequency, seismic Newtonian noise in an efficient and cost-effective manner
Assisted in commissioning the LIGO Livingston Observatory for the 3rd observing run by implementing improvements to the angular and length sensing control systems
For a full list of publications, please see Google Scholar
Advocacy
A candid photo of Benjamin on Capitol Hill.
External Affairs Chair, MIT Graduate Student Council
Led a team representing the approximately 7,000 graduate students of MIT in all matters pertaining to local, state, and federal government relations and media outreach
Initiated collaborations between student governments, university administrations, professional societies, funding agencies, and lawmakers to discuss and tackle shared problems
Organized and launched the Graduate Research and Development Caucus in the US House of Representatives, including writing and giving remarks to assembled lawmakers, media, and other interested parties
About Me
Benjamin with some of the people important to him, his friends, at the 2023 MIT Kavli Institute Winter Party.
I was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and raised in Zachary. I graduated from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in 2013 and then attended the United States Air Force Academy for nearly a year before transferring to Louisiana State University. After earning Bachelors of Sciences in Physics and Mathematics, I started graduate school at MIT in pursuit of my doctorate in physics, studying the intersection of quantum mechanics and mechanical engineering, where I find myself now.
In addition to my doctoral research, I took an interest in science policy and advocacy through the Graduate Student Council's External Affairs Board. I eventually became Chair of the Board, coordinating external advocacy on behalf approximately 7,000 graduate students.
Beyond my research and advocacy interests, I also enjoy cooking, baking, skiing (both alpine and nordic), landscape photography (background image Vik, Iceland on a Fujifilm X-H1), the NYT crossword, and dabbling in random hobbies for like a month before inevitably getting bored and abandoning them.
Contact
Please feel free to send me an email, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on LinkedIn. I'm currently open to opportunities in quantum sensing and computing, science and education policy, national security, and emerging technologies following my graduation in Spring 2024.