Get to Know Harrison Roth
Why did you choose to attend UM?
I chose to attend UM because firstly when I visited campus, I noticed how strong the physics program was despite its size. It is a tight knit community that allowed for one-on-one interactions between professors and students, especially with the number of research opportunities that were available. Secondly, I liked the beauty of the campus. Despite a seemingly insignificant detail, I think the beauty of nature allows for many new thoughts to surface.
When and how did you choose your major(s)/minor(s)?
Growing up in New Orleans, I was close to the LIGO experiment. This was very influential and was a sort of catalyst to pursue physics since I was young. And in high school, I found Russian history to be the most interesting. Despite the animosity between the US and Russia, when I found out that UM had a Russian language program, I joined and fell in love with the faculty and decided to minor.
What would you tell a high school student about your major?
Even though it is a cliché, I'd say, just like many things, you get as much out as you put into it. It is more about changing how you think because the world is a very strange place, and it will defy your expectations at every corner. I'd also like to say that you don't have to go into the furthest reaches of our understanding on some cosmic or quantum scale despite what the media pushes. There are so many different applications of physics that many people don't consider, such as, acoustics, biophysics, astronomy, etc...
Why is your department a special place?
Like I mentioned earlier, this department is a tight knit community. There are generally around 30 undergraduates and 40 graduates in the department a year. Combine this with the astonishing expertise of the faculty, and you find an amazing education and experience. This more one-on-one time facilitates lasting connections with professors and peers alike.
Can you tell me about a professor or a class you’ve taken that has had the most impact on you?
Actually, my answer would be two classes I attended at the same time. They were Classical Mechanics (PHYS 310) and Introduction to Dynamical Systems and Chaos (MATH 565). While most of the material would seemingly not line up, there were some deep intuitions which I gained from the mathematics of dynamical systems that I've been able to apply to mechanics and my physics career in general.
What do you hope to do after you graduate?
After graduation, I intend to pursue a Ph.D. in Physics. Specifically, I have an interest in cosmology and gravitation, but I would like to use that experience to explore topics in biophysics/neuroscience, such as the solitonic model for neural action potentials (basically: why are neural impulses localized?).
What is your go-to meal in Oxford?
Probably St. Leo because their ingredients are super fresh, amazing drinks, and they change the menu regularly.
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