CV
Research
I recently completed my Master’s thesis, Investigating Tropospheric Hydrogen Peroxide Trends from 1950-2014. My committee was composed of Arlene Fiore (advisor), Jesse Kroll, and David McGee.
Under the GEM Fellowship, I interned at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Summer 2022. My research compared data from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model with data from the National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB), to analyze their similarities and differences.
From September 2021 to May 2022, I interned at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in the Air Traffic Control Group. My project focused on methods to identify contrails in satellite imagery.
I was a computing intern at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Summer 2021, working on improving the resiliency of power grids. Previously, I participated in MSRI-UP, an REU at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute.
Publications
Sun, V. A low-cost computer and sensors for air quality monitoring. Nat Rev Earth Environ 3, 293 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-022-00297-6
Miscellaneous Projects
NASA
During Summer 2021, I participated in the NASA Lucy Student Pipeline Accelerator and Competency Enabler Academy, where I worked on a proposal on technology to improve brain imaging for astronauts. I was also the deputy manager of the team of 10, managing our meetings and proposal timeline. Our team’s proposal placed in the top 6 projects and there were over 300 participants in the program.
Class Projects
As part of the Preparation for Industrial Careers in the Mathematical Sciences/Mathematical Modeling class at Youngstown State University, I worked on a project with Environmental Collaborative to place cameras and track the number of boaters on the Mahoning River. This project was a collaboration with Joshua Boyle, Megan Krawick, and Zach Tomasic.
Programming and Data Analysis
Python
- pandas, csv files, dataFrames, dataArrays, matplotlib
- Science: sciPy, scikit-learn, cartopy, basemap
- Image processing: scikit-image, OpenCV, Hough Transform, histogram analysis
- Meteorology: netCDF, xarray
- Misc: Docker, API’s, version control (Git)
Model data I’ve worked with
- CESM2-WACCM6
- HRRR
- WRF
Graphs/Plots I’ve worked with
- Satellite images
- Time series analysis
- Spatial plots
- Geological mapping
- Skew-T diagrams
- Surface meteograms, weather station plots
Lab/Field Experiences and Skills
Geochemical
- Took steam samples from geothermal wells in Iceland
- Instrument calibration of research-grade carbon dioxide/water gas analyzer
- Mineral picking, crushing, and sieving (by hand, ball mill)
- Sedimentation (suspension in acetone)
- Magnetic separation (Frantz)
- X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
- Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
- Pipetting, running chemical line, sonication, degassing
Electronics
- Low-cost sensors (temperature, humidity, PM2.5, CO2)
- Raspberry Pi, Arduino
- Soldering
Community Work
Geosciences
At MIT, I organized and hosted the Sack Lunch Seminars for the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. I organized events to build community amongst students as part of the Steering Committee for the Asian American & Pacific Islanders in Geoscience (AAPIiG) organization, and organized research seminars for GeoLatinas.
Math
I have been invited to many talks/panels and organized workshops to increase professional development skills for undergraduates, speak about my math community organizing efforts, and to share my advice and experience in an REU program (see CV for full list).
My crowning achievement is the creation of a free student-led conference, the Online Undergraduate Resource Fair for the Advancement and Alliance of Marginalized Mathematicians, to inspire and encourage marginalized students to explore math careers and opportunities during their time as undergraduates. The unique conference structure includes panels of directors and attendees of opportunities such as teaching at math camps or participating in study abroad programs, crash courses of math research fields, presentations from early career mathematicians discussing their personal math journeys and struggles, and a resource presentation. I was co-PI on our first NSF grant (DUE-2230388), where we received $49,960. Before that, I wrote proposals with my co-organizers and won informal funding from MIT, Mount Holyoke College, Rutgers University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Art of Problem Solving, and the American Mathematical Society ($16,557.65). We held professional development workshops such as LaTeX workshops I developed curriculums for and co-led in 2021 and 2023. I organized this event for three years.
Coursework
Last updated June 2024. Format: Class (notes about class equivalency or indicating audit or blank, date) – Institution
Geosciences
- Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Search Seminar (audit, Spring 2024) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Atmospheric Chemistry (Fall 2023) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Introduction to Atmospheric Data and Large-scale Dynamics (Fall 2023) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Special Seminar in Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences – Geoengineering of Carbon Sequestration (Spring 2023) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Sedimentary Environments (Spring 2023) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Geochemistry of Natural Waters (Fall 2022) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- How we understand Precambrian environments: a grounding in modern elemental/isotopic cycles (Fall 2022) – Harvard University
- Geodynamics Program (audit, Spring 2022) – Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Experimental Atmospheric Chemistry (Fall 2021) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Introduction to Oceanography (audit, Summer 2021) – Hunter College
- Earth Systems Science 2 (audit, Spring 2021) – Hunter College
Other Science
- Fluid Physics (Spring 2023) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Physics 2 (half Thermodynamics and half E&M, Spring 2022) – University of Massachusetts at Amherst
- Physics 1 (Winter 2022) – University of Buffalo
- General Chemistry 1 (Summer 2021) – Hunter College
- Science Communication (Spring 2021) – Macaulay Honors College
- Science and Society (Spring 2021) – Macaulay Honors College
- Introduction to Computer Science (Spring 2019) – Hunter College
- Science & Technology in NYC (Spring 2017) – Hunter College
Math
- Mathematical Modeling (audit, Spring 2021) – Youngstown State University
- Numerical Methods (Spring 2021) – Hunter College
- Geometries (Differential Geometry, Fall 2020) – Hunter College
- Independent Study (Geometric Group Theory, Fall 2020) – Hunter College
- Mathematical (Real) Analysis (Fall 2020) – Hunter College
- Abstract Algebra I (Spring 2020)- Hunter College
- Ordinary Differential Equations (Spring 2020)- Hunter College
- Vector Analysis (Calculus IV, Spring 2020) – Hunter College
- Linear Algebra (Fall 2019) – Hunter College
- Calculus III (Fall 2019)- Hunter College
- Calculus II (Spring 2019) – Hunter College
- Introduction to Statistics (Fall 2019) – Hunter College
- AP Calculus AB / Calculus 1 (2015-2016) – High School