Riya.
Computer Science and Astrophysics double major
I am passionate about software development and learning more about the field of Astrophysics.
Hi, my name is
About me
I am a senior double majoring in Computer Science and Astronomy-Physics with a certificate in Data Science at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
I currently work at the Physics Learning Center (PLC) where I tutor introductory physics courses for non-physics majors. I also work at the Undergraduate Learning Center (ULC) as a PrEPS Facilitator where I tutor Engineering Physics courses to engineering students in various fields. I am a student researcher and analyst at Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center (WIPAC) where I work on the different aspects of the anisotropy of cosmic rays.
Skills and Technologies:- HTML & CSS
- Python
- Java
- C++
- SQL
- Cassandra
- Kafka
- Pytorch
- Spark
- R
Experiences
I tutor the Physics 103 and Physics 104 courses offered by University of Wisconsin-Madison to students who are not Physics or Math or related majors.
- Facilitate bi-weekly instructional sessions to enhance problem-solving abilities and teach physics concepts from Introductory Physics courses.
- Create educational activities with specific goals to help students master physics principles.
- Use a variety of teaching methods, including repetition, visual aids, and collaborative learning tasks, to cater to individual student needs.
- Participate in weekly strategic meetings with fellow tutors to carefully plan instructional content and develop innovative teaching methods.
PrEPS Facilitator
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Undergraduate Learning Center - University of Wisconsin-Madison
SEPT 2023 - PRESENT
I teach a section of the course InterEGR 150 (the assistant course to Physics 201) to students currently enrolled in Physics 201.
- Developed bi-weekly educational plans focusing on core Physics principles and practice problems, tailored for teaching 12-20 undergraduate students.
- Facilitated group learning sessions, skillfully navigating through practice worksheets and articulating complex topics effectively, ensuring an inclusive educational atmosphere for students of diverse backgrounds.
- Enhanced leadership and organizational competencies by overseeing the course management system, participating in weekly strategy discussions with facilitators, and maintaining ongoing communication with the Physics instructional team.
- Designed and administered practice examinations prior to midterms and final exams, and conducted comprehensive mock exam sessions for approximately 90 students to bolster understanding and test readiness.
At WIPAC, I have been researching with HAWC (High Altitude Water Cherenkov) Observatory in Mexico and IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the south pole to determine what is causing the cosmic ray anisotropy.
- Use python and various packages like Healpy, Astropy and Uproot to make all skymaps of the anisotropy of cosmic rays.
- Analysed how the pressure right above HAWC observatory affects the change in the rate at which various cosmic ray particles are detected. I applied a correction to these rates to determine what direction these cosmic rays come from, thus confirming the anisotropy.
Peer Mentor for the couse CS 544 - Intro to Big Data Systems
Computer Science Department - University of Wisconsin-Madison
JULY 2024 - PRESENT
Help students understand the concepts taught in class. Work with PyTorch, PyCharm, Cassandra, Kafka, SQL and CQL.
