January 2016: Andrew Shamp

Andrew Shamp, 4th-year PhD student in Prof. Zurek's lab

• First-author paper in J. Phys. Chem. Lett.

"The research that I do in the Zurek lab comprises the use of evolutionary algorithms and Density Functional Theory to find stable crystal structures at extreme pressures. While I focus mainly on doped hydrogen rich systems in hopes of reducing the pressure required to induce metallization and superconductivity in hydrogen, I have also worked on predicting high temperature and pressure equations of state of boron carbide.

I enjoy being a graduate student at UB because my advisor, Dr. Zurek, allows me a lot of freedom in the work that I conduct. She has given me numerous opportunities to work on a number of different projects and I have had the chance to travel around the country and to Europe presenting the research I have conducted over the last 4 years.

Outside of lab I enjoy spending time traveling, cooking, pestering my cat, going to Penn State football games, and playing video games."