Project List
| Title | Description | Date | Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Understanding the 1987 Palestinian Intifada | I examine several factors - namely historical (interactions with Israel) and sociological (group charisma and cohesion) - that contributed to the widespread support of non-armed resistance during the first Palestinian intifada. | May 4, 2009 | Societies and Conflict |
| CdSe Quantum Dots | This was the final project for my introductory materials science class at Olin. We studied the theory, synthesis, and properties of quantum dots. | December 12, 2008 | Materials Science |
| The Game of Life and Life as a Computer | I describe Conway's Game of Life and its interesting patterns. I discuss its potential use as a computer and potential patterns that function as basic logic gates (AND, OR, NOT). | November 8, 2008 | Computational Modeling |
| Material Science of Optical Mouse | We analyze the optical system of an optical mouse to determine the materials science considerations that allow the device to operate effectively. | October 15, 2008 | Materials Science |
| Critical Connectivity in Erdos-Renyi Random Graphs | I discuss a model for random graphs and derive a closed-form expression for the critical value of edge probability in the Erdos-Renyi random graph model that marks a turning point in connectivity. | October 15, 2008 | Computational Modeling |
| Introduction to Graph Theory | I offer a basic introduction to the fundamentals of graph theory, including regular graphs, random graphs, and connectivity. The development of concepts is paralleled by discussion of programming graphs in Python. | October 1, 2008 | Computational Modeling |
| Network Formation Games | My team at RIPS 2008 produced this paper analyzing the structural characteristics of Nash Equilibria in network formation games in which agents attempt to maximize betweenness centrality. | August 22, 2008 | RIPS 2008 (Research in Industrial Projects for Students) |
| Khomeini's Departure from Tradition and Fundamentalism | I analyze the the life and work of Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran's first supreme leader. | May 1, 2008 | Islam in the Modern World |
| Reconciling Quran and Science | I study the work of two noted Muslim concordists, Sayyid Ahmad Khan, an Indian Muslim reformist of the late 19th century, and Maurice Bucaille, a French physician of the late 20th century | March 1, 2008 | Islam and the Modern World |
| R-2R Circuit as Analog to Digital Converter | I use basic electronics laws (Ohm, Kirchoff) to demonstrate a simple A to D converter built from resistors. | February 1, 2008 | Microelectronic Circuits |
| Big Bird: An RC Hovercraft | We built Big Bird, a hovercraft controlled remotely from a laptop computer, from scratch in a semester long team project. | December 1, 2007 | Principles of Engineering (Mechatronics) |
| Estimating Genetic Mutation Rates | I investigate a variety of literature-grounded techniques used by biologists and geneticists to estimate spontaneous mutation rates. | December 1, 2007 | Modern Biology |
| Natural Language Search On Facebook | A plain English search engine for Facebook. Example: "Find my friends who enjoy baseball and soccer but not rugby." | May 1, 2007 | Artificial Intelligence |
| Numerical Techniques for Stock Options | We study the Black-Scholes PDE as a method for valuing stock options. | May 1, 2007 | Vector Calculus |
| Pragmatic Reassessment of US Policy toward Israel-Palestine Crisis | I offer a series of policy recommendations working toward a two-state solution to the conflict. This analysis was conducted in early 2007, soon after Hamas gained power in Gaza and the current humanitarian crisis was emerging. | May 1, 2007 | The U.S. and the Muslim World |
| Contextual Analysis of Pakistan's Founding | An analysis of the political factors which lead to Pakistan's independence from India and British control. | March 15, 2007 | The U.S. and the Muslim World |
| Modeling US Organ Donor Network | We study the current US organ allocation system and make policy recommendations. Achieved Meritorious Winner in Interdisciplinary Contest in modeling. | March 1, 2007 | Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling |
| Focal Length for E-M Lens | We develop a model for the focal length of a simple electromagnetic lens, like that used in electron microscopes. | March 1, 2007 | Physics: E+M |
| Heat Sink Optimization | We designed, optimized, and fabricated a multi-fin aluminum heat sink. It tied for first place during in-class experimentation. | February 20, 2007 | Modeling and Control of Distributed Systems |
| Dynamics of Caber Toss | My partner and I develop and analyze a mathematical model of the caber toss, a Scottish athletic event involving flipping a telophone-pole sized log. | January 1, 2007 | Physics: Mechanics |
| Envisioning Existential Risks of Artificial Intelligence | I draw from fiction, cinema, and current futurist thought to discuss the risk human-level AI may impose on humanity in the next few decades. | December 7, 2006 | What is "I"? |
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