Alumni

Poduska Group Alumni

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My research group benefits from students with diverse academic backgrounds, including physics, applied math, biochemistry, chemistry, engineering, and archaeology. Where do their research skills take them? Anywhere they want to go!

Is your name missing from this list? Get back in touch with Kris to let us know what you're up to these days!

Industry

  • Stephen Campbell (Ph.D. Physics, 2023)
    became an industry researcher in Nova Scotia
  • Katie Joyce, (M.Sc. Physics, 2023) (joint with Dr. Alison Malcolm)
    became a researcher at Avalon Holographics
  • Boyang Gao (Ph.D. Chemistry, 2022)
    became an industry researcher in China
  • Somayeh Khajehpour Tadavani, (Post-doctoral fellow, 2018-2021) (joint with Dr. Alison Malcolm)
    became a researcher at Avalon Holographics
  • Jacob Newman (B.Sc. (Honours) Earth Science, 2019 and M.Sc. Earth Science, 2021) (joint with Dr. Alison Malcolm)
    became a geologist at Silvertip Exploration Consultants
  • Amir Joorab Doozha (Ph.D. Chemistry, 2019)
    became a researcher at SolidStatePharma
  • Jiaqi Cheng (Ph.D. Chemistry, 2016)
    became a researcher at Avalon Holographics
  • Cole Walsh (B.Sc. (Honours) Physics/Applied Math, 2016)
    became a psychometrician at Altus Assessments after completing a Ph.D. at Cornell University
  • Payam Bagheri (M.Sc. Physics, 2016) (joint student with Dr. Anand Yethiraj)
    became a research analyst at Synqrinus
  • Courtney Harnum
    became a capital budget lead at NL Power following a B.Eng. degree at Memorial University after participating in the Women in Science and Engineering Summer Student Employment Program
  • Chuan (Sandy) Xu (Post-doctoral Fellow, 2014-2015)
    became a researcher at Green Innovative Technologies R&D Centre
  • Jadran Surette (B.Eng. Electrical, 2014)
    became an engineer at General Dynamics
  • Matthew Seymour (M.Sc. Physics, 2012)
    (joint with Dr. Anand Yethiraj and Dr. Martin Plumer)
    worked at Altera, and then a Ph.D. candidate at McGill University
  • Ramesh Kumar (Ph.D. Chemistry, 2012) (joint with Dr. Erika Merschrod)
    started his own company Polyamyna Nanotech
  • Liam Whelan (B.Sc. Chemistry, 2012)
    started his own company Spectroleum Labs
  • Bernard Ryan (B.Eng. Electrical, 2012)
    worked for Solace Power
  • Csaba Szakacs (Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2009-2010) (joint with Dr. Erika Merschrod)
    became project coordinator at K. A. B. S. Laboratories
  • Shawn Chatman (Ph.D. Physics, 2009; M.Sc. Physics, 2005)
    became a manufacturing/automation engineer at ComCo Inc.
    after being a post-doctoral fellow at Pacific Northwest National Lab (USA),
    and a researcher at California Institute of Technology, Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis
  • Education

  • Andrey Melnikov (Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2021-2022 joint with Dr. Alison Malcolm) became an Assistant Professor at Nazarbayev University
  • Brandon Collier, (B.Sc. (Honours) Physics, 2018) became an intermediate/secondary teacher after a B.Ed. from Memorial University
  • Ben Xu, (Ph.D. Physics, 2015)
    became an Associate Professor at China University of Petroleum - Qingdao
  • Victoria Grandy (B.Sc. (Honours) Chemistry/Physics, 2013)
    became a science and math tutor after completing an M.Sc. at the University of British Columbia
  • Jie Ma (Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2013-2012)
    became an Associate Professor at Zaozhuang University
  • Tiju Thomas (Post-Doctoral Fellow, 2011-2012)
    became an Associate Professor at Indian Institute of Technology Madras
  • Asim Rasheed (Ph.D. Physics, 2012)
    became a Professor at Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences
  • Edward Hayden (B.Sc. (Honours) Physics, 2010)
    became a physics laboratory instructor at Memorial University
  • Adam Noel (B.Eng. Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2009)
    became an Associate Professor at the University of Warwick
  • Tim Kelly (B.Sc. (Honours) Chemistry, 2004)
    became a Canada Research Chair in Photovoltaics at the University of Saskatchewan
  • Medical and health fields

  • Erica Hayward (B.Sc. (Honours) Physics/Applied Math, 2017)
    became an M.D. candidate at Memorial University
  • Jonathan Ford (B.Sc. Physics, 2015)
    became an M.D. candidate after completing a Masters of Public Health, both at Memorial University
  • Colin Ash (B.Sc. Geophysics, 2015) became an M.D. candidate at Memorial University
    after completing a Master of Applied Science degree
  • Jon Porter (B.Sc. Physics, 2013)
    became an M.D. candidate at Memorial University
  • Tom Farrell (B.A. Archaeology, 2012)
    became a surgeon after getting an M.D. at Memorial University
  • Matt Flynn (B.Sc. (Honours) Physics/Applied Math, 2008)
    became a surgeon after getting an M.D. at Memorial University
  • Liam Fardy (Gonzaga High School STEP Co-op Program, 2003)
    became a pediatrician after getting an M.D. at Memorial University
  • Cool careers that you might not think of!

  • Shivani Semwal (Group Manager, 2023-2024 joint with Dr. Anand Yethiraj
    became an optics researcher at the National Research Council of Canada
  • Justin Elms (M.Sc. Physics, 2018)
    became a physical scientist at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
    after being a research intern at College of the North Atlantic
  • Chao Han (B.Sc. Applied Math, 2013)
    became Chief Health Officer at SmartNext after an MSc in financial mathematics from McMaster University
  • Ian Wilding (B.Sc. Physics, 2012)
    became a B.F.A. candidate in Design at Concordia University and is now a digital illustrator
  • Miranda Romkey (B.A. Archaeology, 2011)
    became coordinator for volunteer engagements with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
  • Holly Baker (B.Sc. (Honours) Physics, 2008)
    became a coordinator in the national Let's Talk Science outreach program and was inducted into the Science Atlantic Alumni Hall of Fame
  • Steph Huelin (B.Sc. (Honours) Chemistry, 2007 (joint with Dr. Erika Merschrod)
    worked as an analytical chemist Defence Research and Development Canada
  • Bryan Jerrett (B.Sc. Physics/Applied Math, 2005)
    became a supply chain manager at KCA Deutag
  • Advanced degrees

  • Vikentiy Pashuk (B.Sc. (Honours) Physics, 2024)
    became an MSc candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Memorial University
  • Marisa Dusseault (B.Sc. (Honours) Physics/Archaeology, 2019; M.Sc. Physics, 2021)
    became a PhD candidate in Earth Sciences at University of Alberta
  • Emmeline Williams (B.Sc (Honours) Physics/Applied Math, 2021, joint with Dr. Alison Malcolm) became an M.Sc. candidate in Scientific Computing at Memorial University
  • Theo Stanoev (B.Sc. Physics, 2015)
    became a Ph.D. candidate in Earth Science at Memorial University
  • Jane Cuff
    earned a B.Sc. degree at Memorial University and an M.Sc. in neuroimaging after participating in the Women in Science and Engineering Summer Student Employment Program
  • Nathan King (B.Sc. Applied Math, 2013)
    became a graduate student in computer science at the University of Waterloo
  • Tingting Ren (M.Sc. Physics, 2006)
    became a Ph.D. candidate at University of Waterloo
  • Kitty Kumar (M.Sc. Physics, 2009) (joint with Dr. Anand Yethiraj)
    became a post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard University Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering



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