Welcome First Year Students 2026-27

Mary Becker

San Diego State University

mary.becker@yale.edu

Research Interests:  I want to keep asking foundational questions about the universe and about how humans perceive it, at the intersection of neuroscience and physics, and to lead communities that help others follow purposeful, sometimes non-linear, paths into science.

I am a marathon open water swimmer and a drowning prevention advocate.

Mary Becker

Andrew Calabrese-Day

University of Michigan

andrew.calabrese-day@yale.edu

Research Interests:  As someone interested in experimental high-energy physics, I am looking forward to working in the Yale ATLAS group to stress-test the Standard Model, as well as search for exciting new physics!

I’ve been playing the violin since I was a little kid, and participated in several campus performances during my undergraduate degree. I’m looking forward to exploring the music scene here in New Haven, both as a listener and a performer!

Andrew Calabrese-Day

Brandon Choi

Georgia Institute of Technology

brandon.choi@yale.edu

Research Interests: Particle theory, condensed matter theory.

During his undergraduate, he has worked on a range of projects, from turbulence to chaos to plasmas, and is broadly interested in developing techniques to understand and solve highly coupled systems - particularly in the context of high energy physics. He is eager to conduct research in particle theory. Beyond research, he has recently become interested in science policy and desires to invest efforts into such endeavors. 

I love meeting new people and getting lost in new environments. I also love dry humor.

Brandon Choi

Bakir Husremovic

Hamilton College

bakir.husremovic@yale.edu

Research Interests:  Quantum computing and networking; Quantum information science; Superconducting qubits

I was on the Bosnian national U15 table tennis team!

Bakir Husremovic

Avi Kaufman

University of Iowa

avi.kaufman@yale.edu

I have just completed my undergraduate studies in computer science, physics, and mathematics at the University of Iowa, where I worked with the Meurice research group on quantum computing and many body systems. My research has focused on analyzing probability distributions and entanglement in Rydberg atom arrays, with an emphasis on understanding device limitations using both simulation and experimental data. I have also developed computational tools to support this work, including a Python package for analyzing thermodynamic properties of quantum systems. 

Avi Kaufman

Gabriel Kreuzer

University of California at Berkeley

gabriel.kreuzer@yale.edu

Research Interests:  Ultracold Atoms and Quantum Statistical Mechanics

During my free time you can find me frequently scuba diving.
 

Gabriel Kreuzer

Darshan Lakshminarayanan

Rutgers University

darshan.lakshminarayanan@yale.edu

I am interested in high energy particle physics experiment. Particularly, I am looking forward to being a part of the Yale ATLAS team, searching for interesting physics from the high-speed collisions at the LHC.

Volleyball is one of my favorite things to do outside of physics, and I’ve spent over 10 years of my life playing it!

Darshan Lakshminarayanan

Abobakar Sediq Miakhel

University of Rochester

abobakarsediq.miakhel@yale.edu

Research Interests: Quantum information theory, error correction, and surface codes

In my free time, I enjoy playing cricket, going running and also meeting people from around the world.

Abobakar Sediq Miakhel

Siddharth Sane

Simon Fraser University

siddharth.sane@yale.edu

Research Interests:  Biophysics; nonequilibrium statistical mechanics; stochastic thermodynamics; nonlinear dynamics; soft and active matter physics

I won a Bad Ad-hoc Hypothesis competition (“BAHfest”) in 2023.

Siddharth Sane

Jay Sardesai

University of Cambridge

jay.sardesai@yale.edu

I’m currently interested in quantum computing hardware, particularly in superconducting circuits (which is what drew me to Yale). I also quite like the intersection of quantum information with atomic and optical physics, such as in Rydberg atoms and NVs. Additionally, I’m also interested to learn more about quantum information scrambling and many-body localization. I am also keenly following developments in particle physics, following a summer internship at CERN.
 

I really enjoy jazz and funk music, and current play bass guitar (and sometimes piano) in a jazz band.

Jay Sardesai

Robert Scott

Yale University

robert.scott.rls242@yale.edu

Research Interests:  Experimental biological physics and active matter.

I like comics, books, and sports.

Robert Scott

Aarav Sindhwad

University of California Berkeley

aarav.sindhwad@yale.edu

Research Interests: Experimental Particle Physics and Quantum Sensing. Research experience lies in axion dark matter experiments (HAYSTAC/ALPHA) and neutrino less-double beta decay (CUORE/CUPID).

I love playing sports, currently hyped for the FIFA WC 2026! Also really enjoy reading and playing chess. And I really can’t choose between mountains and beaches, having recently travelled to both Yosemite and Miami :)

Aarav Sindhwad

Daniel Skliannyi

Weizmann Institute of Science

daniel.skliannyi@yale.edu

Research Interests:  Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

Big fan of long walks, history podcasts, and trying ambitious dessert recipes. Always up for exploring a new city or getting lost in a good conversation.

Daniel Skliannyi

Honglue Tang

Wuhan University

honglue.tang@yale.edu

Research Interests: Cosmology and Astrophysics; Astrophysical Instrumentation; Radio Astronomy 

Whenever I encounter something new, I’m either immediately interested in it or figuring out how to make it interesting.

A casual photo of Honglue Tang

Paarth Tara

Columbia University

paarth.tara@yale.edu

Research Interests:  Biophysics, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, and Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics.

I’m a big fan of capybaras, and whenever I travel, I try to find the nearest capybara to visit.

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