PRISM Mentors 2026-2027

Roubaix Vidgoff (he/him)

Hi, my name is Roubaix, and I am the current PRISM Director. I am a fourth-year majoring in physics and neuroscience. I am a researcher in Larkin Lab, and I am currently investigating B. subtilis biofilms. More specifically, I am incredibly interested in how the microstructure of the extracellular matrix is linked with macroscopic outcomes such as its morphology. Some things I did in the past: I was a mentee in the Directed Reading Program, I was a Learning Assistant for NE 101, and I used to be very involved with photon (the undergraduate physics club—which you should check out!). Nowadays I spend my free time enjoying research, music, and reading. My favorite cats are Glorp and Milly.

Carolyn Chen (she/her)

Hello! My name is Carolyn Chen, and I’m a junior double majoring in Physics and Philosophy. Over the past summer, I conducted research in computational accelerator physics at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and I currently work with Professor Wen Li in the Astronomy Department at Boston University, where I analyze satellite data to study electron flux populations in low Earth orbit. I’ve also served as a Learning Assistant for General Physics I and II. Outside of academics, I enjoy running and am currently training for the next Boston Half Marathon. In my free time, I also enjoy reading, watching movies and TV shows, and exploring the city.

Jack Crimmins (he/him)

Hi! My name is Jack, I’m from Connecticut, and I am a Senior studying physics. I have done research in the Astronomy Department under Chuanfei Dong and particle physics research during my study abroad at CERN. I will be doing my senior thesis on constraining the optical depth from reionization history with Hongwan Liu. When I’m home, I work at a local elementary school primarily with the special education program. I also enjoy teaching, and have been an LA for 2 semesters at BU.

Katherine Dart (she/her)

Hi, I’m Katherine! I am from San Jose, California, and I am a junior majoring in Physics with a minor in Astronomy. I currently work in Prof. Kirit Karkare’s Experimental Cosmology Lab, and I am very interested in experimental work and instrumentation. Beyond physics, I absolutely love exploring new places, reading and literature, yoga, thrifting and being outside, beaching, and occasionally roller blading.

Lucas Gibbons (he/him)

Hello! My name is Lucas, and I’m currently a Senior double majoring in Physics and Applied Math. As far as research experience goes, I spent a year studying bubbles with an interfacial fluid mechanics lab in the MechE department, I spent two as the project leader for a Campus Climate Lab research project focused around mitigating laundry microplastic emissions, and I just recently finished 6 months in Switzerland at CERN studying multiphase CO2 flow in electronic cooling applications. Outside of research, I have worked as an English tutor/teacher with the Intergenerational Literacy Program in Chelsea for 2 years. And, to balance all of that other stuff out, I am President of the Zen Mindfulness club on campus. Other pursuits that I enjoy that aren’t tied to an organization but remain important to me include: reading, embroidery, bird watching/nature cataloging, photography, letter writing, hiking, walking when I should have taken the train, taking the train when it would have been faster to walk, etc. etc. etc.

Ganapathi Iyer (he/him)

Ayo! My name is Ganapathi. I am a senior physics major from Flushing, New York. I was a sophomore spring transfer student from Fordham University Rose Hill Campus. I have done research in Chiral Perturbation Theory and Lattice QCD Modeling, and during my semester abroad at CERN, I worked on QCD Phenomenology with the aim of gauging the strength of the charm Yukawa coupling. I am co-president of BU’s Society of Physics Students (Photon) and a member of BU’s Fencing Club. BU Orgs I take part in casually include Engineers without Borders, Sci-fi & Horror (SOSH), and Class Gift. I am an avid enjoyer of cooking, expanding my discography, going to the gym, and a moderate enjoyer of reading and drawing.

Ananya Jain (she/her)

Hello, my name is Ananya. I am from Tanzania and am an Astronomy and Physics major. I have previous research experience in stellar nucleosynthesis and presolar grains. Most recently, I also had the opportunity to attend the Geneva Physics program and work on the commissioning for the Barrel Timing Layer, a part of a new detector for the High Luminosity upgrade of CERN’s LHC. Outside of physics, I like traveling, reading, and just generally spending time outside.

Belkacem Eltaher Khodja (he/him)

Hello everyone! My name is Belkacem Eltaher Khodja and I’m a senior majoring in physics from Weymouth, Massachusetts. I am interested in anything physics-related. Outside of physics, I like weightlifting, football, motorsports, table tennis, combat sports, video games, and hanging out with friends.

Prayoga Liong (he/him)

Hey there! I’m Yoga, a senior majoring in Physics and Math. My research (and physics interest) is on theoretical Condensed Matter Physics; as a visiting student at MIT I work on 2D materials under Prof. Leonid Levitov, and here at BU I work on Quantum Spin Ice under Prof. Chris Laumann. When I’m not thinking about physics, you’ll find me on a hike or beside the Charles river for a run. I’ve made it a lifelong goal to visit all 63 national parks one good day. (picture is me @ Yosemite national park)

Wolf Mansen (he/him)

Hello there! My name is Wolf. I am from O’ahu, Hawai’i and am a Junior in Physics. I have spent two summers researching the optimization of photocathode thickness, and am currently working on diffuser testing using a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and an optical simulation with diffusers for the KamLAND2-Zen upgrade at the Kamioka Observatory. Beyond research, I enjoy video editing, thrifting, listening to music, playing video games, going to the gym, and breakdancing when time permits.

Cooper Nordoff (he/him)

Hi, my name is Cooper Nordoff. I’m a math and physics major from western Massachusetts. I am interested in the mathematical aspects of physics, and I intend to go to graduate school for math. Outside of physics, I like spending time in nature, reading sci-fi/fantasy books, drinking mochas, and trying to learn how to cook.

Mathew Nelson (he/him)

Hello! My name is Mathew, I am from Salt Lake City Utah, and I am a senior studying Physics, and minoring in Math and Chinese. I am currently doing research in neutrino physics, working to simulate current and future detectors like SuperK and HyperK. I enjoy jazz and play the Alto Saxophone, and have studied Mandarin for 6 years and studied abroad for a semester in Shanghai. Being from Utah, I also love skiing and the outdoors.

Nat Penn (he/him)

Hi, I’m Nat! I am a senior pursuing a dual degree in physics and music composition, and I plan to pursue a PhD in physics. I’ve been working in a med/bio physics lab at TU Dortmund in Germany researching various projects including the physics of phase transitions in neurite membranes, catalysis, and action potential propogation, and I previously worked testing chips for the CMS detector. I’m from Newton, MA, and in my rare free time that isn’t spent studying physics or playing an instrument I enjoy reading and making art.

Seira Serizawa (she/her)

Hi! I’m Seira. I’m a junior majoring in Astronomy & Physics. I’m an international student from Tokyo and grew up in Hong Kong. I’ve done research using spectroscopy in both my high school research studying stellar evolution and in my current work with Professor Hermes’s research group studying white dwarfs. I plan on going into finance after graduating, but my ultimate goal is to return to academia and study relativistic astrophysics. Outside of physics, I am a classical pianist and percussionist, and I enjoy shopping, learning new things, and going on spontaneous side quests with friends!

Patrick Stuart (he/him)

Hi! My name is Patrick Stuart, and I am a 4th year physics student from Long Island, New York. I will be coming back next semester from the study abroad program in Geneva, so if you have any questions about that, feel free to ask! There, my research focused on software in preparation for the CMS Phase II upgrade. Other than that, this will also be my third time participating in the Learning Assistant program (fourth, counting one summer semester), and I frequently attend our physics club’s (photon’s) meetings, so I would say I have participated heavily in everything BU has to offer physics-wise. Outside of physics, I like to participate in our theatre programs (tech, not acting), garden when I’m at home, listen to music (hip-hop & R&B are my favorites), and more generally spend time with my lovely friends. Very excited to meet you!

Doreen Wu (she/her)

Hi! My name is Doreen and I’m a junior studying Astronomy and Physics. I’m especially interested in almost all phenomena regarding stars such as pulsars and protoplanetary disks. I’m Taiwanese from Queens, New York, and outside of physics I’m apart of the Taiwanese American Student Association and Fencing Club, and I love baking and playing piano!

Seven Zhang (they/them)

Hello all! My name is Seven (yes, like the number) and I am a Canadian Senior studying Physics and Philosophy and minoring in Math. I am currently the Co-President of Photon (BU’s Society of Physics Students), and have performed and directed for various plays and musicals in the BU Theatre scene. While not participating in recreational collegiate theatre, I spend a lot of time thinking about, and playing various niche underground TTRPGs (ask me about them PLEASE). I adore teaching and have been a Learning Assistant for PY 105, 211, 212 (three times!!), 313, and 405 in the fall. One of my biggest passions is Physics Education and it’s intersection with storytelling (which I researched for UROP) and following my time at BU, I intend to go to grad school for Philosophy of Physics