Amalu Shimamura

Amalu's hometown is a small tiny dot surrounded by the ocean, Okinawa, Japan. She received her B.S. in Physics (2019) at UCSB. Prior to starting her graduate program she was a Photonics Layout and Test Engineer (Freedom Photonics, 2020-2022), where she worked on PICS and lasers. Her current research interest is quantum mechanics applications on photonics devices, nano-photonics, photonics design, and fabrication. Outside of research, she enjoys backpacking/camping, astronomy, and practicing Sanshin (an Okinawan musical instrument).

Recommended Reading: The Jazz of Physics by Stephon Alexander. This book covers the similarities and relationship between sound waves (music) and what is observed through physics, ranging from cosmic, particle, and quantum mechanics, and the process of creative thinking in music to the creativity needed for solving problems.