SEAN R. B. BEARDEN Education B.S., SUNY at Buffalo, Spring 2012-Spring 2015 • Barry M. Goldwater Scholar • Double Major in Physics and Applied Mathematics • GPA 3.983 overall; 3.983 in Physics; 4.000 in Mathematics • Advanced Honors Program • Dean’s List all semesters attended A.S., Ohio University, Fall 2007- Summer 2011 • General Natural Sciences degree • GPA 3.947 overall Research Student Researcher, SUNY at Buffalo, Spring 2013-Present • • • • • • • Under the guidance of Dr. Igor Zutic, researched theoretical operation of spin lasers, accounting for the polarization of electron and hole populations along with the spin relaxation times of carriers. Investigated the effects of carrier polarization on lasing threshold using Mathematica to produce numerical solutions of coupled rate equations. Found threshold reduction to exceed limits reported by other published authors. Conducted large-signal analysis on spin-laser operation. Discovered non-monotonic trends in dampening of relaxation oscillations in photon output density. Discovered the desirably short decay time—a measure of relaxation to steady-state values in lasers—is achieved for short spin relaxation times. The behavior was related to Matthiessen’s rule. Modified rate equations to account for Auger process. Generated eye diagrams for spin lasers with amplitude and polarization modulations. These results will be submitted for publication. Related short decay time to a significant reduction in bit-error rate for a digital data signal generated by a spin laser. 1 • Continue to investigate chirp reduction in optical fiber transmission using spin lasers. Publication • “Spin-Lasers: From threshold reduction to large-signal analysis,” J.Lee, S. Bearden, E. Wasner, and I. Zutic, Appl. Phys. Lett. 105, 042411 (2014). Appointments • Research Assistant (under Dr. Igor Zutic), Summer 2013 • Research Assistant (under Dr. Igor Zutic), Summer 2014 Honors and Awards • Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship 2014 • Sekula Scholarship (Physics Dept., SUNY at Buffalo) 2012 and 2013 • Wilson Scholarship (Mathematics Dept., SUNY at Buffalo) 2013 and 2014 • Great Lakes National Scholarship 2014 • Society of American Military Engineers Scholarship 2014 • Phi Beta Kappa, National Honor Society for Liberal Arts and Sciences • Sigma Pi Sigma, National Honor Society for Physics Majors • Tau Sigma, National Honor Society for Transfer Students Skills • • • Proficiency with Mathematica for numerical computation of theoretical models. Proficiency with Python to construct models, perform simulations, and analyze large sets of data. Tutoring in Physics, for Freshmen to Senior-level courses. Activities • President of the Society of Physics Students, UB Chapter, 2013-2014 • College Ambassador for the Physics and Mathematics Departments at UB, 2013-Present • Public Relations Officer for the Combined Martial Arts Program at UB, 2013-2014 Bearden, Sean Rhett-‐Burke 2 • Physics Tutor (Volunteer) at UB, 2013- Present Bearden, Sean Rhett-‐Burke 3