Steven Vaught

Recent MSc Physics Graduate

Biography

Steven Vaught is a recent MSc Physics graduate with a passion for technology and mathematics. His voyage into programming started with scripting simple data-oriented tasks related to experimental Polymer Physics research, and has exploded into a an intense excitement for all things computing related. He spends most of his time playing with software or with family.

Skills

Python
C/C++
Java

Education

MSc in Physics, 2020

Texas A&M University - Commerce
BSc in Physics, 2018

Texas A&M University - Commerce

Experience

Graduate Research Assistant

Texas A&M University - Commerce

Aug 2018 – Jun 2020 Texas

Developed and iterated on custom Python & Bash scripts to cleanse and analyze more than 13.4 GB of data.
Devised and improved on novel process for covering thin films in less than 3 months resulting in reducing polymer degradation by over 300%.
Correlated energy and polarization of conjugated polymer emission and reconciled experimental analysis with more than 50 references to relevant scientific literature.
Coordinated collaboration with other researchers to evaluate experimental designs and propose improvements.
Presented research at 3 events (Including Pathways Annual Symposium, 2019) and successfully defended thesis to committee of experienced physicists.
Worked extensively with optical equipment and solvents in a laboratory setting and frequently solved critical problems that impeded experimental progress.

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Texas A&M University - Commerce

Aug 2018 – Jun 2020 Texas

Led over 200 students in meaningful discussion while motivating key concepts and stimulating interest in higher level ideas.
Replaced 8 labs in the introductory physics lab curriculum in less than 1 week to better reflect student learning objectives and limited laboratory equipment.
Worked one on one with students to gain insight into their understanding so as to strengthen their reasoning with physics related ideas.
Instructed the following courses: Quantum Mechanics, Classical Electromagnetism, University Physics 1 & 2, and General Physics 1 & 2

Assistant Perishable Manager

Brookshires Grocery Company

Apr 2013 – Jul 2020 Texas

Trained and led a small team of 3 people, ensuring that all goals were completed in a timely manner each day.
Maintained accurate reports of inventory with an average error of 2.3%.
Utilized the company’s inventory management system in conjunction with team efforts to reduce shrink on gross by 3.4% in less than 6 months.
Enforced company policy at a high level and achieved 100% passing rate for internal audits.
Worked in other roles with varying degrees of responsibility: Grocery Manager, Meatcutter, Cashier, Grocery Stocker, and Produce Stocker.