Eric Sun

孙泓楠

My name is Eric Sun (he/him), and I'm currently studying at the University of Pennsylvania as part of the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER), pursuing an accelerated BA/MS in Physics and a BSE in Computer Science. Welcome to my page!

In truth: the universe, only atoms and the void.
— Democritus, the laughing philosopher

© Eric Sun 2024

About Me:

Hey there! I'm Eric, and I grew up all across the world in Vancouver, Shanghai, New York, and Connecticut, though I'm currently in college at Penn as part of the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER).I'm fascinated by patterns, collective phenomena, and interpolation. My interests span condensed matter theory, computational physics, machine learning, and big data analysis. I'm currently working on the OPIUM project.Between coding and problem sets, I also play the guitar as part of the rock band Kapacity. My natural habitat would be binging random YouTube videos at three in the morning, and my favorite boba store is Chicha San Chen. Feel free to poke around here or reach out to me about anything!

Experiences:

Researcher, Rappe Group @ University of Pennsylvania (11/2023-now)

Working on developing theoretical approaches to optimized relativistic norm-conserving pseudopotentials with computer techniques for density functional theory applications in professor Andrew M. Rappe's group.

Researcher, BCT 326 Lab @ Yale University (3/2022-9/2022)

Research assistant at the Becton 326 Lab of Yale University, exploring applied physics and its intersectionality with machine learning. Developing state-of-the-art applications of unsupervised clustering algorithms on energy-momentum spectra and the development of duel-coil mutual inductance microscopy instruments.

Publications:

  • E. Sun, "Demystifying Quantum Materials with Deep Learning and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy," 2022 IEEE MIT Undergraduate Research Technology Conference (URTC), Cambridge, MA, USA, 2022, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/URTC56832.2022.1000222.

Select Honors:

  • AAPT PhysicsBowl 1st in the US & global 8th team, tied 98/4915 individual

  • USAPhO Qualifier (could not take due to citizenship)

  • 36th place, NPDL Tournament of Champions (TOC)

  • top 40, Yale MMoA math competition

  • 3rd place, 8th place individual, Ivy League Parliamentary Debate Championships

  • 3rd place team, 6th place individual, CT debate state finals

  • 5x gold key, 5x silver key, 3x honorable mention, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

  • 1st honors, finalist, double category medalist, CT Science & Engineering Fair

  • 3x National Latin Exam (NLE) gold / summa cum laude

  • The Loomis Chaffee School science & math department awards x 2 each

  • AP Scholar with Distinction