My first day at Columbia University
August 2022
Hey, I'm Harry,
I graduated from Columbia University in May 2026 with a major in Physics and a concentration in Mathematics, having completed the most rigorous curriculum available for physics students.
I am now a paid post-baccalaureate researcher at the Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, leading several first-author projects with papers expected in late 2026. After this year of full-time research I plan to pursue a PhD in Physics with a strong emphasis on research.
For the past three years I have worked with the Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory in the Mori Research Group (with collaborator Professor Charles Hailey). This research produced the first observation of Compact Cloud Clumps at the interaction site of a molecular cloud and a supernova remnant. In summer 2025 I was a visiting researcher at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, working with Dr. Rafael Martínez-Galarza (Deputy Director of AstroAI). The CfA is an inspiring place filled with outstanding scientists from around the world.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this research and the community of physicists it has connected me with. I especially valued the conferences and workshops at UMass Lowell and the CfA.
Originally from the mountainous outskirts of Brisbane, Australia, I am an avid rock climber, hiker, and scuba diver. I was accepted into the Explorers Club of New York at age 16 and later joined an expedition researching great white sharks in the Neptune Islands—an unforgettable experience. The Club’s New York headquarters remains a remarkable living museum of exploration and discovery.
Living, studying, and now working at Columbia in New York has been a dream realized. I am excited for the next phase of my journey in physics research.