Episode 26

On Research, feat. Jesse Rodriguez | Traces, Appendix 26

On Research, feat. Jesse Rodriguez | Traces, Appendix 26 A conversation with Nuclear Engineer Jesse Rodriguez about research, physics, nuclear fusion, optical computing, plasma, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Find me at cristian@ccb.life About the Guest: Jesse A. Rodríguez is a faculty member by courtesy in the School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering at Oregon State University, starting in earnest as a tenure-track assistant professor in Fall 2024. He is currently working as a postdoctoral research associate at the Center for Statistics and Machine Learning at Princeton University under Dr. Bill Tang; Principal Research Scientist at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. His postdoctoral research is focused on using deep learning to predict turbulent disruption events in tokamak fusion reactors, as well as tokamak digital twinning. Jesse completed his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a Ph.D. Minor in Computational and Mathematical Engineering at Stanford University under Dr. Mark Cappelli in August 2023, his dissertation focusing on manipulating electromagnetic waves with plasma metamaterials. Rodríguez obtained his MS in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on fluid mechanics at Stanford University in 2020, and a triple honors BS in Physics, Mathematics, and Nuclear Engineering at Oregon State University in 2018. When not working, Jesse splits his time between his family, watching collecting, snowboarding, rock climbing, running, and going to the cinema. Set-Up: - Camera: https://amzn.to/3PZVscb (don't laugh) - Microphone: https://amzn.to/46f3pB5 - Teleprompter Stand: https://amzn.to/3tgS98y - Telepromter App: https://amzn.to/46jdH31 - Teleprompter Screen: https://amzn.to/3PNfKFI (yup) - Headphones: https://amzn.to/46gMSwo Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:12 Early Life and Family History 03:37 Journey into the World of Physics 04:44 Discovering the Fascination with Nuclear Fusion 06:19 High School Experiences and Influential Mentors 08:55 Transition to University and Major Decisions 16:38 The Path to Stanford and PhD Research 18:20 Reflections on the Journey and Future Aspirations 20:17 The Role of Mentors and Personal Growth 21:24 Balancing Personal Life and Academic Pursuits 40:02 Balancing Personal Life and Work 41:00 Challenges in Maintaining Relationships 42:27 The Concept of Non-Negotiable Tasks 43:38 The Dichotomy of Dedication and Emotional Energy 44:34 The Frontier of Computation 45:15 The Vision of Optical Computing 46:06 The Idea of Light Moving in Electromagnetic Waves 51:23 The Concept of Inverse Design 54:27 The Challenges of Building an Optical Computer 56:19 The Excitement of Successful Experimentation 58:14 The Transition from Monotony to Creativity 01:21:22 The Future of Research at Oregon State Related Keywords;- Jesse Rodriguez, Jesse Rodriguez research insights, Cristian Cibils Bernardes, Jesse Rodriguez interview, jesse bam Rodriguez, jesse rodriguez highlights, Jesse Rodriguez Mechanical Engineering, Jesse Rodriguez interview podcast, Jesse Rodriguez interview insights, Jesse Rodriguez insights, Traces Appendix 26, Jesse Rodriguez interview sharing, Jesse Rodriguez interview tips, Traces Appendix 26 exploration, Podcast, Podcast Series, english podcast, learn english podcast, Research methodology explained, Research insights discussion, Data analysis methods, Research process breakdown, Traces podcast series discussion, Research trends analysis, Research experience sharing, Research analysis techniques, Data interpretation methods, Research findings interpretation, Research journey exploration, Research methodology tips, Data analysis strategies, Research process overview, Jesse Rodriguez interview discussion, Traces podcast episode insights, Research exploration journey, Research trends exploration #JesseRodriguez #InterviewInsights #ResearchDiscussion #PodcastSeries