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Petros
Tzeferacos (He/Him/His) Director, Flash Center for Computational Science Bausch and Lomb 370, T: 585.275.4382 p.tzeferacos@rochester.edu Petros earned his Ph.D. in Physics and Astrophysics from the Physics Department of the University of Turin, Italy, where he worked on accretion disk dynamics, numerical methods for computational astrophysics, and the development of the astrophysics code PLUTO. In 2012 he joined the Flash Center for Computational Science at the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics of the University of Chicago. Petros became the code group leader of FLASH and associate director of the Flash Center in 2013 and its director in 2018. In 2020, Petros and the Flash Center moved to the University of Rochester. He studies fundamental astrophysical plasma processes with a focus on magnetized turbulence and dynamo, high energy density physics, plasma physics, and fusion energy. |
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Eddie Hansen Applications Group Leader, Flash Center for Computational Science Eddie is a research scientist at the Flash Center working primarily on simulations for alternative fusion concepts and code development. He earned his Ph.D. in physics and astronomy from the University of Rochester. He has worked on a variety of projects, including one with a particle accelerator group in Colorado. He is also involved with computational and laboratory astrophysics, and inertial confinement and magneto-inertial fusion. He greatly enjoys math and physics and is enthusiastic about the work he does. |
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Jenni
Oliver (She/Her/Hers) Bausch and Lomb 206A T:585.275.4405 jenni.oliver@pas.rochester.edu Jenni is the business administrator for the Flash Center. She received her Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Rochester. Jenni maintains the finances for the Flash Center and is the grant administrator for the Physics and Astronomy Department, which includes looking for and applying to grant opportunities that are beneficial to the Flash Center. Jenni enjoys spending time with her family and her constant companion, her Siberian Husky Stormy. |
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Jonathan
Carroll-Nellenback (He/Him/His) Bausch and Lomb 455A Jonathan Carroll-Nellenback is a computational and research scientist who received his Bachelors in Applied Mathematics with a Physics minor from Asbury University and his Ph.D. in Physics & Astronomy from the University of Rochester. His research interests include star formation, molecular clouds, and the interaction between stellar winds and planetary bodies. He enjoys soccer, ping pong, the piano, and spending time with his three kids. |
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Rich Sarkis (He/Him/His) Bausch and Lomb 470 Richard Sarkis is a software engineer and systems architect with a B.S. in physics and astronomy and a B.S. in computer science from the University of Rochester, and an M.S. in computer science from the Rochester Institute of Technology. His work spans software development, systems administration, and infrastructure design across Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms. He is well versed in multiple programming paradigms and languages, with particular depth in C for systems programming and Python for general application development. With a background that bridges scientific research and applied computing, he focuses on building reliable, transparent systems that support technical collaboration. (edited) |
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Baowei
Liu Bausch and Lomb 455A Baowei Liu is a Computational Scientist at the University of Rochester. He received his bachelors in material science from Nanjing University and his master and Ph.D. in computational physics from the University of South Carolina. He offers technical support to the FLASH Center as well as the Center for Integrated Research Computing(CIRC) where he assists the university research community with various aspects of computation, data analysis, simulation, and software installation and maintenance using CIRC clusters and cloud resources. He serves as the University of Rochester’s XSEDE Campus Champion. |
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Vipul Vaidya (He/Him/His) Bausch and Lomb 373 Vipul is a Software Engineer at the Flash Center, where he works on High-Performance Computing and GPU acceleration of the FLASH code. His work focuses on adapting the physics units from Fortran to modern C++ using the Parthenon AMR library (built on Kokkos), to enable portable performance across CPUs and GPUs. Before joining the Flash Center, he completed his Master's in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Rochester, during which he worked at the LLE on the GPU port of a 2D hydrodynamics application using CUDA Julia. Outside of work, he’s currently learning piano, enjoys CrossFit, badminton, and watching Formula 1, and often splurges on a nitro cold brew. |
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Hannah Poole Experimental Group Leader, Flash Center for Computational Science Bausch and Lomb 371 Hannah is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Flash Center, where she leads experimental campaigns and data analysis in high-energy-density physics. She earned her Ph.D. in atomic and laser physics from the University of Oxford, gaining extensive experience at high-power laser facilities including OMEGA, OMEGA EP, and the National Ignition Facility. Her current research focuses on laboratory astrophysics within the turbulent dynamo (TDYNO) collaboration and on developing equation-of-state measurements for shocked foams relevant to inertial fusion energy. Outside of the lab, Hannah enjoys playing the flute, bike rides, and running outdoors. |
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Victor Tranchant (He/Him/His) Victor is a french Postdoctoral Associate who obtained his Ph.D. in Physics and Astrophysics from the Sorbonne University in Paris, France, where he worked on radiation waves and mathematical modeling of new classes of laboratory astrophysics experiments. He is now working on high energy density physics between these two scales of astrophysics and the laboratory, with a recent focus on Staged Z pinches and radiation-matter coupling in those systems. He hopes to be able to pursue a career in this field of research in the future. Outside of sciences, he is a fan of any kind of sports, especially football (or soccer as people call it here) and enjoys playing guitar and saxophone. |
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Chadi Meskini Bausch and Lomb 369 Chadi is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Flash Center, specializing in astrophysics. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Montpellier, where his research focused on accretion-ejection interplay of class II young stellar objects. His current work involves implementing a cell-centered divergence cleaning scheme in the FLASH code, a development that promises to enhance Z-pinch simulations by improving the treatment of magnetic fields. Outside of research, Chadi enjoys exploring Rochester’s vibrant music scene. |
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John Rodman Bausch and Lomb 369 John is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Flash Center working on numerical development and enhancements for the FLASH code. He earned bachelor's degrees in chemical engineering and physics from Syracuse University in 2019 and his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech in 2024, where he focused on simulations of astrophysical instabilities and development of algorithms for modeling particle collisions in plasmas. Currently, he is working on advancing the hybrid fluid-kinetic capabilities of FLASH to further investigations of particle dynamics in collisionless shocks. When away from his desk, he enjoys cooking, rowing, golf, and supporting his favorite sports teams (go Ravens/Orioles/Orange/Hokies!). |
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Nitish Acharya Bausch and Lomb 371 Nitish is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Flash Center. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Rochester in 2025, specializing in high-energy-density hydrodynamics. His research focused on developing a viscosity measurement platform by combining laser-driven perturbed shock experiments, numerical simulations, and compressible fluid theory. He has also served as PI and co-PI on campaigns at OMEGA, OMEGA-EP, and the Jupiter Laser Facility. At the Flash Center, he works on simulations of radiative shocks in collapsing foams, and code development of strength and tension models in FLASH. Outside of research, he’s always up for sports and enjoys playing soccer, swimming, or tennis and watching MMA. Every now and then, he also tinkers with recording music in his mini home studio. |
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Josh Sauppe (He/Him/His) |
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Abigail Armstrong (She/They) Bausch and Lomb 373 Abigail is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester. She studies plasma physics effects on the turbulent dynamo. She is also a graduate research assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she is working on modifying an existing platform to study Biermann battery generated magnetic fields in a converging geometry. Abbey is also very passionate about teaching and outreach. Outside of her work, she enjoys watching and playing soccer, rock climbing, and being outdoors. |
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Periklis Farmakis (He/Him/His) Bausch and Lomb 373 Pericles is a Ph.D. student at the University of Rochester working with the Flash Center from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He is currently working to improve the FLASH Code to be able to create more accurate HEDP simulations by implementing a new EOS table reader into the FLASH Code. He is also part of the LLE's Theory Division, and his work there will help create valuable tools for designing ICF implosions. He is interested in high energy density and nuclear physics, and astronomy. He enjoys his travels around Europe, especially to Italy. |
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Ananya Mohapatra (She/Her/Hers) Bausch and Lomb 373 Ananya is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester. She received her integrated Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the National Institute for Science Education and Research (NISER) in Bhubaneswar, India. Her research focuses on high-energy-density plasma physics and magnetized turbulence, with a particular emphasis on extended MHD and the study of dynamos in astrophysical contexts. She uses large-scale FLASH simulations to explore how magnetic fields grow and evolve in turbulent environments. Outside of research, she enjoys painting, discovering new cafes, and going to local festivals. |
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Yangyuxin 'Amy' Zou
(She/Her/Hers) Bausch and Lomb 373 Amy is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester. Her research focuses on astrophysical simulations, particularly the common envelope phase of binary star evolution. Since joining the Flash Center in 2023, she has been developing a laser-driven experimental platform that uses the FLASH code to emulate common envelope physics in the laboratory. Beyond her research, Amy has contributed to science outreach and community engagement, and she enjoys art, reading, and singing with local choral groups. |
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Mary McMullan (She/Her/Hers) Bausch and Lomb 373 Mary is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester. She originally joined the Flash Center as an REU student in 2021, where she contributed to the native SESAME EOS reader released in FLASH 4.7. Mary enjoys computational physics, astrophysics, and physics education research. She is motivated by teaching and outreach, and hopes to become a tenure-track professor in the future. In her free time she enjoys swimming, painting, baking, and playing tabletop and video games. |
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Tristan Bachmann (He/They) Bausch and Lomb 373 Tristan is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester. They have a background in cosmology and plasma astrophysics, having worked with the Dark Energy Survey while in undergrad at the University of Chicago, and on laboratory astrophysics experiments for collisionless shocks in supernova remnants with the Flash Center. They now study the early and intermediate stages of star formation, using a combination of radio observations and FLASH simulations, to better understand protostellar jet launching mechanisms and place constraints on angular momentum transport in these systems. They are also invested in education and outreach, and hope to eventually become a professor. In their free time they enjoy hiking, reading, playing guitar and singing, and playing tabletop and video games. |
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Nathan Mangus Bausch and Lomb 373 Nathan is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester. He first joined the Flash Center as an REU student in 2023, where he developed and analyzed an ablative Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI) simulation modeled after an experiment at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). His research interests include computational physics, hydrodynamics, and fluid instabilities. Outside of research, he enjoys biking, hiking, playing video games, and spending time around campfires. |
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Elene Katsadze Bausch and Lomb 373 Elene is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, where she was working on theoretical models of astrophysical jets. She is now working with the TDYNO collaboration, studying magnetized turbulence and dynamo action via FLASH simulations and OMEGA experiments. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, outdoor activities, and recently got into pottery. |
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Ellie McGhee (She/Her/Hers) Bausch and Lomb 373 Ellie is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in physics from Saint Louis University. Her work focuses on using the FLASH code to model and study gas-puff Z-pinches and different related diagnostics. Outside of physics, she likes knitting, petting dogs, and reading. |
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Adam Reyes (He/Him/His) Code Group Leader, Flash Center for Computational Science adam.reyes@pas.rochester.edu Adam received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of California Santa Cruz while doing work for the Flash Center. While the science itself is gratifying, he most enjoys working with students, and has received an award for excellence in teaching and mentorship. Adam likes boulder rock climbing and cooking, but only when he isn’t pursuing the perfect of coffee. |
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Fernando Garcia Rubio Laboratory for Laser Energetics Fernando Garcia-Rubio received a degree in aerospace engineering through a dual program with Universidad Politécnica Madrid and ISAE-Supaero Toulouse in France. He received his Ph.D. from Universidad Politécnica Madrid. He mostly enjoys working with hydrodynamic instability in HEDP and ICF. He also studied self-similar processes in ICF involving thermal and Nernst waves. He would like to provide simulation support via the FLASH Code to experimental campaigns at UR-LLE and perform simulations of hydrodynamic instabilities. Outside of science, Fernando enjoys the difficult art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, snowboarding, wakeboarding, climbing, occasionally playing guitar, and spending time with his small dog Lea. |
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David Michta (He/Him/His) dmichta@ur.rochester.edu David received his Ph.D. in plasma physics from Princeton University while working at Lawrence Livermore National Lab. David has done work with creating mathematical models in quantum hydrodynamics, and was excited to see results match up with experimental data. Some day he wishes to return to California and conduct his own research and coding. He also plays guitar and has performed with bands. |
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Yingchao
Lu (He/Him/His) yingchao@rochester.edu Yingchao Lu is a postdoctoral scholar at the Flash Center for Computational Science. Yingchao received a B.S. in physics from University of Science and Technology of China in 2015, and a Ph.D. in physics from Rice University in 2020. From 2018 to 2020, he was a graduate research assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory. His Ph.D. thesis was on modeling and analysis for magnetized high-energy-density laser driven plasma flows. In his research, Yingchao performs numerical simulations using FLASH to design and analyze experiments for laboratory astrophysics. He enjoys walking long distances and reading history books. |
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Kassie Moczulski (She/They) Kassie received her Ph.D. from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Rochester in 2025. She is currently at Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses (LULI), where she is running FLASH simulations to study astrophysical phenomena. Her interests lie in magnetized plasmas, turbulence, and plasma instabilities. When she isn’t doing research, she loves to go hiking with her dog and wife. |
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Marissa Adams
(She/Her/Hers) Marissa received her Ph.D. from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester in 2022. She spearheads Solid Liner and Gas Puff Z-pinch developments in the FLASH Code and has contributed to several magnetized plasma experimental campaigns through validated numerical modeling. Community and culture motivate her desire to do research. Her research interests revolve around magnetohydrodynamics, turbulence, and how plasma properties impact the overall dynamics of systems. She has a pet bearded dragon named Aphrodite, enjoys Greek dance, and sustainable crafting projects. |
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Lars Pedersen (He/Him/His) Lars is a senior majoring in Physics and Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His project for the Flash Center is finding a way for FLASH to have custom CAD input through STL files. He enjoys theoretical and computational physics and aims to pursue a Ph.D. after graduating. With his free time, he likes to play and create video games, play music, craft with yarn, and explore. |
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Reid Pfaltzgraff-Carlson (He/Him/His) Reid is working as an REU student, and is a rising junior at Kenyon College majoring in physics. He is studying the applications of foams in nuclear fusion ignition using FLASH. He is interested in computational physics and plasma physics, and plans to pursue further work related to fusion energy. Outside of physics, Reid enjoys exploring nature, reading manga, and fixing cars. |
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Nahalia Samules (She/Her/Hers) Nahalia is a non-traditional undergraduate at a Liberal Arts College in Southern California. She's working towards her associate in engineering & plans to transfer for her B.S. in Astrophysics using FLASH. Her introduction to Python through CRANE Computational Research Access Network connected her to a summer internship at the University of Rochester's Flash Center. Her research was to verify that FLASH could capture the stabilization effect for the Rayleigh-Taylor Instability in the presence of magnetic fields. At home, Nahalia is a peer mentor/tutor who enjoys teaching & outreach; she’s also the Event Planner for Astronomy Club. Her non-academic activities include: night sky observation, surfing, flamenco, her guitar & napping with her two little dogs Madison & Oliver. |
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Niels Vanderloo (He/Him/His) Niels Vanderloo is a first-year graduate student working in the HEDP group at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center. He previously worked with the FLASH center as an REU student in 2022 while attending Oberlin College. With FLASH, Niels wrote unit tests for extended magnetohydrodynamics, including the Hall Drift and Whistler waves as well as the Biermann Battery effect. At MIT, he is beginning work on a mix of computational and experimental projects. Outside of science, he runs cross country and track and loves every second of it! |
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Shenghao (Kevin) Hong (He/Him/His) Kevin studies Physics and Economics at the University of Rochester. His interest in nuclear fusion and aerodynamics in motorsports led him to explore computational physics. At FLASH, he works on validating the implementation of the split-cell method in wind tunnel simulations of airfoils. Specifically, he studies the extent of split-cells' capability to inhibit the appearance of Prandtl-Meyer fans during supersonic and hypersonic simulations. Outside of physics, Kevin is also interested in quantitative finance and economics. In his spare time, he plays basketball and skis when winter comes. He also has way too many keyboards. |
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Victor Chang (He/Him/His) Victor Chang is a rising senior and REU student for the University of Rochester. He enjoys computational physics and quantum computing and is currently working on eliminating carbuncle instabilities from Riemann solvers and implementing new solvers into the FLASH Code. Outside of work he loves to play ultimate frisbee and this past season, his club team made it to Nationals. He enjoys traveling and has lived in four different countries. He plays lots of video games in his spare time, his current favorite is Inscryption. He has a dog, but admits to preferring cats. |
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Kyra Ulreich |
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Mokin Lee Mokin Lee is working as an REU student, and is a rising senior studying mechanical engineering at the University of Rochester. He works on developing analytical methods for opacity models within the Flash Center. He would like to follow his interest in scientific programming by exploring it within the FLASH Code. Outside of his scientific endeavors, Mokin enjoys drawing and spending time with his beloved dog. |
