The best dessert I have ever had in my life was the buttermilk pie at East Side Cafe in Austin. I had it with a bunch of friends at the end of my senior year of high school so there's also a nostalgia component in that memory. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed so that will truly be a once in a lifetime experience.
What’s the one food you could never bring yourself to eat?
It used to be pizza until undergrad. Now it's brussels sprouts.
Dogs or cats?
Probably dogs but I would rather have a bird.
Favorite season and why?
I love long days and clear blue skies so definitely summer. This is even more true now since summer no longer comes with the 100+ degree price tag it had in Austin.
How do you relax after a long day? I like making hot chocolate and doing something unproductive like listening to music or catching up with esports.
What superpower would you choose?
It would be awesome if I could freeze time at will. Late for something? Freeze time. Need more sleep? Freeze time.
If you wrote a memoir about your life, what would it be called? Unreal, because my memoir would be completely fictional.
If you could meet one historical figure, who would you choose and why? One thing I feel like I struggle with is effective scientific communication so I would want to meet with Richard Feynman to try to understand how he approached designing the way he structures his talks.
What is the most influential advice you’ve ever received?You can save three months in lab with three hours in the library. That advice really got me to reflect on my own habits and weaknesses.
Word of advice to a potential undergraduate interested in pursuing a PhD.