Professor Seth Putterman
(310) 825-2269
puherman@ritva.physics.ucla.edu
Knudsen Hall 2-234
Postdoctoral Scholars
Dr. Alexander Bataller
bataller@physics.ucla.edu
Knudsen Hall 2-202
Biography: Alex graduated from the University of Arizona in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering-Physics. He obtained his physics PhD in 2014 at UCLA while conducting experimental research in the Putterman Lab. Alex’s current research interests are into Sonoluminescence, non-linear acoustics, dense plasma physics, and ultrafast laser-matter interactions.
Dr. Adam Collins
alcollins@physics.ucla.edu
Knudsen Hall 2-170
Biography: Adam graduated from the University of Cambridge, UK in 2006 with a masters degree in Natural Sciences. He further completed a PhD in 2012 at Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory, researching environmentally-friendly explosives, ballistics, imaging techniques, and granular materials. Adam joined the Putterman lab in May 2012, where his current research interests are into triboelectrification and friction. More specifically, how triboelectrically-generated X-rays can be used to probe surface-charge in new ways, and learn about the fundamentals of friction.
Dr. John Koulakis
koulakis@physics.ucla.edu
Knudsen Hall 2-216
Biography: John graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physics from Pomona College in 2006. He completed his PhD in 2014 while working in the Holczer Lab at UCLA, where he developed precision nano-positioning devices. He currently studies bioacoustics, specifically chronic wound treatment with ultrasound.
Dr. Brian Naranjo
naranjo@physics.ucla.edu
Knudsen Hall 2-145
Website: http://rodan.physics.ucla.edu
Graduate Students
Alexandra Latshaw graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2013 with a B.A. in Physics. Research during this time included work underground in the Homestake Mine on the LUX Dark Matter Experiment near her hometown in South Dakota. Upon coming to UCLA she conducted research at the Basic Plasma Science Facility measuring magnetic reconnection in current sheets. She joined the Putterman Lab in 2014 to begin a study of ion acoustic modes in dense plasmas.
Alexandra Latshaw
alex@physics.ucla.edu
Knudsen Hall 2-150
Seth Pree
sethpree@ucla.edu
Knudsen Hall 2-160
Biography: Seth Pree graduated from Cornell in 2013 with a B.S. in Applied & Engineering Physics. Senior year coursework exposed him to fluid demonstrations that elucidate aspects of weather, biological, and quantum systems. He joined the Putterman group in order to take part in the study of acoustic and fluid systems that offer a unique glimpse into the physics of phase changes and quantum behavior.
Undergraduates
Bob Chen
jtcdbob@gmail.com
Knudsen Hall 2-150
Alex Thornton
Knudsen Hall 2-150
Biography: Alex graduated from the University of Portland in 2009 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He worked in the Thermal Spray industry as a systems engineer before coming to UCLA in 2014 to pursue a PhD in Plasma Physics.