Applying Research Methods

I have been applying research methods across several disciplines and projects, my key projects and skills are listed below.

Research Methods Used

• Computer simulations.
• High performance computing.
• Physics lab methods.
• Scanning electron microscope imaging and energy dispersive spectroscopy.

Key Research Skills

• Software development knowledge and experience.
• Programming experience in Python, Matlab, C, C++, C#, Java, and R.
• Software known: Qiskit, AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max, EAGLE, Linux.
• Laboratory Equipment: Scanning Electron Microscope, Soldering, 3D printing, Oscilloscope.
• Research and technical report writing for research and design projects including research reports, proposals, and essays, and engineering design reports.
• Utilization of Digital Research Alliance CEDAR to run simulations, develop models, and apply statistics to determine results.

Final Reports

PHYS 4480 Directed Studies in Physics, A Study on SEM, final report.
The final report for my directed studies project using the scanning electron microscope. They key sections are, 2 Use of SEM for semiconductor samples, 3 Sample selection and preparation, and 4 result analysis.

Conference Posters and Presentations

For the applying research methods I have attached my three conference posters. They explain the methods use in each research project.

K. O’Neil, ‘Studying Solar Cells with SEM: Assumptions and Lessons Learned’ TRU Science Undergraduate Poster Exhibition of Research, April 6, 2023, poster presentation (Supervisors: Dr. Anusha Venkataraman, & Dr. Nancy Van Wagoner).

The key sections are Sample Preparation and Results.

K. O’Neil, ‘Swarm algorithms for feature selection problems based on medical datasets’ TRU Undergraduate Research Conference, March 20-24, 2023, poster presentation (Supervisor: Dr. Mohamed Tawhid, https://libguides.tru.ca/urc2023).

The key section is the Method.

K. O’Neil, ‘A comparison of swarm intelligence algorithms for thermodynamics optimization problems’ American Physical Society Northwest Section Meeting, June 3-4, 2022, TRU Kamloops BC, poster presentation (Supervisor Dr. Mohamed Tawhid).

The key sections are the Introduction, Benchmark Functions, Gibbs minimization of multireaction chemical equilibrium, and Stirling heat pump.