A conversation with Nuclear Engineer Jesse Rodriguez about research, physics, nuclear fusion, optical computing, plasma, and the relentless pursuit of truth.Find me at [email protected] 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 PhD in Mechanical Engineering with a PhD 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, watch 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/46gMSwoTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and Background01:12 Early Life and Family History03:37 Journey into the World of Physics04:44 Discovering the Fascination with Nuclear Fusion06:19 High School Experiences and Influential Mentors08:55 Transition to University and Major Decisions16:38 The Path to Stanford and PhD Research18:20 Reflections on the Journey and Future Aspirations20:17 The Role of Mentors and Personal Growth21:24 Balancing Personal Life and Academic Pursuits40:02 Balancing Personal Life and Work41:00 Challenges in Maintaining Relationships42:27 The Concept of Non-Negotiable Tasks43:38 The Dichotomy of Dedication and Emotional Energy44:34 The Frontier of Computation45:15 The Vision of Optical Computing46:06 The Idea of Light Moving in Electromagnetic Waves51:23 The Concept of Inverse Design54:27 The Challenges of Building an Optical Computer56:19 The Excitement of Successful Experimentation58:14 The Transition from Monotony to Creativity01:21:22 The Future of Research at Oregon State

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