Klein
Clay grew up in southwest Pennsylvania and received a B.S. in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 2022. As an undergraduate, he worked on a variety of research projects including developing aerogels for thermal insulation on high speed aircraft as an intern at NASA's Glenn Research Center, investigating materials for photonic device applications at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and developing new methods for improving scanning electron microscope measurements with Professor Chunfei Li at Clarion University. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Clay attended the University of Colorado Boulder and joined the KM group to work on developing and applying new light sources for advanced imaging applications. Outside of physics, Clay enjoys climbing, hiking, music, and games.
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program supports university-based centers and institutes where the collective efforts of a larger group of individuals can enable transformational advances in the most promising research areas. The program is designed to foster major breakthroughs at the intellectual frontiers of physics by providing needed resources such as combinations of talents, skills, disciplines, and/or specialized infrastructure, not usually available to individual investigators or small groups, in an environment in which the collective efforts of the larger group can be shown to be seminal to promoting significant progress in the science and the education of students. PFCs also include creative, substantive activities aimed at enhancing education, broadening participation of traditionally underrepresented groups, and outreach to the scientific community and general public.