JILA Undergraduate Research Assistant Luke Coffman has been awarded a Goldwater Scholarship
Luke Coffman, a dedicated undergraduate research assistant at JILA, part of the University of Colorado Boulder, has been awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for the 2024 academic year. This award places Coffman among a select group of 438 students nationwide, who are recognized for their significant achievements and potential in research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
As a junior from St. Charles, Missouri, Coffman is pursuing an ambitious academic path with majors in physics and mathematics, supplemented by a minor in quantum engineering. His research at JILA, a leading institute known for its advanced studies in quantum information and related fields, centers on quantum information theory. Specifically, Coffman's work explores the intricacies of entanglement, a quantum phenomenon essential for the next generation of quantum computing and secure communication systems.
Coffman's current project at Oak Ridge National Laboratories involves pioneering methods to distill entanglement. His work, colloquially described as making "quantum lemonade from quantum lemons," focuses on enhancing weak quantum entanglements for practical applications such as teleportation and encryption. This research advances the theoretical framework of quantum mechanics and holds potential for real-world applications in secure communications.
Beyond his research, Coffman actively contributes to the CU Boulder community. He serves as co-president of the Society of Physics Students and vice president of the Community of Support for Marginalized Students (COSMOS) within the math department. These leadership roles underscore his commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment.
Acknowledging the support and guidance from his mentors, Coffman extends his gratitude to notable figures such as Graeme Smith at IQC/JILA, Jacob Beckey and Murray Holland at JILA, and Joshua Combes in ECEE. Their expertise and encouragement have been instrumental in his research and development as a scholar.
CU students Claire Ely and Delaney McNally were also awarded a Goldman Scholarship, recognized for their exceptional contributions to research in their respective fields.
Deborah Viles, director of the Office of Top Scholarships at CU Boulder, praised the achievement: “All three have made remarkable progress in their research at CU under the guidance of enthusiastic and supportive mentors. We can’t wait to see how their work continues to influence humanity"
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.