Syed Al-Mamun

What is your name?	Syed Al-Mamun
What school are you currently attending?	Columbia University
What year will you be starting in the fall?	Senior
Why did you choose to attend the SENSORS program?	Of the REU’s that I got accepted into, I chose according to the program description, the location, the stipend, and an impression I got by looking into the department websites. I choose SENSORS with the purposes of tasting research for the first time ever and trying out the city of Philadelphia. The fact that I like cities more than suburbs or the countryside helped me eliminate a few REU’s. In addition, the more cities I get acquainted with now, the easier it will be to jump around in the future. Philadelphia is a brand new city to me.
Who are you working with, and what research are you doing?	I am working with Dr. Wen and Dr. Rosen. My project is an optimization problem: finding the best way to place sensors in a 3D atmosphere to help detect the source of contaminants within a defined space. The bulk of the project will involve studying airflow patterns as well as the details of the sensors themselves.
What are your goals/aspirations for the future?	My general goals are to accomplish a lot, improve in every area possible, and to have fun. I will also aim to keep myself as well-rounded as I can without overloading myself. As for specifics, I usually go one step at a time, while following the guidelines above. My next step is to apply to jobs and graduate schools along with making the most of my senior year.