Joseph

“…we choose to do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard.” JFK

Current Research Interests

I am currently interested in the application of topology and differential geometry to problems in particle physics, QFT and QM more generally.

Outreach Talks

I am very keen to do outreach talks – contact me on the email address below if interested. Topics I am happy to talk about:

  • Particle physics (of any sort but particularly  The Standard Model and Beyond)
  • Life as a PhD Student (see here for a sample)
  • Deception and fakes in science and mathematics (see here for a sample; with slides here)

Short Academic Resume

Name: Joseph Smith (full: Joseph Stanley Smith)

Picture: On the right above

Year of Birth: 1996

Email:  joe ‘dot’ s ‘dot’ smith ‘at’ hotmail ‘dot’ co ‘dot’ uk

Funding: STFC

Education

  • 2012-2014: York College (press release).
    • A2 level
    • Physics: A*
    • Chemistry: A*
    • Maths: A*
    • Further Maths: A*
    • Further Maths (Additional): A*
    • AS level only
    • Biology: A
  • 2014-2018: Oxford University, Christ Church College.
    • MMathPhys (with initial three years on MPhys): Distinction/First Class (double classification)
  • 2018-present: Cambridge University, Robinson College

Prizes and Awards

Below is a list of the prizes and awards I have won. They are in roughly chronological order of when they where awarded with (…/…) dates given for the academic year which the prize relates.

  • 2014: Principal’s Prize (York College)
  • 2014/2015-2016/2017: Scholarships (Christ Church College, Oxford)
  • 2016: Collections Prize (Christ Church College, Oxford)
  • 2016/2017: The Scott Prize for best performance in the MPhys Part B examination (Oxford University)
  • 2016/2017 (awarded 2018): Clifford Smith Prize (Christ Church College, Oxford)
  • 2017/2018: Prize for the Best Results on the Oxford MMathPhys (Oxford University)
  • 2018: Honorary Vice-Chancellor’s Award (Cambridge University)
  • 2017/2018: Hooke Prize (Christ Church College, Oxford)
    • “This prize is awarded to the most outstanding undergraduate Member of the House [Christ Church College] who achieves the highest mark in the following Honour Schools collectively: Mathematics, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Chemistry, Engineering, Physics and Materials Science.” 
  • 2017/2018: Roach Prize  (Christ Church College, Oxford)
    • “This prize is awarded to the most outstanding undergraduate across the following branches of Science: Mathematics, Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Physics, Materials Science and Biological Science. The most outstanding undergraduate will normally be the person placed proportionately highest in an appropriate Honour School (including in a joint School with Philosophy).”

Teaching

Having only just started my PhD this list is currently very short – but it will hopefully get longer. Here is the teaching I have done/am doing (all currently at Cambridge University):

  • 2018 Michaelmas: Demonstrator for part II TP1 (Department of Physics)
    • Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, field theory, phase transitions and critical phenomena, propagators and causality.
  • 2019 Lent: Supervisor for part III Gauge Field Theory (Department of Physics)
    • Relativistic quantum mechanics, relativistic quantum fields, gauge field theories, renormalisation, BSM.

Outreach

I am very passionate to share my knowledge with others and volunteer my time for outreach events whenever I can. Here are a few of the things I have done:

  • Oxfords Hands on Science (OxHOS): I helped on the roadshow in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and sat on committee (Web Master) in the academic year 2016-2017.
  • Open Days: I have helped at both Oxford Physics department and Christ Church College open days.
  • Stargazing Oxford: I helped out at the Stargazing Oxford event in 2017.
  • I have two YouTube channels: Versisty Notes and Siblings in Science. The first of these I have used for more high level physics. The second is more recent and contains discussions about science topics with my brother.

Talks

Here are a selection of talks I have done (some are less serious then others):

MMathPhys Courses

Below are a list of the courses I took on the oxford masters of Mathematical and Theoretical Physics course.  (in no particular order)

  • Quantum Field Theory
  • Kinetic Theory
  • Groups and Representations
  • Topological Quantum Theory
  • Introduction to Quantum Information
  • Advanced Fluid Dynamics
  • Soft Matter Physics
  • Nonequilbrium Statistical Physics
  • Conformal Field Theory
  • Advanced Quantum Theory: Path Integrals and Many-Particle Physics
  • Lattice Quantum Field Theory
  • Renormalization Group
  • Symbolic, Numerical and Graphical Scientific Programming
  • Aspects of Beyond the Standard Model and Astroparticle Physics

On top of this I did an oral presentation entitled “Quantum Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorems”.

Useful Links

Mainly just for me but in case others are interested (all links external):

Cambridge Seminars

Good (imho) notes/videos on…