CV

Academic CV for Tianji (Jimmy) Zhou.

Contact Information

Name Tianji (Jimmy) Zhou
Professional Title Incoming Physics Ph.D. Student
Email jimmyzho@usc.edu

Professional Summary

Incoming Physics Ph.D. student at the University of Southern California with research interests in data-driven cosmology, dark sector physics, and deep learning.

Education

  • 2026 - Present

    Los Angeles, CA

    Ph.D.
    University of Southern California
    Physics
    • Incoming Physics Ph.D. student.
  • 2022 - 2026

    Haverford, PA

    B.S.
    Haverford College
    Physics and Astronomy, Scientific Computing Concentration
    • Graduated magna cum laude.
    • Thesis title: Model-independent probe of dark sector physics.
    • Thesis advisor: Prof. Daniel Grin.

Publications

Research Experience

  • What It Takes to Solve the Hubble Tension through Modifications of Cosmological Recombination II — Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; with Dr. Nanoom Lee and Prof. Marc Kamionkowski’s group; Jun 2025–present. Developed data-driven recombination-history modifications using ACT DR6 CMB and DESI DR2 BAO data to test whether recombination physics can resolve the Hubble tension.
  • Model-Independent Probe of Dark Sector Physics — Haverford College, Haverford, PA; with Prof. Daniel Grin; May 2023–present. Developed generalized-dark-matter and principal-component-analysis methods for testing dark-sector models against cosmological observables.
  • Spectral Representations and Inverse Stellar Structure for Neutron Stars — University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA; with Dr. Lee Lindblom; Jun 2024–Oct 2024. Constructed Chebyshev-based representations of neutron-star equations of state and quantified how noisy mass-radius data affect inverse stellar-structure inference.

Specialized Training and Summer Schools

  • Perimeter Scholars International Start Satellite Program, Bishop’s University, May 2025. Topics included path integrals, quantum information and thermodynamics, numerical methods, condensed matter physics, and symmetries.
  • ACT + SPT CMB Analysis Summer School, The University of Chicago, Jul 2024. Summer school on analysis methods for cosmic microwave background data.

Conferences and Talks

  • Resolving the Hubble Tension via Scale-Dependent Physics, KINSC Undergraduate Science Research Symposium, Haverford College, Sep 2025. Poster presentation.
  • Resolving the Hubble Tension via Scale-Dependent Physics, Undergraduate Cosmology Workshop, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Jul 2025. Oral presentation.
  • Uncertainty Quantification for the Relativistic Inverse Stellar Structure Problem, APS Global Physics Summit 2025, American Physical Society, Mar 2025. Oral presentation.
  • Chebyshev Based Spectral Representations of Neutron-Star Equations of State, Start Talking Science, Science History Institute, Nov 2024. Poster presentation.
  • Uncertainty Quantification for the Relativistic Inverse Stellar Structure Problem, Keck Northeast Astronomy Consortium, Colgate University, Sep 2024. Oral presentation.
  • Model-Independent Probes of Dark Sector Physics, Undergraduate Cosmology Workshop, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Jul 2024. Oral presentation.
  • Model-Independent Probes of Dark Sector Physics, APS April Meeting, American Physical Society, Apr 2024. Poster presentation.
  • The Behavior of the Equation of State and the Sound Speed for the Dark Matter Fluid in the Wess-Zumino Dark Radiation Model, Keck Northeast Astronomy Consortium, Wesleyan University, Oct 2023. Oral presentation.
  • The Behavior of the Equation of State and the Sound Speed for the Dark Matter Fluid in the Wess-Zumino Dark Radiation Model, KINSC Undergraduate Science Research Symposium, Haverford College, Sep 2023. Poster presentation.

Teaching and Service

  • IDEA Seminar Student Organizer, Haverford College Department of Physics and Astronomy, Sep 2022–present. Organized a department-wide Cosmology Colloquium, led student-faculty panels on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, and helped analyze a departmental climate survey.
  • Teaching Assistant and Grader, Haverford College Department of Physics and Astronomy, Sep 2023–present. Served as TA and grader for general relativity, waves and optics, and introductory quantum mechanics; held office hours; and provided feedback on weekly written assignments.
  • Secretary, Society of Physics Students, Haverford College, Sep 2022–May 2024. Compiled weekly meeting summaries and organized community-building events, an REU Q&A session, and physics socials.

Skills

Software (Research): Python, Mathematica, LaTeX, Linux, HTML, MATLAB, CLASS
Research Methods (Research): Cosmological inference, principal component analysis, Fisher matrices, Markov Chain Monte Carlo, numerical modeling

Languages

Mandarin : Native
Shanghainese : Native
English : Fluent
Cantonese : Elementary

Interests

Karting
Hiking
Counter-Strike 2