Ethan White

I’m a Physics & Applied Mathematics Honors student at Tennessee Tech who moves likes to build cool things on the side of my abundance of extracurricular initiatives, namely Trash Force, a student organization I founded to tackle litter, and being an RA for 4 years.

I'm trying to make a pivot in my career towards something a bit more industry-focused. I'm particularly interested in data analysis, where my physics background provides me a unique perspective. I'm looking for full-time opportunities starting Summer 2026.

On-campus initiatives
  • Resident Assistant — 4th year
  • Office of Sustainability
  • Trash Force — Founder & President
  • Student Government Association
  • Physics Club / Sigma Pi Sigma
  • Math Club / Mu Alpha Theta
Ethan White portrait

Textbooks I think are good for self-studying physics/math

2026 · Resources

If you want to self‑study, the best books are the ones that keep you moving. I’ll share the ones that helped me build intuition fast and where I think each one shines (concepts, problems, or both).

I’ll also include a short “how to use this book” note for each recommendation so you can get the most out of it without getting stuck.

Transitioning into industry with a physics bachelors

2026 · Career

Here’s my honest view on the bridge from theory to industry: what skills mattered most, what I wish I had emphasized sooner, and how I framed my experience to make it legible to non‑physics roles.

I’ll also share a short checklist of projects and habits that helped me feel confident applying outside academia.

How I founded Trash Force to eliminate litter

2026 · Community

Trash Force started as a small idea: make cleanup visible and contagious. I’ll walk through how we organized volunteers, built momentum, and kept it sustainable across semesters.

If you’re starting a campus initiative, I’ll share the 3 things that made the biggest difference for us.

Experience as an RA -- would I suggest it?

2026 · Campus Life

Being an RA is intense and rewarding. I’ll share what the day‑to‑day actually looks like, the skills I picked up, and the parts I didn’t expect.

If you’re considering the role, this is the candid version I wish I had before applying.

Thoughts on a physics bachelors -- is it worth it?

2026 · Perspective

Physics trains your brain in a unique way, but it’s not always a straight path. I’ll cover what felt valuable, what felt inefficient, and how I would do it again if I were starting over.

I’ll also share how I think about ROI beyond salary — skills, network, and long‑term optionality.

How I built Passd to eliminate food insecurity

2026 · Product

Passd is a project about access and dignity. This post will outline the problem, the early prototypes, and what we learned from real users.

I’ll also share the technical stack and the community partnerships that helped it move from idea to pilot.

My particle physics balloon project

2026 · Research

We built a balloon payload to explore particle detection at altitude. This post will cover the design constraints, instrumentation choices, and the data we managed to pull down.

I’ll also share lessons learned on thermal, power, and data logging at low pressure.

My REU experience in a nutshell

2025 · Research

The REU was fast‑paced and transformative. I’ll summarize the project, what it taught me, and how it changed the way I approach research.

If you’re applying to REUs, I’ll share a few practical tips that helped me stand out.

Education

B.Sc. Physics; B.Sc. Mathematics, Honors College — GPA 3.63/4.00
Tennessee Technological University — Cookeville, TN
Anticipated May 2026
  • Hard Skills: Python, C++, ROOT, HTML/CSS, Excel, Tableau, PCB Design, SolidWorks, Hardware Instrumentation, Vacuum Pumps
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Professional Experience

Particle Physics Research Assistant
University of Utah — Salt Lake City, UT
May 2025 – August 2025
  • Applied time-matching corrections to IceCube SAE test station data with TALE infill data, applied calibration and developed event reconstruction program using complex statistics for relevant IceCube SAE data through NSF REU funding.
  • Event reconstruction algorithm developed to simulate original particle trajectory, energy, and galactic plane origin.
  • Poster presented at Telescope Array Collaboration Meeting in Tokyo, Japan.
Nuclear Physics Research Assistant
Tennessee Technological University — Cookeville, TN
May 2024 – August 2024
  • Applied electronic crosstalk corrections, created an efficiency curve of TRIUMF GRIFFIN detectors, and probed the gamma-gamma correlation matrix data to create an independent level scheme of 35Mg decay data that I collected in 2022.
  • Calibrated scintillation bars and reverse-engineered undocumented photomultiplier tubes through circuit board analysis.
  • Designed vacuum system for TTU's in-house Ion Beam, tested six independent turbomolecular pumps for functionality.
  • Poster presented through CEU funding at APS DNP 2024 in Boston, MA and SESAPS 2024 in Charlotte, NC.
Nuclear Physics Research Assistant
Academia Sinica Institute of Physics — Taipei, Taiwan
May 2023 – July 2023
  • Calibrated a low energy germanium radiation detector using Americium source using nuclear-physics C++ framework ROOT.
  • Established experimental axion-photon-photon coupling constant limits from TEXONO and XENONnT datasets, comparing with theoretical calculations from peer-reviewed publications.
  • Poster presented at APS April 2024 in Sacramento, CA and SESAPS 2023 in Richmond, KY.
Resident Assistant
Tennessee Technological University — Cookeville, TN
December 2022 – Present
  • Provided 24/7 leadership to my hall of 30+ students, solved interpersonal conflicts, managed monthly programs, reinforced institutional policies and conducted monthly room inspections and paperwork management.
  • Worked at an office space ten hours a week assisting students with residential appliance issues and lockouts.