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Undergraduate Student Profile

Kehui (Grace) Li

UG Profile Grace Li.png

Program: Physics specialist, Computer Science major, Math minor
Year of Study: 4

Why did you decide to major in Physics? What was your inspiration?
Because physics is fun! There wasn’t really any particular inspiration: I did the Physics Olympiad at my high school. It was fun and I was doing pretty well, so pursuing physics in university seemed natural to me. I still think it was a great decision, because physics gets even more interesting in university!

What do you enjoy most about the physics program?

I enjoy the freedom to choose from a wide range of courses, especially in 3rd and 4th year. Also, I think it’s great that the physics program provides lots of research opportunities, like SURF, NSERC USRA, and the supervised research courses. I’ve benefited immensely from them.

What other extra-curricular activities are you involved in during your degree?

I didn’t do many extra-curriculars. I was in the language exchange initiative in the first semester of my first year, and stopped going because of schedule conflicts. I still enjoy learning languages in my free time, but I just do it on my own now.

What are your research interests?

I’m interested in quantum optics and quantum information.

What is your favorite course and why?

PHY354, advanced classical mechanics because Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics are fascinating! Also, Professor David Curtin’s lectures were always a pleasure to attend, despite them being online and at 9am.

What are your future plans?

I’m going to apply to graduate school and pursue a PhD in physics. I’m still not sure whether I want to do theory or experimental, so I might just apply to both.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I want to say a physics professor, but that might be a very optimistic estimate. I just hope that I’ll have completed a PhD and am doing research in something interesting. Also, I want to be a cat owner by then. Very important as well!

Tell me something interesting about yourself.

I’m right-handed, but I can write with my left hand (although not very well), because I took all my grade 12 physics notes with my left hand.