Student Researchers Amplify Innovation at the New Frontiers of Sound
At the New Frontiers of Sound (NewFoS), students are working side-by-side with world-renowned researchers on cutting-edge studies in topological acoustics—a new field which exploits the complete range of acoustic wave properties.
Research team meeting at NewFoS
At the New Frontiers of Sound (NewFoS), students are working side-by-side with world-renowned researchers on cutting-edge studies in topological acoustics—a new field which exploits the complete range of acoustic wave properties.
NewFOS, established in 2023 with a $30 million grant from the National Science Foundation, brings together researchers from eight partner institutions across the nation, including Caltech, UCLA, and Georgia Tech. Pierre Deymier, professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Arizona, is the center’s director.
“Being able to work with a professional team and do real research has been invaluable,” said David Cavalluzzi an undergraduate research assistant at NewFoS. Cavalluzzi, a junior majoring in electrical and computer engineering and minoring in mathematics, works under Deymier’s supervision.
David Cavalluzi, student researcher assistant at the New Frontiers of Sound
NewFoS is working to harness sound waves to achieve a level of computing power similar to that of a quantum computer, which could revolutionize several fields by providing faster, more efficient data processing. Potential applications include speeding up calculations for tasks like drug discovery and climate modeling, improving encryption methods for safer digital communications, designing new, unique materials, and improving the accuracy of technologies like ultrasound or MRIs.
“The work is incredibly interesting, and it is nice to have something that you are passionate about outside of the classroom,” Cavalluzzi said.
Cavalluzzi has been with the NewFoS since January 2024 and has already accomplished a great deal. He spends the bulk of his time in the lab analyzing data and doing complex calculations by hand. He has also done computations to create an advanced method for future encrypting data, when quantum computers have become more common. Right now, he’s working on adapting Shor's Algorithm—an important tool in quantum computing—to use sound waves instead of quantum particles, which could lead to new ways of processing information.
“As an undergraduate, it is hard to imagine you can graduate and get a job, but when you are given a specific task and complete it, you gain a lot of confidence,” said Cavalluzzi. “I’ve gained so much experience just by being on this interdisciplinary team working on complex problems.”
“There are many new frontiers out there,” said Cavalluzzi. “And if something interests you, you can be a part of it.”