
About Me
I am a fourth year physics PhD candidate working in Prof. Chris Rycroft's Applied Mathematics group, funded by the NASEM Ford Foundation Predoctoral, NSF Graduate Research, and Harvard Ashford fellowships. My interests are broad; I want to understand how microscopic (dis)order gives rise to macroscopic observables. These days I'm interested in soft condensed matter questions regarding thin sheet dynamics, buckling instabilities, and mechanical properties. By combining simulations with theory from statistical physics, classical mechanics, and differential geometry, I explore fundamental physics that has potential applications in programmable materials, cell biology, computer animation, and industrial proccesses.
I am dedicated to making physics an equitable, inclusive, and accessible space for people from all backgrounds. To this end I co-founded and am President of A World of Women in STEM, an online learning space dedicated to celebrating past, present, and future women+ in STEM. Short summaries of my work in these areas can be found on my teaching and outreach tabs. Besides doing physics, I like to make coffee, take portraits, go thrifting, and practice Indo-Dutch recipes for my rijsttafel menu.
Research
Currently my research is simulating thin sheets and ribbons crumpled or deformed by external loading. Our computational model of thin sheets-- a mesh comprised of nodes connected by quadratic spring interactions-- replicates experimental observations and fulfills analytical predictions. Optimized for self-contact, custom sheet topologies, embedded defects, and myriad loading conditions, we are able to study the complex, dynamic processes relevant to the mechanical buckling, wrinkling, and crumpling transitions.
As an undergraduate at the University of Cincinnati I studied theoretical cosmology, focusing on dark matter candidates such as the axion and other axion-like particles. At low temperatures (such as in space), axions could condense in the same energy state and form cosmologically-sized Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) which then become gravitationally bound. I analyzed the stability of these axion BECs with and without external gravtitational perturbations, as well as the dynamics of an axion BEC's collapse from a dilute stable state to a denser state in which decay through various processes is likely. Papers related to these topics can be found on my publications tab.
Interviews
Articles for which I have given interviews or statements, arranged from most to least recent:
- A short chat with BoSTEM from United Way of Mass Bay about A World of Women in STEM and how to use our resources.
- Featured on Fox19 Cincinnati News to talk about about Women in STEM and celebrating Ada Lovelace Day.
- A piece by the American Physical Society about their National Mentoring Community and my experience as a mentee in the program: "Students and Mentors in the National Mentoring Community"
- An interview with the University of Cincinnati's College of Arts & Sciences about my experience applying for and winning several nationally competitive awards: "A&S Nationally Competitive Award winners reflect on experiences"
- Announcement of the American Physical Society's finalists for the LeRoy Apker Award: "Top Undergrads vie for Apker Award"
- An interview with the University of Cincinnati's College of Arts & Sciences upon learning I was chosen as a recipient for Eleanor Hicks award: "Madelyn Leembruggen: 'Growing as a scientist, mentor, educator, and advocate'"
- Profile by the University of Cincinnati about my academic career upon being selected as a recipient of the 2018 Presidential Medal of Excellence: "President honors top leaders, scholars"
- A short interview with the American Physical Society regarding my experience applying for and winning the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship: "An Insider's Look at the Goldwater Scholarship"
- An article by my hometown's news site after I became the first person from the University of Cincinnati's College of Arts & Sciences (and one of the first women from UC) to win the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship: "Leembruggen Honored with Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship"