{"id":226250,"date":"2025-05-15T16:24:40","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T20:24:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=226250"},"modified":"2025-05-19T09:23:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T13:23:24","slug":"ai-innovation-and-faculty-mentorship-help-power-this-montclair-goldwater-scholars-scientific-ambitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2025\/05\/15\/ai-innovation-and-faculty-mentorship-help-power-this-montclair-goldwater-scholars-scientific-ambitions\/","title":{"rendered":"AI, Innovation and Faculty Mentorship Help Power this Montclair Goldwater Scholar\u2019s Scientific Ambitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joseph David Quinn-Vitabile came to Montclair State University expecting to study computer science. <\/span>Now a junior, he\u2019s expanded his academic ambitions to include astrophysics, where he\u2019s helping push the boundaries of how we understand the universe \u2013 work that recently earned him a prestigious 2025 Goldwater Scholarship<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Initially drawn to Montclair for its affordability and proximity to his home in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Quinn-Vitabile enrolled as a Computer Science<\/a> major. Like many Computer Science majors, he set about finding a software engineering internship, thinking that he might work at a tech company after graduation. Though he ended up getting that internship at Johnson & Johnson last spring, he also happened to choose Physics for his elective science course that semester.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I really had a great time in physics. I thought that it was much more interesting than anything I had done yet in computer science. I wanted to continue studying physics, and I saw there was a lot of opportunity to use skills from computation and software to work in physics, whether research or other applications.\u201d \u2013 Joseph David Quinn-Vitabile\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Quinn-Vitabile decided to add the minor in Physics<\/a> as it would only be a few extra classes. He could continue studying it, meet more people, and get involved in research. And that’s what he did that following summer. <\/span>\u201cIt all happened pretty quickly after that,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Learning Through Research: Skills Beyond the Classroom<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After attending the Spring Research Symposium<\/a>, Quinn-Vitabile thought the projects by Physics students looked interesting and wanted to get involved. Shortly after, he became involved with Professor Shaon Ghosh\u2019s summer research project.<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing that sets the College of Science and Mathematics (CSAM)<\/a> apart from many schools is the CSAM Summer Research Program<\/a>. Through the program, undergraduate students have the opportunity to work with faculty mentors on projects that teach them the fundamental skills needed to pursue research; for example, learning how to navigate a Unix operating system and the fundamentals of version control in web-based platforms like GitHub.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe physics department here is great because it’s pretty small,\u201d says Quinn-Vitabile, \u201cand as a student in the program, you have an opportunity to meet with the faculty and talk with them a lot. They’re all pretty interested in hearing about your future plans and giving you academic advice, such as courses to take and ideas on different career paths. I felt like I had a good connection with all my professors, especially Dr. Ghosh.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Goldwater
Goldwater Scholarship Winner, Joseph Quinn-Vitabile, pictured with his Montclair Physics professor and research mentor, Professor Shaon Ghosh. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How Faculty Mentorship Plays a Role in Student Success<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration<\/a> \u2013 which detected<\/a> gravitational<\/a> waves<\/a> for the first time in 2016 in a major scientific breakthrough \u2013 Ghosh was drawn to Montclair due its having the biggest conglomerate of LIGO researchers in New Jersey (more than Princeton even), and its proximity to New York City. Through this collaboration, Ghosh participated in the latest observing run<\/a> of the LIGO detectors which ended at the start of this year. <\/span><\/p>\n

As far as his impression of Quinn-Vitabile, Ghosh calls him \u201camong the best undergraduate students” he\u2019s ever seen.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m actually comparing him against the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes students from R1 universities, Ivy Leagues, Cal Tech and MIT,\u201d says Ghosh. \u201cHe is among the best there as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Quinn-Vitabile is now building on research previously developed by Ghosh \u2013 a software package called GWXtreme\u2013 which is designed to infer the internal composition of a neutron star (dense objects left behind after massive stars die). By integrating newly available artificial intelligence tools, particularly a class of neural networks known as \u201cnormalizing flows,\u201d Quinn-Vitabile has significantly advanced his professor\u2019s codebase and its capabilities. Now, calculations that once took days or even weeks can be done in seconds.<\/span><\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t have trusted just anyone with this \u2013 he is using brand-new technology to completely rewrite a codebase I developed years ago as a postdoctoral researcher. He\u2019s doing this as an undergraduate, using tools and techniques that didn\u2019t even exist back then. It\u2019s incredibly impressive, and he\u2019s doing a fantastic job.\u201d \u2013 Professor Shaon Ghosh<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Earning the Barry Goldwater Scholarship<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After expressing interest in scholarships, Quinn-Vitabile began to apply for the Goldwater Scholarship<\/a>, a rigorous application process that required him to go back through his accomplishments and think about his future research plans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really important to have close connections with your professors, because you need three recommendations,\u201d says Quinn-Vitabile.<\/span><\/p>\n

The hard work paid off.<\/span><\/p>\n

The scholarship, one of the most prestigious in the country for undergraduates in STEM fields, recognizes students with strong research potential and academic excellence. Quinn-Vitabile is one of 441 scholars<\/a>, 240 of which intend to pursue research in the sciences.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quinn-Vitabile credits the Physics department for its role in earning the Goldwater Scholarship and thinking through his future goals.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great community of students and professors,\u201d says Quinn-Vitabile. \u201cThe opportunities that are available for getting involved in research as an undergrad and for just talking and meeting with the professors are really helpful for considering your future.\u201d
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Shooting for the Stars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"A
Students at Montclair State University have access to High Performance Computing (HPC) Systems. Conducting research in these environments helps foster technical skills needed to compete in today’s job market. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Quinn-Vitabile has decided to pursue a PhD program in astrophysics.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Ghosh\u2019s part, he genuinely believes that Quinn-Vitabile should go to graduate school.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would really love for him to go into research [with the LIGO Scientific Collaboration], but it is entirely up to him,\u201d says Ghosh. \u201cIf he goes into LIGO research, that’s great. We have some wonderful grad students in LIGO. But otherwise, it’s also fine, as long as he’s happy with whatever he’s doing.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Quinn-Vitabile has some advice for fellow students or prospective students who are curious about research: “Try to explore as much as possible as early as possible.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Everyone thinks that they’re not prepared, and you will never feel like you are prepared.” he adds. “There’s so much going on, not just in the Physics department, but in other science departments in the school, so many professors that are doing awesome work. Every month there’s so many events, like research symposiums. Go to those events, meet with people, meet with faculty, ask them what they work on.<\/p>\n

“And if you find any interest in anything, just try. Even if you feel like you’re not prepared, you will learn a lot just by starting it. And because you’re an undergrad, you don’t have to do anything forever, which is a great benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Story by Carolina Marion<\/a>, University Communications and Marketing<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Ready to Start Your Montclair Journey?<\/strong><\/h2>\n