Maria Paula Angarita
7910 Harbor Island Drive
Miami, Florida 33141
786-488-4976
angarimp@gmail.com
Education
Florida International University
B.S. in Physics (GPA: 3.67 on a 4.0 scale)
 Honors Track in Physics
 Minor in Mathematics
 Minor in Economics
Miami, Florida
Expected Graduation: May 2012
School for Advanced Studies
High School Diploma, Cum Laude
(GPA: 3.69 on a 4.0 scale)
Miami, Florida
Graduated June 2009
Miami Dade College
Associate in Arts Degree (with Honors)
Physics (GPA: 3.65 on a 4.0 scale)
Miami, Florida
Graduated May 2009
Work/Research Experience
Florida International University
Department of Physics
Miami, Florida
September 2011 – Present
Physics Education Research Assistant
 To analyze the efficacy of new strategies by watching and transcribing videos. This will provide
evidence with which to make claims about the interactions among the educators and students
in order to gain insight into the dynamic learning processes taking place in the classroom.
Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC)
December 2009 – Present
Learning Assistant
 To provide feedback on the tutorials and apply novel learning techniques in introductory
physics labs. To question their logic, challenge their assumptions, and make sure they learn
the material well. I also answer questions and encourage active participation from all group
members.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts
June – August 2011
MIT Summer Research Program Intern
Department of Physics
Condensed Matter Experiment
 To explore the photocurrent response in the topological insulator Bi2Se3 by measuring the
electronic current induced by shining a focused laser beam onto nanoscale devices, as well
as use the spatially resolved photocurrent signal to fully characterize these devices for
future optoelectronic measurements.
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee
May – August 2010
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Intern
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Biophysics Experiment
 To investigate the viscoelastic properties of the amnioserosa cells in fruit fly embryos by
developing and calibrating a prototype of the electromagnet that applied a two-second
magnetic-field pulse to the superparamagnetic microbeads injected in the early stages of
morphogenesis, in addition to optimizing the methodology with which to inject these
beads.
Honors & Awards
Florida International University
Miami, Florida
 Presidential Scholarship Recipient
 Dean’s Academic Achievement List
 Tony Menendez Computer Scholarship Recipient
August 2009 – Present
Joint Annual Conference
Austin, Texas
September 2011
National Society of Black Physicists and
National Society of Hispanic Physicists
 Undergraduate 1st place poster award from the Optical Society of America (OSA) and the
International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE)
 Best Poster Award from the Thomas Jefferson Accelerator Facility
 2nd place poster award from the American Physical Society, Division of Materials Physics
2011 Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation
Scholarship Recipient
International University Physics Competition
Accomplished Competitor
Simon Youth Foundation
Academic Scholarship Recipient
September 2011
Miami, Florida
November 2010
Miami, Florida
June 2009
Society of Physics Students at FIU
Miami, Florida
Vice President
Council for Student Organizations Representative
March 2010 – Present
National Society for Hispanic Physicists
Student Member
August 2010 – Present
Activities and Affiliations
Optical Society of America
Student Member
September 2011 – Present
California Institute of Technology
Grad Preview
Participant
Pasadena, California
November 2011
Berkeley Edge Conference
Participant
Berkeley, California
November 2011
Conference for Undergraduate
Women in Physics
Poster Presenter
Cambridge, Massachusetts
January 2011
SACNAS National Conference
Poster Presenter
Anaheim, California
October 2010
American Physical Society
Minority Bridge Program Conference
FIU Student Representative
Washington, D.C.
Center for Integrated Space Modeling (CISM) Huntsville, Alabama
Space Weather Weekend
Participant
Conference for Undergraduate
Women in Physics
Participant
Durham, North Carolina
June 2010
March 2010
January 2010