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General

Name Roy T. Forestano
Label Research Scientist with a Ph.D. in Physics
Email roy.forestano@ufl.edu
Url https://royforestano.github.io

Interests

Deep Learning, Deep Geometric Methods, Generative Modeling, Quantum Machine Learning, Reinforcement Learning, NLPs, LLMs, Foundation Models, HEP, Astrophysics
Current
Quantum Statistical Field Theory, Fermi Liquid Theory, Unconventional Superconductivity, Quantum/Conformal Field Theories, Gravity Theory
Previous

Education

  • 2021 - 2025
    PhD
    University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
    Physics
    • Courses: Particle Physics, Machine Learning, Advanced Machine Learning Theory, High Energy Theory, QFT I-II, General Relativity, Differential Geometry
  • 2017 - 2021
    B.S., Magna Cum Laude
    Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
    Physics, Mathematics
    • Courses: Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Numerical Methods and Scientific Computing, General Relativity, Algebra, Analysis, Complex Variables, Probability, Topology, Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometry
  • 2013 - 2017
    High School Diploma, Valedictorian
    Hamilton High School East, Hamilton Township, NJ
    • Activities and societies: Soccer (3 Seasons, 2013-2015), Baseball (2S, 2014-2015), Winter Track & Field (2S, 2015-2017), Spring Track & Field (2S, 2016-2017), Cross Country (1S, 2017), Math Club, Varsity Math Team (2014-2017), Robotics Club, Varsity Robotics Team (2015-2017), Science Club (2014-2017), STEM Club (2014-2017), Key Club (2013-2017), Italian Club (2013-2017)

Research

  • 2024.06 - 2024.08
    2024 Quantum Computing Summer School Research Fellow
    I studied the ways in which physical geometric symmetries can improve quantum software and extend the expressivity of quantum algorithms. In particular, I studied how symmetries with respect to homogeneous spaces can enhance model compilation and the effect of irreducible representation bases on classical shadows.
    • Compilation, Representation Theory, Matrix Decompositions, Recursive Cartan Decompositions, Classical Shadows
  • 2024.05 - 2024.10
    Google Summer of Code Mentor
    I mentored four students whose projects were focused around quantum graph neural networks for high energy physics analysis at the LHC and learning quantum representations of classical HEP data with contrastive learning.
    • Equivariance, Quantum Computing, GNN, Contrastive Learning, Research Leadership, Communication, Project Management
  • 2023.05 - 2023.10
    Google Summer of Code Contributor
    Redeveloped the theoretical frameworks and architectures for invariant and equivariant classical and quantum graph neural networks for HEP Analysis at the LHC alongside fellow GSOC contributors and mentors.
    • Equivariance, Invariance, Quantum Computing, GNN, Self-Attention, Project Management, Communication
  • 2022 - Present
    Graduate Research Assistant in Theoretical High Energy Physics
    Institute for Fundamental Theory, Department of Physics, University of Florida, Group of Matchev/a
    I am developing deep learning algorithms to apply ML/AI techniques to high energy physics and astrophysics. For high energy physics, we have focused on implementing learnable linear and non-linear symmetries into model architectures for enhanced model performance and interpretability. Astrophysics interests include novel ways of analyzing exoplanet system parameters through their spectra, including more efficient deep learning approaches to forward and retrieval models. I have also incorporated quantum information science into my research by solving NP-Hard problems with Quantum Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) algorithms.
    • HEP and ML Theory: Supervised, Self-Supervised, and Unsupervised Learning, Deep Learning (NNs, CNNs, RNNs, GNNs, GANs, Transformers, NLPs, Normalizing Flows, and Diffusion Models), Reinforcement Learning, Quantum Information and Computing, Generative Modeling, Interpretability
  • 2019.01 - 2021.05
    Undergraduate Research Assistant in Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
    Department of Physics, Boston College, Group of Kevin S. Bedell
    I extended the 1999 work of Bedell, Engelbrecht, and Blagoev on the Goldstone mode's effect on s-wave superconductivity (SC) in a Ferromagnetic Fermi Liquid (FFL), where I studied the massive Higgs mode which arises due to amplitude fluctuations of spins [Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 133 (1999)]. To understand this mode's role in the FFL, I developed a Green's function approach to include the gapped term in the zero-temperature vertex in order to see how this mode affects the Cooper instability and the superconducting transition temperature, T_C.
    • CM Theory: Quantum Statistical Field Theory, Fermi Liquid Theory, Unconventional Superconductivity.
  • 2018.02 - 2018.08
    Undergraduate Research Assistant in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
    Department of Physics, Boston College, Group of Cyril P. Opeil
    I used different devices and software, including the Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS) custom analyzer and MATLAB, to compare samples for similarities in resonant frequencies and thermoelectric properties.

Experience

  • 2025.05 - 2025.08
    Graduate Course Instructor & Lecturer
    University of Florida
    I was the course instructor for Introductory Physics I with over 300 students during the Summer of 2025. Instructor duties included lecturing, creating exams, carrying out demonstrations, and managing graduate discussion TAs.
  • 2022.05 - 2025.05
    Graduate Discussion Teaching Assistant
    University of Florida
    I taught three sections, with about 30 students per section, of Introductory Physics I Discussions during the Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 semesters.
  • 2021.08 - 2022.05
    Graduate Laboratory Teaching Assistant
    University of Florida
    I taught three sections, with about 18 students per section, of Introductory Physics II labs in both the Fall and Spring.

Outreach

  • 2023.01 - 2025.08
    Graduate Student and Postdoc Seminar (GSPS) High Energy Physics (HEP) Division Organizer
    University of Florida
    The GSPS is a group which organizes talks among graduate students and postdocs within various fields including high energy, astrophysics, condensed matter, and biophysics. For the HEP seminars, I gathered speakers for the event, announced event details, ordered refreshments, and introduced the presenters.
  • 2020.08 - 2021.05
    SPS Secretary
    Boston College
    Organized communication among club members, as well as both the planning and leading of events. One hosted event included a public talk from Benedetta Flebus, an Associate Professor of Physics at BC.
  • 2019.08 - 2020.05
    SPS Events Coordinator
    Boston College
    Events planned included the SPS BBQ, liquid nitrogen ice cream night, resume building events, and the senior panel.
  • 2016.07 - 2016.07
    2016 RWJ Hamilton Foundation Youth in Medicine Internship
    Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Hospital Hamilton
    I learned about the science and technology that enhances a hospital's performance, including the da Vinci robot and CT scanners. The most memorable experience was speaking to a radiation oncologist about the physics of cancer.
  • 2016.05 - 2017.06
    Peer Leadership
    Hamilton High School East
    Peer leadership is where junior and senior high school students lead incoming freshman and promote the six pillars of character including trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Peer Leaders would educate and act as mentors to all underclassmen, both in and outside of the classroom.
  • 2015.09 - 2016.06
    Tutor at Yardville Elementary School
    Yardville Elementary School
    Tutored and mentored a first grade student throughout the course of the school year.

Presentations

Conferences

Certifications

Awards

Memberships

Skills

Python, Numpy, PyTorch, Tensorflow, Pennylane, JAX, Scikit-Learn, Seaborn, Sympy, CPLEX, DOCPLEX, C++, C, LaTeX, Mathematica
Fluent
HPC, CUDA, Java, Qiskit, Cirq, HTML, MATLAB, LabVIEW
Basic Knowledge

Languages

English
Native
Italian
Conversational
Greek
Basic Knowledge