Colin West

  • Associate Teaching Professor
  • Associate Chair - Engineering Physics
  • EPEN Faculty Mentor
  • PHYSICS
Address

Office: DUAN F-1031

Office Hours: Monday 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. • Visit Buff Portal Advising for Zoom Link •

Research Interests

Dr. West's background is in computational quantum theory. He is interested in the interface between quantum systems and classical computing, including classical simulation of many-body quantum systems, classical computing in quantum cryptography, and quantum approaches to problems in classical computing and complexity theory. Most recently, he is investigating the application of techniques from machine learning and artificial intelligence to quantum simulation tools.

Dr. West also maintains an association with the Physics Education Research group. His interests in pedagogical research include teaching tools for advanced topics in quantum theory, novel teaching methods in introductory physics for life science (IPLS) courses, and improved approaches to laboratory coursework, including course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). He has also written about what artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs) can tell us about "reasoning" in physics and is interested in applications for these tools for physics education research more broadly. 

Selected Publications 

  • Werth, A., West, C. G., Sulaiman, N. And Lewandowski, H. J. (2023). Enhancing students' views of experimental physics through a course-based undergraduate research experience. Physical Review Physics Education Research, 19(2), 020151. https://journals.aps.org/prper/pdf/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.19.020151
  • Werth, Alexandra, West, C.G., and Lewandowski, H.J. (2022). Impacts on student learning, confidence, and affect in a remote, large-enrollment, course-based undergraduate research experience in physics. Phys. Rev. Phys. Educ. Res. 18, 010129. https://journals.aps.org/prper/pdf/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.18.010129
  • Prakash, A., West, C. G., & Wei, T. C. (2016). Detection of gapped phases of a one-dimensional spin chain with on-site and spatial symmetries. Physical Review B, 94(4), 045136. https://journals.aps.org/prb/pdf/10.1103/PhysRevB.94.045136
  • West, C. G., Garcia-Saez, A., & Wei, T. C. (2015). Efficient evaluation of high-order moments and cumulants in tensor network states. Physical Review B, 92(11), 115103. https://journals.aps.org/prb/pdf/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.115103