Jonah Horowitz smiles in an outdoor setting.

Jonah Horowitz

Image courtesy of the subject.

Graduate Student Spotlight: Jonah Horowitz

by Danielle Doughty | Department of Chemistry |
Categories: Students

Chemistry Graduate Student Jonah Horowitz describes his research and answers 20 random questions as part of the Graduate Student Spotlight series.

Originally from the DC metropolitan area, Jonah Horowitz is currently in his fourth year at MIT, where he is a member of Professor Moungi Bawendi‘s research group. Jonah’s work in the Bawendi Lab considers the properties of heavy-metal-free semiconductor nanocrystals that might be used in next-generation TVs. The team is trying to identify stable and bright materials that emit very pure colors. Along the way, Jonah has been working on developing new spectroscopic tools that could make these kinds of studies easier for others in the research community.

“I chose to pursue a PhD because I wanted opportunities to be creative in my work,” said Jonah. “I like chemistry as a field because it can have a broad scope. My research in the Bawendi lab focuses on physical and materials chemistry, but it also touches on improving LEDs and designing scientific equipment. I think that variety makes my day-to-day more interesting.”

As the subject of this Graduate Student Spotlight, Jonah reveals a small thing that makes him smile, the skill he’d love to master, the funniest TV show he’s seen, and more!

  1. What game or movie universe would you most like to live in? What would be the worst to live in?
    Best game universe: NBA 2K – I’d just play basketball all day! Worst: Dark Souls.
  2. If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
    I’m not sure. But I know that in the Middle Ages people would often sleep in two chunks. In between, they’d sometimes make little notes in something called a remembrancer. Maybe I’d try that.
  3. Who are three of your favorite fictional characters?
    Cher from Clueless and Ashitaka and San from Princess Mononoke.
  4. If you were given five million dollars to open a small museum, what kind of museum would you create?
    Maybe we could display a few Medieval tapestries.
  5. What are some small things that make your day better?
    I love getting a postcard.
  6. What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
    Excluding science, probably not too much. I could ramble about the Washington Wizards circa 2015 for a while.
  7. What chance encounter changed your life forever?
    When my parents met! Or when my grandparents met…
  8. What was your favorite book as a child, and what is your favorite book now?
    I liked From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler back in the day. Now maybe it’s Walden.
  9. If you could pick any career other than the one you’ve chosen, what would it be?
    I think landscape architecture is super cool.
  10. What’s the funniest TV show you’ve ever seen?
    30 Rock.
  11. What food do you crave most often?
    Living near a Trader Joe’s has really reprogrammed me. Now I’m always craving frozen dumplings, unfortunately.
  12. An epic feast is held in your honor, what’s on the table?
    For special occasions my housemates and I go to Qiao Lin in Allston. So I’ll say hot pot.
  13. What one thing do you really want but can’t afford?
    For me it’s like that Animal Collective song – I’ll start with a house.
  14. Who has impressed you most with what they’ve accomplished?
    The people I know at MIT are always impressing me.
  15. What skill would you like to master?
    I play the guitar. I’ll never get close to mastering it, but in theory that’s the goal!
  16. What are your top three favorite movies?
    Scorsese’s After Hours, Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, and Mulholland Drive by David Lynch.
  17. Who is the most famous person you have met?
    Haha, it might be my PI.
  18. What piece of entertainment do you wish you could erase from your mind so that you could experience for the first time again?
    It’d be great to relive some tennis finals between Federer and Nadal.
  19. Who would be in the lineup for your ideal music festival?
    I’d take Nina Simone, Lucinda Williams, and the Silver Jews.
  20. Where was the most amazing sunset you have ever seen?
    I remember a sunset one summer in Western Mass. I was standing by a river, and the sun was deep red. Some people had a bonfire on the opposite shore and there were fireflies in the air.