Overview of my Qualifications

Education

• Simon Fraser University (2020-Present): Ph.D. in Physics under the supervision of Professor David Sivak.
• Chalmers University of Technology (2019): Studied mathematics, statistics, and finance as part of a six-month international exchange program in Göteborg, Sweden.
• Dalhousie University (2016-2020): Bachelor's of Science (combined honours) in Physics and Mathematics.
• Kitsilano Secondary School (2011-2016): French immersion program in Vancouver, BC.
• Jules Quesnel Elementary School (2003-2011): French immersion program in Vancouver, BC.

A full list of university-level courses I have taken can be found here.

Publications

• "Dynamic and Thermodynamic Bounds for Collective Motor-Driven Transport". Matthew P Leighton and David A Sivak. Physical Review Letters, 129:118102, 2022. (Journal, Arxiv)
• "Performance Scaling and Trade-offs for Collective Motor-Driven Transport". Matthew P Leighton and David A Sivak. New Journal of Physics, 24:013009, 2022. (Journal, Arxiv, In the press)
• "D-Band Strain Underestimates Collagen Fibril Strain". Matthew P Leighton, Andrew D Rutenberg, and Laurent Kreplak. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 124:104854, 2021. (Journal, Arxiv)
• "Chiral Phase-Coexistence in Compressed Double-Twist Elastomers". Matthew P Leighton, Laurent Kreplak, and Andrew D Rutenberg. Soft Matter, 17:5018, 2021. (Journal, Arxiv)
• "Nonequilibrium Growth and Twist of Cross-Linked Collagen Fibrils". Matthew P Leighton, Laurent Kreplak, and Andrew D Rutenberg. Soft Matter, 17:1415, 2021. (Journal, Arxiv)
• "Inferring Subsystem Efficiencies in Bipartite Molecular Machines". Matthew P Leighton and David A Sivak. Submitted, 2022. (Arxiv)

Languages

• English (Native Language)
• French (Fluent, Delf B2 certification)
• I also have limited reading comprehension skills in German, Swedish, and Latin.

Computer Skills

• Extensive experience with scientific programming and numerical optimization in Python
• Experienced in the use of Compute Canada computing clusters
• Experienced in the use of Mathematica, LaTeX and Excel
• Working knowledge of HTML, R, MATLAB, and C/C++

Miscellaneous Certifications

• Grade 8 Piano and Advanced Music Theory (Royal Conservatory of Music)
• CSIA Level 1 Ski Instructor (Canadian Ski Instructor's Alliance)
• AST 1 Avalanche Skills (Avalanche Canada)
• Bronze Cross, CPR-C, and Emergency First Aid (Canadian Lifesaving Society)
• Cansail 4 (Sail Canada)

Awards

• Hargreaves Scholarship (Simon Fraser University, 2022)
• Howard Malm Graduate Scholarship (Simon Fraser University, 2022)
• Canadian Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral (CGS-D) (NSERC, 2022-2025)
• Kirk H. Michaelian Graduate Scholarship (Simon Fraser University, 2021)
• Canadian Graduate Scholarship - Masters (CGS-M) (NSERC, 2020-2021)
• British Columbia Graduate Scholarship (BC Government, 2020-2021)
• Undergraduate Summer Research Award (NSERC, 2020)
• Undergraduate Summer Research Award (NSERC, 2018)
• Chancellor's Scholarship (Dalhousie University, 2016-2020)
• Helen Roby Choral Scholarship (University of King's College Chapel Choir, 2016-2020)
• Academic All-Canadian (USports, 2016-17 and 2017-18)
• Archibald Physics Prize (Dalhousie University, 2017)
• Dean's List (Dalhousie University, 2016-2020)
• Fiat Lux Bronze Award (Kitsilano Secondary School, 2016)
• 59th Overall (Sir Isaac Newton Physics Contest, 2016)
• 1st Overall (Pascal Math Contest, 2013)