I’m a condensed matter physicist studying weird magnets. On the physics side, I get to learn about what is going on inside of these magnets on a microscopic scale, and to see how interactions individual atoms have with one another translate into macroscopic properties. On the applied side, this work might factor into the next generation of spintronic devices, leading to faster and more efficient computing! A typical day for me involves melting elements together to form new magnets, cutting tiny patterns into crystals using a focused beam of ions, and painting conductive paths using an eyelash glued to a wooden stick.