Adam Denchfield
@adamdenchfield.bsky.social
Physics PhD studying materials using DFT and other methods. Enjoy programming, physics, competitive smash bros, and entirely tired of misinformation, incompetence, and criminal behavior from our political system (particularly one party...).
Reviewed a journal article today! First time doing so not at the behest of an advisor, which makes it feel special. Peer review is how we keep each other honest and find mistakes, and I'm glad to participate.
November 14, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Reviewed a journal article today! First time doing so not at the behest of an advisor, which makes it feel special. Peer review is how we keep each other honest and find mistakes, and I'm glad to participate.
Somehow my X feed has been entirely replaced by the rightwing propaganda machine. This isn't the first time it's happened, but it's the first time I've been unable to escape it by blocking the accounts in a reasonable amount of time. Anyone else notice this?
November 3, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Somehow my X feed has been entirely replaced by the rightwing propaganda machine. This isn't the first time it's happened, but it's the first time I've been unable to escape it by blocking the accounts in a reasonable amount of time. Anyone else notice this?
It's refreshing how I feel somewhat competent now at the start of my postdoc. A long PhD was spent feeling very incompetent haha. To those in the process, there's a light at the end of the tunnel if you stay dedicated!
October 9, 2025 at 11:49 AM
It's refreshing how I feel somewhat competent now at the start of my postdoc. A long PhD was spent feeling very incompetent haha. To those in the process, there's a light at the end of the tunnel if you stay dedicated!
I might have had a longer PhD than most people, but I'm grateful I was able to mature enough as a researcher to feel competent before I began my first postdoc.
October 1, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I might have had a longer PhD than most people, but I'm grateful I was able to mature enough as a researcher to feel competent before I began my first postdoc.
I love path integrals. Even though I'm a condensed matter physicist, I cannot pass up a chance today to attend a lecture using them even if it's about black hole physics.
September 23, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I love path integrals. Even though I'm a condensed matter physicist, I cannot pass up a chance today to attend a lecture using them even if it's about black hole physics.
Just got the chance to reuse my PhD defense slides for a presentation. Glad all that work isn't just one-and-done!
September 22, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Just got the chance to reuse my PhD defense slides for a presentation. Glad all that work isn't just one-and-done!
First month on the job and I've already found two bugs in the code I'm supposed to use for my first project. Can't tell if this means I'm doing good at not 😅
September 18, 2025 at 3:03 PM
First month on the job and I've already found two bugs in the code I'm supposed to use for my first project. Can't tell if this means I'm doing good at not 😅
Shout-out to my department in the Oden Institute for getting me a new office chair.
The little things really do matter!
The little things really do matter!
September 18, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Shout-out to my department in the Oden Institute for getting me a new office chair.
The little things really do matter!
The little things really do matter!
I'm slowly but surely convincing myself that the path integral approach to quantum mechanics and quantum field theory is in fact the most natural formulation.
September 6, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I'm slowly but surely convincing myself that the path integral approach to quantum mechanics and quantum field theory is in fact the most natural formulation.
I'm pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of the compliance training at UT Austin. It felt modernized!
September 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I'm pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of the compliance training at UT Austin. It felt modernized!
My postdoc requires proof of graduation from my PhD to start. It is scheduled to start September 1st. I got emailed my diploma yesterday. Cutting it a little close folks!
August 31, 2025 at 2:07 PM
My postdoc requires proof of graduation from my PhD to start. It is scheduled to start September 1st. I got emailed my diploma yesterday. Cutting it a little close folks!
While people claim there is no evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life, they also agree that 90% of the matter in the universe is invisible for an unexplained reason.
The Dark Forest hypothesis implies dark matter could be hidden alien infrastructure. it's an entertaining and scary thought.
The Dark Forest hypothesis implies dark matter could be hidden alien infrastructure. it's an entertaining and scary thought.
July 12, 2025 at 11:14 PM
While people claim there is no evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life, they also agree that 90% of the matter in the universe is invisible for an unexplained reason.
The Dark Forest hypothesis implies dark matter could be hidden alien infrastructure. it's an entertaining and scary thought.
The Dark Forest hypothesis implies dark matter could be hidden alien infrastructure. it's an entertaining and scary thought.
Today I successfully defended my PhD! I am now a full fledged Dr. D
July 3, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Today I successfully defended my PhD! I am now a full fledged Dr. D
I didn't realize just how much X is actively preventing people from challenging rightwing misinformation. Tried sending the last message a few times, verified I could send other messages.
May 25, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I didn't realize just how much X is actively preventing people from challenging rightwing misinformation. Tried sending the last message a few times, verified I could send other messages.
I have about two months to write my dissertation. Normally that would be intimidating, but I absolutely love writing about the scientific work I do.
May 3, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I have about two months to write my dissertation. Normally that would be intimidating, but I absolutely love writing about the scientific work I do.
Just made a scientific poster in a day. It looks pretty great too! A new record for me on both fronts.
April 16, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Just made a scientific poster in a day. It looks pretty great too! A new record for me on both fronts.
I wonder how much hydrogen impurities there have been in studies of "pure" metals over the last century
April 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I wonder how much hydrogen impurities there have been in studies of "pure" metals over the last century
Looks like I'll be moving to Austin, TX for my postdoc!
January 6, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Looks like I'll be moving to Austin, TX for my postdoc!
Got food poisoning on Christmas. Last Christmas our car broke down on the way home. Next Christmas will the house burn down? Stay tuned.
December 26, 2024 at 7:24 AM
Got food poisoning on Christmas. Last Christmas our car broke down on the way home. Next Christmas will the house burn down? Stay tuned.
Trying to work my hobby (competitive Smash Bros Ultimate) over the winter, the game is incredibly hard!
December 17, 2024 at 5:18 AM
Trying to work my hobby (competitive Smash Bros Ultimate) over the winter, the game is incredibly hard!
While I really respect version control, and it would be very good to have for all of my files, if my desktop bricks again, that would take like a whole 30 minutes for me to reorganize my version control to include my recent work.
December 16, 2024 at 4:18 AM
While I really respect version control, and it would be very good to have for all of my files, if my desktop bricks again, that would take like a whole 30 minutes for me to reorganize my version control to include my recent work.
Thanks to Todd Munson from Argonne for giving me chances to work on projects in the Math and Computer Science Division. That nonlinear optimization work still influences my perspective on physics!
December 14, 2024 at 4:02 PM
Thanks to Todd Munson from Argonne for giving me chances to work on projects in the Math and Computer Science Division. That nonlinear optimization work still influences my perspective on physics!
I'm learning that doped rare earth hydrides are interesting even at low or ambient pressures. Unfortunately Scandium seems like it's a problem child that refuses to cooperate until around 30 GPa.
December 13, 2024 at 5:12 AM
I'm learning that doped rare earth hydrides are interesting even at low or ambient pressures. Unfortunately Scandium seems like it's a problem child that refuses to cooperate until around 30 GPa.
Excited for the next step of my academic journey, wherever it takes me! Three interviews so far.
December 12, 2024 at 5:57 AM
Excited for the next step of my academic journey, wherever it takes me! Three interviews so far.
The Good Place was one of those shows where at the end of season 1, I was completely sure that they were going to be unable to compete what they had accomplished in the next season. And yet they did!
December 9, 2024 at 8:27 PM
The Good Place was one of those shows where at the end of season 1, I was completely sure that they were going to be unable to compete what they had accomplished in the next season. And yet they did!