Open to opportunities

Lily Williams

@lilywilliams

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Experimental nanophysics instrumentation specialist blending hands-on engineering with ML and data skills.

Canada

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What I'm looking for

I seek hands-on R&D roles developing and operating advanced instrumentation, in collaborative labs that value rigorous documentation, safety, and ML-driven workflows.

I am an experimental nanophysics and instrumentation specialist with extensive hands-on experience designing, building, and operating custom cryogenic AFM systems and precision instrumentation for nanoelectronic and imaging applications. I combine strong electronics, mechanics, and cryogenics skills with Python/MATLAB data analysis and ML-informed workflows to deliver reproducible, high-quality R&D results.

My work includes precision micro-soldering for cryogenic setups, development of documentation and imaging protocols, creating large-scale geospatial databases, and publishing peer-reviewed research on optical materials. I prioritize safety, clear lab documentation, and integrating AI/ML into physics workflows to accelerate experimental throughput and insight.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Physics AI Integration Specialist

Current

DataAnnotation AI

Jan 2025 - Present (1 year 5 months)

Provide expert feedback on large LLM responses to complex physics queries, create evaluation rubrics for AI response quality, and advise on AI integration into physics and R&D workflows.

Prompt Evaluation Integration Physics Expertise Technical Writing Python Data Annotation QA

Current

Nanodevice Instrumentation Research Physicist

Current

McGill University

Jan 2023 - Present (3 years 5 months)

Designed, operated, and maintained custom cryogenic AFM systems for nanoelectronic device characterization and performed precision micro-soldering and troubleshooting of vacuum instrumentation.

Vacuum Systems Soldering Electronics

Physics Teaching & Laboratory Assistant

University of Canterbury

Jan 2022 - Jan 2025 (3 years)

Led undergraduate lab classes emphasizing hands-on experimental methods, trained students in instrumentation handling, measurement, and data acquisition best practices.

Teaching Instrumentation Technical Communication Mentoring

Machine Learning & Data Science Intern

Starboard Maritime Intelligence

Jan 2022 - Jan 2023 (1 year)

Built a large real-time maritime port database and developed internal tools to improve ML workflows for geospatial data processing, enhancing data availability for downstream models.

Geospatial Python Databases Data Engineering Workflows Automation Data Processing GIS

Medical Imaging Instrumentation Analyst

University of Canterbury

Jan 2022 - Dec 2022 (11 months)

Evaluated detector performance in synchrotron X-ray imaging systems using image quality metrics and automated Python/MATLAB analysis to improve throughput and reproducibility.

Synchrotron Imaging Python Matlab Signal Processing Detector Evaluation Image Quality Metrics Automation Data Analysis

Crystal Synthesis & Optical Spectroscopy

Dodd-Walls Centre

Jan 2021 - Dec 2022 (1 year 11 months)

Synthesized and characterized lanthanide-doped YSO microcrystals, operated FTIR/XRD/tunable lasers, and published peer-reviewed results on optical materials for photonic applications.

Crystal Synthesis FTIR XRD Tunable Lasers Data Analysis Laboratory Safety

Engineering Officer Under Training

Royal New Zealand Air Force

Jan 2019 - Dec 2020 (1 year 11 months)

Assisted with Seasprite helicopter maintenance and avionics, applied engineering practices in safety-critical environments, and supported inspections and systems engineering tasks.

Aircraft Maintenance Critical Systems Mechanical Systems Wiring Inspections Teamwork

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

McGill University

Master of Science, Experimental Nanophysics and Instrumentation Design

Grade: 3.8/4.0

M.Sc. in Experimental Nanophysics and Instrumentation Design focused on development and operation of custom low-temperature AFM systems for quantum dot nanodevice characterization.

University of Canterbury

Bachelor of Science, Physics & Computer Science

Grade: 6.9/9.0 (US 3.6/4.0)

Bachelor of Science in Physics and Computer Science with coursework and research in X-ray imaging systems analysis and optical spectroscopy for lanthanide-doped microcrystals.