Zachary Banken

Education

🎓

Bachelor of Science in Physics

University of Washington - Seattle, June 2023

Selected Coursework: Mathematical Physics, Neural Networks for Physics

Honors: magna cum laude

Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics

University of Washington - Seattle, June 2023

Selected Coursework: Mathematical Ecology, Scientific Computing

Honors: magna cum laude

Teaching & Advising

👨‍🏫

Substitute Teacher

Jan 2024

Implemented lesson plans for absent teachers, managed classrooms of all ages, taught math, science, and technology classes for the Wenatchee School District.

English as a Second Language Teacher

Jan 2024 - Mar 2024

Prepared lessons and taught English as a second language to 5 adults in a beginner-level course (24 hours).

Math and Physics Tutor (Wyzant)

Aug 2023 - Mar 2024

Tutored high school and college-level math and physics online in topics including electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, number theory, and calculus.

Math Tutor (Wenatchee High School)

Sep 2023 - Mar 2024

Tutored high school math at the Wenatchee High School after-school homework center.

Undergraduate Physics Mentor (UW)

Fall 2022

Mentored two undergraduate physics students through the process of applying to the major, planning out course schedules, and managing study habits.

Wenatchee Valley College Math Tutor

Dec 2018 - Mar 2019

Taught college-level math to students from diverse backgrounds. Worked with a team of tutors to develop math pedagogy for college students.

Research Experience

🔬

Research Assistant - Washington Experimental Math Lab

Sep 2022 - June 2023

Successfully formalized mathematical proofs in Lean Theorem Prover

Presented on and demonstrated formal verification of mathematics

Research Assistant - Axion Dark Matter Experiment

Jan 2022 - June 2022

Simulated radio-frequency circuits in Python for dark matter detector receiver chain

Worked under ADMX spokesperson testing RF circuits at the CENPA lab

Professional Experience

💼

USPTO Patent Examiner

May - Sep 2024

Examined semiconductor device patent applications (displays and transistors) and wrote office actions on patentability

Scale AI Trainer - Math Expert

Jan 2024 - Mar 2024

Created novel prompts to test cutting-edge large language models on math, rated the responses on accuracy and comprehension

Kyle Mathison Orchards Research Intern

May - Sep 2020

Designed and implemented horticulture experiments in the field over a cherry harvest season, and analyzed fruit quality and performance data in Python and Excel

Volunteer Service

🤝

Washington Bee Atlas Volunteer

Dec 2024 - Present

Participated in training to become an apprentice-level Master Melittologist through Oregon State University Extension for the Washington Department of Agriculture pollinator program

Holden Village Volunteer

July - Aug 2021 and 2022, Oct 2023, Oct - Nov 2024

Aided sustainable waste processing team as Associate Garbologist (composting, sorting, and organizing) and helped with village operations (full time for 6 weeks)

Volunteered on a team maintaining trails in the North Cascades (full time for 5 weeks during two summers)

Special Olympics Ski Coach

Feb - Mar 2024

Coached an athlete for the Mission Ridge Mountain Lions ski team

Rotary Youth Exchange Student

Aug 2019 - Mar 2020

Lived with two host families in Surat, India while attending school and Rotary events

Represented American culture and presented on Gujarati culture to the Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary Club

Phi Theta Kappa Vice President of Service

2018 - 2019

Organized program for Honor Society students at Wenatchee Valley College to volunteer at elementary school after-school programs

Honors and Awards

🏆

Mary L. Boas Scholarship in Physics

December 2021

Howard and Imogene Burton Scholarship in Natural Sciences

December 2021

Wenatchee Valley College Outstanding Graduate

June 2019