Joel Shernicoff, a sophomore double majoring in Physics and Astronomy, didn’t expect his research to teach him as much about communication as it did about science—but that’s exactly what happened. His project focuses on a specific challenge in sensor technology: measuring dark noise in CMOS sensors. These sensors are widely used in digital imaging, from everyday cameras to telescopes that capture distant galaxies. Dark noise is the subtle interference that shows up even when no light is present, and understanding it is key to improving how clearly we can observe the world—and the universe—around us.
Joel’s research involved creating a detailed characterization procedure to measure this noise more accurately. It’s technical work, but the impact is meaningful: better sensors mean clearer images, and clearer images mean more accurate science, especially in fields like astronomy.
Through this process, Joel not only deepened his understanding of CMOS sensors and dark noise, but he also found himself growing in other ways. He learned how to write like a scientist, how to present complex ideas in simple, engaging ways, and how to confidently share his findings with others. “I’ve learned how to not just do the science,” he says, “but also how to talk about it—how to make it accessible and meaningful.”
For Joel, this project has been about more than just measuring noise—it’s about learning how to make quiet discoveries heard.
