Olti Myrtaj

About Olti Myrtaj

Computational astrophysics Ph.D. candidate with expertise in quantitative modeling, systematic research, and large-scale computational workflows. I am seeking to apply these tools to quantitative finance and portfolio management. My real-world, award-winning experience includes projects in fixed-income risk analytics (see posts below), bond portfolio hedging, time-series modeling, Monte Carlo simulation, and building reliable pipelines for large datasets on advanced HPC systems. Through both academic research and finance-focused projects, I study complex systems to build predictive models under uncertainties. I like working with those sorts of models and systems so that they generalize and adapt to actually survive real-world conditions.My PhD research combines advanced computational modeling with large-scale analytics to study galaxy systems and their evolution. My thesis explores how Milky Way-like galaxies develop their present-day disk structure over cosmic time, with a focus on identifying the physical drivers behind major transitions in their morphologies. I\'ve collected, stored, analyzed, and modeled 100\'s of TB of high-resolution simulation data, and tested it against observational benchmarks from state-of-the-art astronomical surveys, identifying major regime shifts in the evolution of the Milky Way’s dynamical structure and analyzing the physical processes most closely associated with those transitions. More broadly, this work has constructed a foundational and physically-informed model for how our Milky Way transitioned from a messy, chaotic system in the early universe to a remarkably ordered, spinning disk that we see today.I previously completed my undergraduate studies in physics and mathematics at Virginia Tech, where I was valedictorian (4.0 GPA, Dean\'s Roundtable Scholar, graduation speaker), and I completed several NSF REU undergraduate research projects in mathematics and numerical astrophysics at Indiana University Bloomington and UT Austin.My PhD advisor is James Bullock — Dean of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences and former Dean of the UC Irvine School of Physical Sciences.

Experience

1. Science Communication Fellow

   Uci School Of Physical Sciences

   Sep 2024 — Present

   Secured fellowship funding to interview and collaborate with UC Irvine physics researchers, gaining in-depth insights into their discoveries and personal career storiesCollaborated with researchers and science writers to author an average of 2 articles per quarter, including press releases and scientist profile highlights, which were prominently published in UC Irvine News, effectively communicating complex scientific concepts succinctly to a broad audienceDemonstrated effective use of social media channels of 2k+ followers to promote articles, effectively applying branding strategies to increase engagement with UC Irvine’s physical sciences community and wider general audienceAttended an average of 4 workshops per quarter hosted by Dean’s Office communication director and senior science writer that covered essential topics in science communication such as: the writing of press releases, social media branding and digital storytellingDirected and advised a hand-picked project team of 8 graduate students in a collaborative partnership between the UC Irvine School of Physical Sciences Dean’s Office and the Orange County DiscoveryCube Science Museum, providing expert knowledge and design assistance for the museum’s solar system exhibit, and overseeing the successful public launch eventAuthored and coordinated the successful press release for a $1.4M grant awarded to a UC Irvine professor, ensuring confidentiality and timely dissemination of information while gaining coverage from local news and media outlets

Education

• Virginia Tech College of Science

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Physics

• Virginia Tech

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Physics

• UC Irvine

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Quantitative Modeling of Complex Galaxy Systems

  2021 — 2027

• UCI School of Physical Sciences

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Physics: Data Analysis and Development of Astrophysical Simulations