Benjamin Schreyer

Work Experience

Machine Learning Research Assistant — Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute for Communications Technology, Berlin (Dec. 2025 - Present)
Unsupervised machine learning on massive datasets generated by coherent reflectometry and polarization measurement on Berlin telecom network fiber optic cables. Forwarding a software environment for machine learning, signals software and fusion of urban sensor and scheduling data.
Quantum Measurement Division Intern — National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (Oct. 2024 - Dec. 2025)
Lead publication of paper on improved methodology for simulating precision mechanisms for gravitational experiments breaking barriers to efficient simulation. Built custom solvers for simulation and optimization of precision mechanical devices.
Statistical Nonlinear Optics Intern — Naval Research Laboratory, MITRE, Washington, D.C. (Oct. 2022 - Jan. 2025)
Model-based control of a mechanical spatial light modulator at KHz rate to statistically correlate laser beam phase to avoid nonlinear collapse (collapse closes information/energy channel). Integrated in software a system of three camera-adjacent sensors, optical modulators, and mechatronics. Conducted optical simulations of free optics, components, and nonlinear media alongside statistical sampling and characterization of correlated wave fields. Drafted research articles and presented internally/externally.
Wave Physics Teaching Assistant — University of Maryland, College Park (Sept. 2022 - May 2023)
Formulation, grading, and lecturing: Fourteen lecture series on Fourier optics in MATLAB and Python. Guided students to successfully simulate a saturable laser cavity as a final project.
Discrete Mathematics Teaching Assistant — Montgomery College (Jan. 2021 - May 2021)
Instructional classroom support, group proctoring, and evaluation tracking for introductory discrete mathematics course metrics.
Tutor with University Physics Society — University of Maryland (2021 - 2022, 2025 Spring)
Provided academic conceptual support and physics mentorship for undergraduate student peers.

Youth & Outdoors Leadership

TeenTreks Cycling Tour Leader — New York City to Montreal (1 month, 500 miles / 800 km)
Led a scenic bicycle tour carrying all cooking, camping, and living gear across varying landscapes, managing safety, logistics, and schedule for eight campers.

TeenTreks Cycling Tour Leader — Oregon to New York City (2 months, 3,600 miles / 5,800km)
Led a cross-country bicycle tour displaying leadership and resilience as sole instructor for six campers, completing the trip on schedule while exploring amazing cities and nature.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Physics & Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Two Diplomas) — University of Maryland, College Park (2021 - 2025)
GPA: 3.7. Minor degree in German Language and Literature. Coursework includes the introductory Astronomy sequence.
Advanced Coursework: Signal Processing, Complex Variables, PDEs, Numerical Methods, Machine Learning, Applied Statistics, Compilers, Electromagnetism, Statistical Physics, Graduate Cryptography, Graduate Relativity- Gravity and Cosmology, Advanced Circuits Lab, Advanced Optics Experiment Lab, Quantum Physics II, Quantum Computing.

Research Papers / Posters

Benjamin Schreyer, et al., Stable numerical technique to calculate the bending of flexures with extreme aspect ratios, Measurement Science and Technology, doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/ae507d
Benjamin Schreyer, et al., Realization of Nontrivial Partial Spatial Coherence by Deformable Mirror, Applied Optics, doi.org/10.1364/AO.557755
Benjamin Schreyer, Rigged Horse Numbers and their Modular Periodicity, Journal of Integer Sequences, cs.waterloo.ca
(Conference poster and manuscript) Benjamin Schreyer, et al., Realization of phase perturbations by deformable mirror towards testing statistical nonlinear optics, SPIE HPLA, doi.org/10.1117/12.3012409

Service and Awards

SPIE Mirror Technology Conference volunteer (Nov. 2024)
SPIE Optics and Photonics Scholarship, adaptive optics and partial coherence (2024)
NASA Maryland Space Grant Scholarship, adaptive optics and partial coherence (2023, 2024)
University of Maryland Bardasis Fellowship, on communication in physics (2022-2024)
Referee (4x) for American Journal of Physics
Referee for Measurement Science and Technology
Referee for Electronic Journal of Combinatorics
Computer Science Departmental Scholarship (2022-2023)
Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS) contribution

Selected Personal Projects

C++ OpenGL Rendering & Physics Engine: Built an OpenGL rendering engine and GPU-accelerated Newtonian simulation to calculate and resolve elastic sphere collisions utilizing fast spatial hashing structures.
ESP32 Audio Visualizer Grid: Embedded RTOS parallel processing to run an LED audio visualizer grid. Implemented parallelized microphone readout/processing and display control pipelines on an embedded C platform to drive live LED spectrograms alongside a web server control interface.
Radio Controlled Drone: Custom design, assembly, and programming of a radio-controlled flight system, leveraging custom hardware integration and telemetry configuration.
CAD API Compiler Project: Integration of fine-tuned LLM and interoperation for Fusion, Onshape, and SolidWorks mechanical CAD. Using compiler formulation on CAD APIs to generate part creation scripts from design files with custom spline functionality extensions.

Interests & Hobbies

Endurance & Outdoors: Running, cycling, swimming (Triathlon with university team), thru-hiking, and camping.
Technical & Creative: Woodworking, fixing bicycles, drawing, painting, and foreign language learning (Native English, daily German, strong French reading).

Picture: arriving after crossing Gotthard pass over the Alps by bike.

Pictures: TeenTreks New York to Montreal bike touring!