For my thesis project in undergrad, I wanted to combine physics and computer science (which were my two majors) and arts (which has been my passion) and as a result approached the fields of Computer Graphics and HCI. I came up with a project on Facial Animation, because I loved to focus on facial expressions in my paintings and my dream was to make the faces in my paintings come to life via animation. I built a 3D model of the face and simulated different facial expressions using Physics Based Modelling. This system was based on Terzopolous's physics based spring model, consisting of a bone layer, skin layer, and muscle layer, with springs connecting each node on these layers.

While doing this project, I realized that I was learning more about the physics principles by programming, experimenting and seeing what effect changing a formula had on the facial expressions, than I had learned with the traditional methods in the physics classes. Thus, I started to realize how powerful technological tools can be for learning and understanding information.