Hi, I'm Palmer :3

I'm currently a second-year undergrad at Michigan State University, majoring in Advanced Mathematics (Honors & Graduate Pure Mathematics). I do research in high-energy particle astrophysics with the High Altitude Water Cherenkov Observatory Collaboration. I anticipate to complete my bachelors in Spring 2026, after which I intend to pursue a PhD in Astrophysics.I have a passion for helping to teach others that I like to think is in my blood-- for decades, my maternal relatives taught in the Hawaii public school system. I helped found the Physics Peer Mentoring Program at Croton-Harmon High School and was Head Teaching Assistant from its inception until I graduated in 2024. I have also taught calculus on the side as a passion since high school.My maternal grandparents were part of the first generation of Japanese-Americans to attend college, and actually met while attending Winona State University. Prior to moving back to Hawaii, they resided in Michigan for a few years, where my grandmother taught in Battle Creek and my grandfather pursued his Masters at Western Michigan University.

Projects & Papers:

- Improving Gamma-ray Source Searches with Fast Fourier Transforms and Image Processing (Proceedings of Science, Jun. 2025)
- Photometric-based galaxy classification using random forests and simple neural networks (Apr. 2025)
- Modeling simplified Type I planetary migration with agent-based methods (Mar. 2025)
- Star type classification using multiple regression and machine learning (Dec. 2024)
- Evaluating compartmental epidemiology in modeling the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy (Dec. 2024)
- Socioeconomic and demographic factors influencing credit limit (Dec. 2024)
- Integrated photonics and millimeter wave technology (Jun. 2024)

AAAAA

Class history

See the list of college/college-level classes I have taken.

WOOO

Readings

See the readings I wrote for Calculus students.

© Palmer Itomura Wentworth. All rights reserved.

Hello!!

Course List

These are the college/college-level courses I've taken over the years. For each course I also added the transfer equivalency at Michigan State.

2020-21 (Freshman)
I didn't take any college-level courses in my freshman year, but it's worth mentioning that my passion for learning and self-study was born this year as I was attending New York school virtually whilst living in Hawaii. It's also worth mentioning that my Geometry teacher was so horrible that spite for her is what inspired me to go teach myself the rest of the course in two days, then learn Algebra 2, Trigonometry, and Precalculus over the next few weeks.

2021-22 (Sophomore)
I continued my passion for self-study, teaching myself AP Calc BC over winter break!

  • AP Chemistry
    CEM 151: General and Descriptive Chemistry
    CEM 152: Principles of Chemistry
    CEM 161: Chemistry Laboratory I

  • AP World History: Modern
    HST 140: World History to 1500
    HST 150: World History since 1500

Summer 2022

  • MAT 170: Precalculus, Arizona State University
    MTH 116: College Algebra and Trigonometry
    I had already self-studied Precalculus, but my school wouldn't let me test out. Thankfully, I did so well on the pre-test that I only had to sit for the final.

2022-23 (Junior)

  • AP Calculus BC
    MTH 132: Calculus I
    MTH 133: Calculus II

  • AP Computer Science A
    CSE 231: Introduction to Programming I

  • AP Physics 1
    PHY 231: Introductory Physics I

  • AP English Language and Composition
    WRA 195H: Honors Writing as Inquiry

  • AP U.S. History
    HST 202: U.S. History to 1876
    HST 203: U.S. History since 1876

Summer 2023

  • MATH 54: Linear Algebra and Differential Equations, University of California, Berkeley
    MTH 309: Linear Algebra I
    MTH 340: Ordinary Differential Equations I

2023-24 (Senior)

  • AP English Literature and Composition
    ENG 210: Introduction to Literary Studies

  • AP Macroeconomics
    EC 202: Introduction to Macroeconomics

  • AP Physics C: Mechanics
    PHY 183: Physics for Scientists and Engineers I

  • AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
    PHY 184: Physics for Scientists and Engineers II

  • MATH 311: Introduction to Complex Analysis, Johns Hopkins University CTY
    MTH 425: Complex Analysis

Summer 2024

  • MATH 10C: Calculus III, University of California, San Diego
    MTH 234: Multivariable Calculus

Thanks to APs, I came into college with 64 credits, making me a junior and allowing me to graduate in just two years.

Fall 2024 (Freshman)

  • CMSE 201: Computational Modeling and Data Analysis I, Honors

  • STT 180: Introduction to Data Science

  • PLB 105: Plant Biology

  • MTH 317H: Honors Linear Algebra

Spring 2025 (Freshman)

  • CMSE 202: Computational Modeling and Data Analysis II

  • STT 380: Probability and Statistics for Data Scientists

  • MTH 347H: Honors Ordinary Differential Equations

  • MTH 483: Mathematical Machine Learning

  • PSY 2510: Introduction to Psychology, Oakland Community College
    PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology

Summer 2025

  • ECE 201: Circuits and Systems I

  • MTH 415: Applied Linear Algebra

  • PHY 215: Thermodynamics and Modern Physics

Fall 2025 (Sophomore)

  • AST 304: Stellar Astrophysics

  • MTH 327H: Honors Real Analysis I and Metric Spaces

  • MTH 418H: Honors Abstract Algebra I

  • MTH 451: Numerical Analysis

  • PHY 471: Quantum Mechanics I

Spring 2026 (Sophomore)

  • PLS 200: Introduction to Political Science

  • MTH 419H: Honors Abstract Algebra II

  • MTH 429H: Honors Real Analysis II

  • MTH 442: Partial Differential Equations

  • MTH 481: Discrete Mathematics I and Graph Theory

  • MTH 496: Capstone in Mathematics: Fourier Analysis