Research
Meet Robert Pearce
LEADS Lab
August 2025 - Present
Undergraduate Researcher
I conduct undergraduate research under Dr. Paul La Plante in UNLV’s LEADS Lab, running large-scale reionization simulations on the Bridges-2 supercomputer at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center. By varying parameters in the Zerion reionization model, I generate kinetic Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (kSZ) maps and analyze their angular power spectra to study the timing and structure of the Epoch of Reionization. My current focus is developing a machine-learning emulator that predicts the kSZ power spectrum directly from reionization parameters, enabling rapid exploration of parameter space without running new simulations.
Quorum Programming Language
August 2025 - December 2025
Contributor
Our team extended the Quorum programming language, which was built with accessibility as a core principle, to integrate directly with Apple’s iOS accessibility features. Using MobiVM and Apple’s UIAccessibility framework, we created a bridge that allows Quorum developers to build accessible apps and games for iPhones and iPads. Unlike current market solutions, our approach gives blind developers the ability not just to use accessible apps, but to create them from start to finish. This empowers visually impaired students to practice programming skills in a real-world environment. Educators will also benefit, as they can introduce inclusive app development in classrooms and coding camps. Our solution creates an ecosystem where visually impaired developers can collaborate, innovate, and publish apps independently. Ultimately, our solution opens new doors for both learning and professional opportunities in software development.