Kevin Brown is an Argonne Scholar [Walter Massey Fellow] in the Mathematics and Computer Science (MCS) division, where he researches new ways to make the world’s fastest supercomputers run even faster.

When he was young, Kevin was quiet and reserved, but also extremely curious – a quality that is essential in scientific research.

“I was always excited to disassemble small appliances and toys at home to see how they worked, but I was rarely interested in putting them back together,” he said. ​“I would also roam random sections of the library and flip through books that introduced me to new topics and ideas.”

However, it wasn’t he began his undergraduate studies at the University of Technology, Jamaica that Kevin decided to focus on research as a career.

“Up to that point, I knew that I wanted to work with computers but wasn’t sure how exactly –maybe as a software developer?” he said. ​“As I learned about computers and engaged with other students and staff at my university, I began seeing a career in research as the best way to learn more about the field and keep finding new and interesting questions to answer.”

Today, Kevin develops new ways to build and configure supercomputers to speed up their processes. Given the great impact that supercomputers have in the world, his research is very important.

“Supercomputers solve big problems that otherwise can’t be solved – like understanding the origin and expansion of the universe, predicting weather, discovering new drugs to cure cancer, designing new batteries for more efficient electric cars, and much more,” he said. ​“By making these systems faster, we can make faster breakthroughs in solving these problems, and then we can start solving even bigger problems.”

Kevin’s favorite part of his job is thinking about problems that no one in the world has solved yet, while also working alongside brilliant scientists and researchers at the lab. He encourages students to be open to leaving their comfort zone and trying new things; they can and should choose a career because they genuinely find it interesting.

“Start traveling and meeting people with diverse backgrounds sooner than later. These experiences will shape the type of person and scientist you will become,” he said. ​“Sometimes STEM fields can seem overwhelming when we are new. Just remember that millions of people have walked these paths before and so can you. Don’t give up. You can find a fulfilling STEM career that you are passionate about, if you let your interests lead you forward.”