diff --git a/tidy3d/components/geometry.py b/tidy3d/components/geometry.py
index 355ca70e75..86f3e08f69 100644
--- a/tidy3d/components/geometry.py
+++ b/tidy3d/components/geometry.py
@@ -813,7 +813,7 @@ class PolySlab(Planar):
     """
 
     slab_bounds: Tuple[float, float]
-    vertices: Vertices #Union[Vertices, Array[float]]
+    vertices: Union[Vertices, Array[float]]
     type: Literal["PolySlab"] = "PolySlab"
 
     @pydantic.validator("slab_bounds", always=True)
diff --git a/tidy3d/components/medium.py b/tidy3d/components/medium.py
index 6150078ec7..6a753a7edd 100644
--- a/tidy3d/components/medium.py
+++ b/tidy3d/components/medium.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 from .base import Tidy3dBaseModel
-from .types import PoleAndResidue, Literal, Ax, FreqBound
+from .types import PoleAndResidue, Literal, Ax, FreqBound, ComplexNumber
 from .viz import add_ax_if_none
 from .validators import validate_name_str
 
@@ -422,6 +422,18 @@ class PoleResidue(DispersiveMedium):
     poles: List[PoleAndResidue] = []
     type: Literal["PoleResidue"] = "PoleResidue"
 
+    @pydantic.validator("poles", always=True)
+    def convert_complex(cls, val):
+        """convert list of poles to complex"""
+        poles_complex = []
+        for (a, c) in val:
+            if isinstance(a, ComplexNumber):
+                a = a.real + 1j * a.imag
+            if isinstance(c, ComplexNumber):
+                c = c.real + 1j * c.imag
+            poles_complex.append((a, c))
+        return poles_complex
+
     @ensure_freq_in_range
     def eps_model(self, frequency: float) -> complex:
         """Complex-valued permittivity as a function of frequency.
diff --git a/tidy3d/components/simulation.py b/tidy3d/components/simulation.py
index b7692a8d34..3462391511 100644
--- a/tidy3d/components/simulation.py
+++ b/tidy3d/components/simulation.py
@@ -908,7 +908,9 @@ def discretize(self, box: Box) -> Grid:
         sub_boundaries = Coords(**sub_cell_boundary_dict)
         return Grid(boundaries=sub_boundaries)
 
-    def epsilon(self, box: Box, coord_key: str = 'centers', freq: float = None) -> Dict[str, xr.DataArray]:
+    def epsilon(
+        self, box: Box, coord_key: str = "centers", freq: float = None
+    ) -> Dict[str, xr.DataArray]:
         """Get array of permittivity at volume specified by box and freq
 
         Parameters
diff --git a/tidy3d/components/types.py b/tidy3d/components/types.py
index 65a1edf7bd..e88a8c8664 100644
--- a/tidy3d/components/types.py
+++ b/tidy3d/components/types.py
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ class ComplexNumber(pydantic.BaseModel):
     imag: float
 
 
-PoleAndResidue = Tuple[complex, complex]
+Complex = Union[complex, ComplexNumber]
+PoleAndResidue = Tuple[Complex, Complex]
 FreqBound = Union[float, Inf, Literal[-inf]]
 
 """ symmetries """
diff --git a/tidy3d/components/validators.py b/tidy3d/components/validators.py
index 25d001c896..8657dc1d42 100644
--- a/tidy3d/components/validators.py
+++ b/tidy3d/components/validators.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 from ..log import ValidationError, SetupError
 from .geometry import Box
 
-
 """ Explanation of pydantic validators:
 
     Validators are class methods that are added to the models to validate their fields (kwargs).
diff --git a/tidy3d/plugins/near2far/near2far.py b/tidy3d/plugins/near2far/near2far.py
index 05ee302d04..2c6be60e8a 100644
--- a/tidy3d/plugins/near2far/near2far.py
+++ b/tidy3d/plugins/near2far/near2far.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def __init__(self, sim_data: SimulationData, mon_name: str, frequency: float):
         self.Mx = np.squeeze(Ey.values)
         self.My = -np.squeeze(Ex.values)
 
-    def _radiation_vectors(self, theta : float, phi : float):
+    def _radiation_vectors(self, theta: float, phi: float):
         """Compute radiation vectors at an angle in spherical coordinates
 
         Parameters
diff --git a/tidy3d/web/container.py b/tidy3d/web/container.py
index 28a2aa72c2..0e829a5614 100644
--- a/tidy3d/web/container.py
+++ b/tidy3d/web/container.py
@@ -265,7 +265,15 @@ def monitor(self) -> None:  # pylint:disable=too-many-locals
         def pbar_description(task_name: str, status: str) -> str:
             return f"{task_name}: status = {status}"
 
-        run_statuses = ["queued", "preprocess", "queued_solver", "running", "postprocess", "visualize", "success"]
+        run_statuses = [
+            "queued",
+            "preprocess",
+            "queued_solver",
+            "running",
+            "postprocess",
+            "visualize",
+            "success",
+        ]
         end_statuses = ("success", "error", "diverged", "deleted", "draft")
 
         pbar_tasks = {}