International Studies Major Earns NIST Fellowship
Candice Ionescu '19 is the first Dickinsonian to receive the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Candice Ionescu '19
Major: international studies
Hometown: Ambler, Pennsylvania
Award: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
What will you be doing through this fellowship?
I will be studying terminology and nomenclature of standards and developing standards for nanotechnologies with Dickinson alumna Jennifer Marshall '01. Standards are instrumental in domestic and international trade and commerce. There is a need for a strong U.S. presence in standards development to position U.S. industry for increased success in the global marketplace. One such area is the nanotechnology sector, an emerging area of technology and commercialism that impacts many sectors—health, protective equipment, building materials and drugs. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has formed Technical Committee (TC) 229 to address this need. This NIST SURF project will contribute to international nanotechnology standards development efforts in two key areas: terminology and nomenclature.
How has Dickinson prepared you for your future?
At Dickinson, I have really learned how to network with other alumni, and the Career Center is a great resource for getting internships and jobs. I also have learned to chase down my goals on the track and in the classroom and not be afraid of setting the bar high. I also feel that I have received great support and encouragement from my professors, my coaches and my friends who have always believed in me, and I know that those relationships will last far into the future. I feel that I have received a multifaceted education and I have learned about a variety of topics in the classroom, not just about my major. For example, I will be working at a science organization this summer even though I am an international studies major. Dickinson's liberal-arts education has prepared me to work in a variety of fields.
What internship or research experiences have you had at Dickinson?
I did an externship at NIST in January.
What are you most anticipating about your future?
I try to live day-by-day and take advantage of every opportunity as it comes. I am blessed to go to Dickinson, where opportunities are endless and all I have to do is take advantage of them.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Going abroad to Málaga, Spain, was a defining moment because I was able to develop my Spanish skills and make an array of Spanish friends, who I will be able to visit in the future. I also traveled to Morocco with the Dickinson program, which was amazing because I had never been to Africa before, and it was cool to see such a beautiful place even though it was so different from anything I have ever known.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published May 9, 2018