Physics Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2019
physics
Moyi Tian
Majors: physics, mathematics
Hometown: Beijing, China
Graduate School: Brown University
Field of study: applied mathematics
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson has provided me the opportunity to take a variety of courses so that I was able to finally figure out the field that I am most excited about doing research in. The two independent research projects in my senior year definitely prepared me with the motivations and skills that would support me in the future research. The college also has given me a lot of valuable chances to get to know global cultures and societies so that I am ready to live actively in the globalized world.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
Being a researcher/professor in applied mathematics.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
At the beginning of the second semester of my freshman year, I decided to take violin lessons. I had not played the violin seriously for six years by that time, but I really appreciated that Dickinson has a strong music program so that I could restart learning and playing. The lessons also opened up the door for me to join the orchestra for some semesters in college. Even though I would not be a professional musician after college, I think the ability to play music will be essential for me to relieve my pressure and brighten my mood in daily life. Also, the semester when I first took my physics course was also defining for my trajectory. I did not even imagine that I would be a physics major before college. This discipline has broadened my way of thinking and my values for life. I will also stay in contact with physics in my future research. Furthermore, running the Japanese Aesthetics Club in my sophomore year provided me the opportunity to interact with many different people on campus. The experience helped build up some leadership spirit in me.
William Boyes
Major: physics
Hometown: Gainesville, Florida
Graduate School: Columbia University
Field of study: applied physics, plasma physics concentration
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I get to create a future I would enjoy living in, creating a new form of energy generation that would fix our climate issues, in line with Dickinson's focus on sustainability. Nuclear fusion is the most sustainable form of energy generation possible, and the most energy dense. Every day for the next five years, I have the privilege of studying among the world's foremost scientists in fusion energy technology.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Much of my work in the physics department made my experience at Dickinson, like the theta pinch can crusher I almost finished or the independent study in fluid mechanics I did. However, my favorite experience by far was meeting my girlfriend at the end of sophomore year.
Internship Experience
I spent a summer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on a reflectometry antenna simulation project. I tested antennae to determine a geometry that would work, then optimized it numerically in a multiphysics software. My second internship was at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. I worked on a laboratory astrophysics project in an effort to experimentally detect a kind of plasma instability primarily responsible for accretion of matter into black holes from their accretion disks.
Julia Huddy
Majors: physics, mathematics
Hometown: Newtown, Pennsylvania
Graduate School: Dartmouth University
Field of study: engineering
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson has helped me get out of my comfort zone to explore new ideas and interests. It has helped me figure out what I like to do and where I want to go after I graduate.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I'm very excited to dive into research postgrad and help make progress in the renewable energy industry.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Getting accepted into the Montgomery Service Leaders program as a first-year, declaring my majors, becoming a MOB exec, working as a first-year mentor and getting successful data from my senior research project.
Internship Experience
While at Dickinson, I interned with the Carlisle Arts Learning Center. I was responsible for completing daily tasks, helping monitor membership on the database and assisting in execution of fundraisers. I also spent two summers participating in REU programs. In 2017, I was at the University of Maryland as a part of an electrical engineering program. During the program, I developed a code to three-dimensionally model lithium-ion distributions in lithium-ion batteries. In 2018, I was at Princeton University as a part of a materials science program. During the program, I solution processed various chalcogenides for implementation as cathodes in lithium ion batteries.
Adam Baldoni
Majors: physics, mathematics
Hometown: Newville, Pennsylvania
Graduate School: Penn State University
Field of study: physics
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
The physics program has taught me a solid background understanding of physics and how to communicate with others in the scientific community.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
Learning more about physics.
Pierce van Mulbregt
Major: physics
Hometown: Wayland, Massachusetts
Employer: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Job title: cryogenic chemistry research intern
Job Responsibilities
Running research experiment in a cryogenic chemistry lab. Assisting lab supervisor with lab upkeep.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson has provided me with great laboratory experiences that I can put to use in my life after graduation. Without those skills I would not be able to pursue my passions the way I can now. I also learned a great deal about leadership from my job on campus, and I believe that it will also help me in many aspects of my life after Dickinson.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
Continuing to run high-end research experiments in large lab settings.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Some of my most memorable moments at Dickinson are the last few games I played with the men's club volleyball team after a friend of mine and I started that club in the spring of our freshman year. Watching it grow and blossom into a solid team over the years will always be something I remember about Dickinson.
Internship Experience
Wellesley College Science Center Summer Research Internship Program. Worked in a lab running experiments on the photon irradiation of ammonia ice analogs, which turned into a paper and a talk at the ACS national meeting in Washington, D.C., in 2017.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Worked as an intern in a cryogenic chemistry lab studying ices and their chemical makeups on the south pole of the moon in the summer of 2018 and will continue this project in the summer of 2019.
Hieu Le
Majors: physics, mathematics
Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam
Graduate School: Michigan State University
Field of study: physics
Internship Experience
Fermilab, Research Intern, Batavia, Ill.
- Worked with Dr. Elvin Harms of Fermilab's Accelerator Division on project "Performance Characterization of LCLS-II Superconducting Radiofrequency Cavities" under the Lee Teng Undergraduate Fellowship.
- Developed data wrangling, visualization and nonlinear model fitting tools in R to analyze LCLS-II cryomodules’ testing data.
- Processed millions of data points and created detailed reports on behaviors of cryomodules and testing apparatuses while meeting strict deadlines.
- Assisted cryomodule testing process by terminating cables, installing new radiation detector system, processing SRF cavities, logging test logs and more.
Waylon Li
Major: physics
Hometown: Shenyang, Liaoning, China
Graduate School: University of Pennsylvania
Field of study: electrical engineering
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
The Department of Physics helped me in research experience. The close relations between students and facilities helped me in building my background.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
Studying in an Ivy League school is exciting. I’m also trying to take business classes at the Wharton School.
Hongy Li
Major: physics
Hometown: Qingdao City, Shandongsheng, China
Graduate School: Columbia University
Field of study: electrical engineering
Houssem Mhiri
Major: physics
Hometown: Cite El Ghazala, Ariana, Tunisia
Graduate School: University of Michigan
Field of study: engineering in energy systems
Job title: teaching assistant
Scholarship: Integrative Systems and Design (ISD) Merit Scholarship
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
The liberal arts education that Dickinson offers provided the best academic background for the master's program I am pursuing. Since systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field, my education at Dickinson played a very important role in securing a good scholarship for this program. Close relationships with faculty gave me the opportunity to pursue research with my advisor and gave me the skills necessary to effectively work on a project outside Dickinson.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
A fulfilling experience at University of Michigan both academically and professionally. Expanding my knowledge and skill set about a topic that I am very passionate about. I will be learning about energy systems and how to efficiently use and conserve energy and contribute to an environmentally conscious society, all goals and ideals that Dickinson works hard to instill in its mission.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Joining WIND and being on the executive board. I got to help organize international events and introduce my culture at Dickinson. It also helped me make friends from all around the world and learn valuable information from them.
Internship Experience
Research intern at Tunisie Telecom, Tunis, Tunisia
Sophie Kirkman
Major: physics
Hometown: Harare, Zimbabwe
Graduate School: University of Colorado, Boulder
Field of study: mechanical engineering
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I am really excited about the research I am going to do. I have an assistantship to work on energy capture in an amazing lab. I am also looking forward to more classes.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
The department is so close and supportive, so I spent a lot of time in Tome with the physics majors and professors, which I loved. There is no place like Tome!
Going abroad to New Zealand was another highlight! I also loved being on the track & field and cross country teams.
Internship Experience
Elemental Energy, Taranaki, New Zealand. After my semester abroad, I shadowed an engineer at a renewable energy consultancy firm. I helped organize and then attended a training conference for energy professionals from 11 Pacific Island countries.
Randy Hunsberger
Major: physics
Hometown: Hatboro, Pennsylvania
Employer: Tom Jones Landscaping
Job title: landscaper
Internship Experience
NAVSEA at the Philadelphia Naval Yard.
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Published April 7, 2019