What are your specific interests in science?
Emma: I did some research in experimental physics with neutron scattering [specifically] on how to improve the efficiency of neutron polarization for neutron scattering experiments. It was cool to get into the weeds of a specific subprocess in a bigger experiment. But also beyond that, my research interests are more theoretical leaning, so I’ll be doing some work with quantum gravity with Professor Seth Major in which I’ll be learning more about the fundamental concepts and frameworks in physics.
Sara: I am more interested in the physics of really small things — particle physics. Last summer, I did work with neutrinos in which I was simulating the neutrino interactions in a detector at the South Pole. This summer I am pivoting to a more experimental role vs. simulation.
What was your reaction when you learned you received the Goldwater?
Emma: I felt really encouraged. I found out on a Saturday [when] I woke up to a bunch of emails, and I was like, whoa. It felt like a confirmation of my capabilities involving a research career in physics. It is definitely a testament to how much my mentors have helped me get this far.
Sara: I also was encouraged and surprised. Coming into college, I didn’t know that I wanted to pursue research as a career; I didn’t know that was an option. So then to have this confirmation that this is something that I can do — and knowing that I am going in the right direction — was really encouraging and made me thankful for all the steering that has happened throughout the process from my mentors.
Have you done research at Hamilton?
Sara: I started out researching my freshman spring with Professor [Viva] Horowitz in the Physics Department. We were studying artificial cytoplasm, but the part that I was working on was specifically looking at tracking tracer particles and developing a better procedure for doing that.
Emma: I haven’t done specific research at Hamilton, but I did do a summer science research fellowship with Professor Adam Lark. It was for a science communication project, which was really exciting for me because science communication is another area that I am really passionate about. So that was cool to start to learn about how science communication can be done well and can be done in different creative ways.
Who are your mentors?
Emma: Definitely Professor Adam Lark, who I did my fellowship with, as well as Professor Gordon Jones. Outside of the Physics Department, orchestra director Professor Heather Buchman has been influential for me, and I have built a great relationship with her over my time at Hamilton. Even though music is not something I am planning on going into, that has been an important relationship to me in terms of thinking about who I am outside of being a scientist.
Sara: Professor Gordon Jones has also been an incredible mentor to me. He has been my advisor since I got to Hamilton, and he was the one who initially pitched the idea of a career in research and made me realize that was even a possibility. Professor Horowitz has played a really big role in my career as well. Starting out early just gave me this motivation for what I was doing, and I could see how the skills I was learning in the introductory physics lab classes would serve me in a research context. [Assistant Professor of Instruction in Physics] Megan Smith was my lab instructor; I’ve taken two intro labs and TA’d for her as well. She has done a really great job encouraging me and helping me develop important lab skills.
What are your Hamilton extracurriculars?
Sara: Freshman year, I founded the robotics club with a few of my peers. We go to a yearly competition. The Society of Physics Students has been a great community, and outside the Physics Department the Christian fellowship has been a really great space.
Emma: I am a Writing Center and QSR tutor, which is a great way to develop more communication skills. I am also a part of the orchestra, where I play french horn, and in the brass ensemble. I have a radio show with a friend which is a good time.
What do you hope to do after you graduate?
Emma: I’m not exactly sure yet; I’ve been thinking about doing a gap year — taking a year or two off to work either in a lab or develop science communication skills before eventually going to get a Ph.D. in physics.
Sara: I’m planning on looking into Ph.D. programs and going on to do research as a career.
Students interested in learning about the Watson Fellowship should contact Director of Student Fellowships Lisa Grimes.