Home Institution: Grinnell College
Research Project: Nuclear beta spectroscopy of the future
UW Mentor(s): Alejandro Garcia

Q: What are your physics/science interests?
I'm interested in particle physics or atomic physics or medical physics or maybe even optics. To tell the truth I'm not 100% sure which direction I'm headed in. It's all interesting to me!

Q: What are your other interests?
I try to take as many courses as I can outside of the Division of Science because I like to challenge my brain to think in different ways. This has led me to become (mostly) fluent in Spanish, and I actually spent last semester studying in Mérida, Yucatán, México. I serve on the College Hearing Board and the Judicial Council at Grinnell, which hear cases of alleged misconduct within the student body. Being outdoors and active is also really important to me. I love playing Ultimate and I'm one of the captains of Grinnell's Team.

Q: Tell us one strange but interesting fact about yourself.
When I was in kindergarten I had a tub full of earthworms as a pet. They were all named Wormy.

Q: What first sparked your interest in Physics?
I took Physics in High School, but I didn't realize I wanted to study it in college until I took a break from it my first year. I missed problem solving, and I missed discovering new things about how the world holds itself together.

Q: If you could have any pet what would it be?
As soon as I'm financially stable and out of school, I'm going to adopt a dog. Or lots of dogs. As many dogs as I can. I love dogs.