Honors Project:
I came to Lehigh from Washington State, looking for small to mid-sized university with depth in the two fields I (initially) wanted to study, molecular biology and engineering. The ability to dive in deep into two scientific and technical fields, and to do research in both areas, was important to me from day one. The Eckardt Scholars program fit naturally into that goal, as the lack of distribution requirements helped me fit in two challenging degree programs. During my first year at Lehigh, I fell in love with physics, and since then have been pursuing a dual degree in physics and molecular biology. During my time as an undergraduate, I have been able to be involved in research in both of these fields, both at Lehigh and externally.
I started research at Lehigh the spring of my freshman year, in Prof. Falk’s Cell Biology lab. Our lab studies the regulation of gap junctions, protein complexes that form channels between cells and allow small molecules to pass between them. I prepare cell culture samples and analyze cells using florescence microscopy. I especially enjoy the imaging portion of my research experience and I have been able to present my photos and results at several conferences/meetings, including the 2017 Biophysical Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
The past two summers I have interned at national and international laboratories to do research on particle accelerators. The summer prior to my junior year, I interned at Fermi National Laboratory, in Batavia, Illinois, where I worked on a component of the Mu2e Precision Timing Profile Monitor. I helped conduct a beam test of Quartz Cherenkov radiators at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility, examining detector response to 120GeV protons to verify the radiators would meet our needs. The summer prior to my senior year, I interned at CERN, an accelerator lab in Geneva, Switzerland, where I modeled a muon beam in CERN’s North area. I also helped measure the magnetic field map of a large magnet, “Goliath,” in the beam line, which will be incorporated into my simulation and any future studies of this beam line.
After Lehigh, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in physics studying accelerator or beamline physics as they pertain to X-ray light sources. X-ray light source facilities use an accelerated electron beam to produce high intensity X-rays that can be used to determine the structure of protein crystals and image other biological and materials science specimens. The interdisciplinary academic and research background I obtained as a Lehigh undergrad and Eckardt Scholar has been critical in helping me find and prepare for this field.