Associate Professor, Physics Department, State University of New York Oswego
What area of physics did you study and when did you graduate?
I worked in condensed matter physics with Professor Peter Dowben and I graduated in 2008.
How long did your degree take? When did you start research?
I finished my Ph.D. in less than five years, and I started research immediately I came to UNL.
Why did you choose to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
My good friend warmly recommended UNL - Department of Physics and Astronomy for the wonderful working atmosphere for graduate students, and especially her adviser, Dr. Peter Dowben, for the outstanding way of motivating his students to reach their full potential.
How do the skills you learned as a physics doctoral student apply to your current career?
Now I am Associate Professor of Physics at State University of New York at Oswego. My teaching and research experience at UNL helped me get this job and be successful faculty. Having an excellent adviser as a model is an important factor in becoming a great research adviser and mentor. The faculty in this department put the students first, and this is what I do as faculty, too. This is the reason I received the President's Award for Teaching Excellence and the Provost's Award for Mentoring in Scholarly and Creative Activity.
Any advice for students coming to study at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
Immerse yourself in the wonderful working atmosphere the Department of Physics and Astronomy has to offer. Study for your courses, do research with people you enjoy working with, present your work, connect with people at conferences. It is a very intense, but happy time of your life!
