Spring Break
Student receives research award
Janhavi Purohit
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: News
Fifth-year Drexel physics major Alyssa Wilson was named a 2009 Gates Cambridge scholar, according to a press release, and will enter a graduate study program at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom October 2009.
Wilson will be doing research for a Ph.D. in physics with the Atomic, Mesoscopic and Optical Physics Group at the university, and will be working under an adviser at the school.
According to Wilson, the decision to apply to Cambridge came as a result of an interest in furthering her studies in quantum mechanics.
"That's what I wanted to study in graduate school. I decided to start applying to schools, and I know Cambridge has a good program, but I needed funding so I applied for the scholarship," Wilson said.
In her years at Drexel, Wilson was involved with the Society of Physics students and started a mentorship outreach program involved with the society which led to further interest in the fellowship because it is centered on outreach, according to Wilson.
Wilson said one of her interests while at Cambridge will be in attracting more incoming students to the physics program.
"A lot of people shy away from physics, so a lot of people don't take that. I want to get people involved with that. …go to younger classrooms and get people more interested in science," Wilson said.
According to associate professor and director of Graduate Studies in the physics department, Michael Vogeley, Wilson has always been an exceptional student.
"She has been a student in four of my classes: freshman year, a seminar in the honors college, and three quantum mechanics classes," Vogeley said. "She did outstandingly well. She was the only student I've given A pluses to. Over the ten years I've taught here, she's been perhaps the most outstanding undergraduate student I've had, including the students we have sent to Cornell, Cal. Tech and the like."
Vogeley said Wilson was awarded her scholarship not only because of her high GPA, but because of her contributions to the university community.
Wilson will be doing research for a Ph.D. in physics with the Atomic, Mesoscopic and Optical Physics Group at the university, and will be working under an adviser at the school.
According to Wilson, the decision to apply to Cambridge came as a result of an interest in furthering her studies in quantum mechanics.
"That's what I wanted to study in graduate school. I decided to start applying to schools, and I know Cambridge has a good program, but I needed funding so I applied for the scholarship," Wilson said.
In her years at Drexel, Wilson was involved with the Society of Physics students and started a mentorship outreach program involved with the society which led to further interest in the fellowship because it is centered on outreach, according to Wilson.
Wilson said one of her interests while at Cambridge will be in attracting more incoming students to the physics program.
"A lot of people shy away from physics, so a lot of people don't take that. I want to get people involved with that. …go to younger classrooms and get people more interested in science," Wilson said.
According to associate professor and director of Graduate Studies in the physics department, Michael Vogeley, Wilson has always been an exceptional student.
"She has been a student in four of my classes: freshman year, a seminar in the honors college, and three quantum mechanics classes," Vogeley said. "She did outstandingly well. She was the only student I've given A pluses to. Over the ten years I've taught here, she's been perhaps the most outstanding undergraduate student I've had, including the students we have sent to Cornell, Cal. Tech and the like."
Vogeley said Wilson was awarded her scholarship not only because of her high GPA, but because of her contributions to the university community.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
James
posted 2/18/09 @ 10:15 AM EST
Alyssa Wilson is not the only Drexel student to win the prestigious Gates-Cambridge Scholarship. A friend of mine also won this award four years ago!
Post a Comment