Pierce Hening

Majors: Physics, Music Production

Research Mentor: Dr. John Deisz

Pierce participated in full-time research during the summer of 2015 through a Swenson Summer Research Fellowship awarded by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Studies.

What was your summer research project? Did you learn anything exciting?

My research was on the superconductivity of the material strontium ruthenate, specifically creating quantum simulations in order observe the behavior and characteristics of the material. Something exciting I learned in the process was how this material behave unconventionally compared to other known superconductors in that it exhibits half-flux states.

How did you get involved in doing research? What sparked your interest?

I was involved through my professor who also performed research on this in he graduate years. I applied for a research fellowship and for some reason I was chosen. I just wanted experience and had no idea this was what I was doing until I started working but found it extremely interesting.

How has doing physics research as an undergraduate enhanced your experience? Has it influenced your future goals?

It has definitely given me an advantage to those who have not done research like this. I wrote about 3,000 lines of code where in other situations at other schools the code is kind of handed to them where as i developed it from the ground up. Most physics student don’t perform this type of work until the graduate years and having it during my undergraduate education has prepared me for my future education and future work environments. It hasn’t inspired any future goals per say, but given me more confidence in attempting to reach my goals.

If you choose to pursue physics at the graduate level, do you feel well prepared for it? Why?

Yes, I feel more prepared because I know I can keep up with any type of work that comes my way. It has established a mind set for me that is fun. I like doing this kind of stuff, even though it is not directly related to my future interests, I love it. That is why I am a physics major. It is hard for me to even call it work because I have so much fun doing it.

Why did you choose to double major? How does your double major express who you are?

I love both physics and music production passionately, and I wanted a challenge that reflects my capabilities. My double major expresses my ideas about developing intelligence along with talent and a bit of charisma. I love to do what is unexpected, maybe even irregular, and surprise people with capabilities they didn’t know I had.

What is your career goal? How will your double major impact your career goal?

I realize my majors can lead to completely different careers. Fortunately I can further my education in both subjects as a graduate student. I do want to be a part of something that incorporates both the aesthetic and technology of music production with the theoretical and practical uses of physics.

What are you most passionate about in school? In life?

I am passionate about increasing my intelligence along with the wisdom to use it.  Also, my family, my friends, my relationship with a wonderful young woman, and with surfing coming in there somewhere.

Anything else you’d like to say about double majoring to prospective Cal Lutheran students?

If you plan on double majoring, especially in opposite disciplines, have your four-year schedule organized and ready by the end of your first semester. I’d be much better off if I’d taken a few classes earlier.

Su Ji Hong

Majors: Mathematics, Physics

Su Ji Hong, a mathematics and physics major from Jeju, South Korea, created mathematical models to describe the queuing system of Cal Lutheran’s Centrum Cafe.

What did you learn from your research project?

According to my model, just by having the menu available or decreasing the service time by five seconds can reduce the queue time significantly. However, with Ullman Commons opening, the rate I obtained during summer no longer accurately describes the Centrum. Also this was my first research experience.

What was it like doing the project?

In the beginning, I still was not sure what research is like and was not sure if this was the path I want to take. This summer research experience was definitely an eye-opening experience that got me committed to a goal of going to graduate school.

What has your experience at Cal Lutheran been like?

The faculty at Cal Lutheran really take an interest in students’ performances and their interest in their fields. They were always open to talk to me about any questions I have about the academics, graduate schools, and possible jobs I could apply to.

Also, since the first time I was on campus, everyone was very friendly. They were willing to help me when I was very confused on my first day and Cal Lutheran students were willing to help local high school students to the correct room when the math club had free calculus tutoring session for local high school students.

What’s it like being a double-major?

I came in as a math major but added a second major, physics, at the end of my first year. I had an easier time managing both majors compared to other people since the lower division requirements for both majors were very similar.

I’ve tried to take at least one upper division math class and one upper division physics class each semester since fall semester of sophomore year. Having a deep understanding of math helped me a lot in upper division physics classes.

What are your post-graduation goals?

My goal after graduation is to go to a math graduate school and become a professor one day.

George Salazar

Majors: Chemistry, Physics

My name is Greg Salazar, and I am a member of the class of 2014. I majored in chemistry (B.S.) and physics (B.A.).

Where are you now?

Right now, I’m living in Tampa, Florida. I attend the University of South Florida (USF).

What field are you studying?

My field is Applied Physics. My advisor, Dr. Anuja Datta, and I are working on brand new synthesis techniques for various perovskite oxides. We are interested in fabricating these materials with cheap, earth-abundant materials using a chemical/physical approach and in studying their electrical and optical properties. These are a fascinating family of materials that have applications with solar cells, photocatalysts, sensors, and other uses.

Did you do anything before graduate school?

Right before I went to graduate school, I had a brief stint as an Analytical Lab Technician at Cool Planet Energy Systems. My main job was analyzing the components of fuels the company was producing using Gas Chromatography—an instrument the chemistry department owns. I typically worked alongside Chemical Engineers and their team in the development of bio-based fuels.

What is your end goal?

My end goal is to be happy. I’m really interested in obtaining my Ph.D. and earning a position at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. I want to commit myself to developing environmentally safe, clean, and inexpensive materials to solve energy problems. I can later see myself working in public policy, advocating for science and public awareness.

How did Cal Lutheran help to prepare you for your current career path?

Cal Lutheran was a tremendous place. The opportunity to work side by side with faculty members was an important aspect of my road. My mentors Dr. Quinlan and Dr. Shaw and Professor Holden were instrumental in my personal and academic development. My mentors were crucial for my success to be the first in my family to graduate from college.

The small campus made it easy to get involved. I enjoyed ASCLUG and helped start the ACS (American Chemical Society) Student Chapter. These leadership opportunities really help you grow as an independent thinker and help you mature.

What advice would you give to current or prospective students?

My advice is two-fold. My first set of advice is to only do science if you’re curious why things work, ask too many questions, or have passion for problem solving. Then it’s to find a problem about the world that gets you excited to solve. I believe doing science otherwise can break you down early. You can help yourself by talking to the faculty—they’re really approachable.

Next, it’s to go to Career Services and help set yourself up for an internship freshman year. Yes, you may think it’s too early, but you want to do this right away. This can help as a stepping stone for a career, graduate school, or whatever you choose.

Why was Cal Lutheran the right school for you?

I always tell people I chose Cal Lutheran over a larger school because I wanted to work towards something big. At Cal Lutheran, you’re not just a fish in the sea, you can be an important part of the university. It won’t be easy, but some effort and motivation will open doors at this school for you to explore your own dreams and help you grow as a person.

What do you miss the most about being a Cal Lutheran student?

I miss running into people every day. It was awesome how I could see everyone and catch up with the most interesting things they’re doing. A random meet up at Jamba can end with an old friend at Chinese New Year or a simple walk down the spine. You really learn a lot about yourself talking to other people and seeing things from different perspectives.

Eric Henderson at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Major: Physics

Minors: Mathematics, Applied Scientific Computing

What was your summer research project?

The research I conducted this year was in the area of neutrino physics, in association with the MicroBooNE collaboration at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.  I was interested in coming up with a function to describe the optical response of a photomultiplier tube while submerged in liquid argon.  This function would aid in reducing simulation time for MicroBooNE.  From this project, I learned how to design and construct a small scale experiment, collect and analyze data, and produce a talk and scientific paper on my findings.

What stands out for you during your time at Cal Lutheran?

In terms of surprising experiences at Cal Lutheran, I cannot think of any specific instance.  I guess I am just surprised that I was able to finish in 7 semesters and be fully prepared for graduate school.

What are your goals for the future?

I am attending graduate school, pursuing a Ph.D. in physics, starting in January.

Eric spent the summer of 2014 at Argonne National Laboratory (Batavia, IL) under the auspices of New Mexico State University studying Neutrino physics. His paper was Uniformity of light collection efficiency with TPB plates, presented at the 2014 Southern California Conference on Undergraduate Research on November 22, 2014 in Fullerton, CA.