Physics, Engineering Undergrads Receive LLNL-AIP Leadership Scholarships

WASHINGTON, May 20 — The Society of Physics Students, an organization of the American Institute of Physics, awarded leadership scholarships to three undergraduate members who are currently studying physics and engineering. The scholarships are made possible by a gift from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for AIP-SPS members.

Elyzabeth Graham and Emma Moreland, both from Juniata College, and Natalie Douglass, from University of Dayton, will each receive a $2,000 scholarship from SPS toward their education. The purpose of the LLNL-AIP leadership scholarship is to encourage the study of physics and the pursuit of higher education with a preference for those who are traditionally underrepresented in physics and astronomy, including women.

“Partnering with national laboratories, such as Lawrence Livermore, is directly aligned with AIP’s commitment to building a diverse and inclusive physical sciences community,” said Michael Moloney, CEO of AIP. “This collaboration between LLNL and AIP provides direct assistance to physics students and speaks to our future in transforming the landscape of physics and the physical sciences.”

Graham is a junior at Juniata College and majoring in physics and Russian. She wants to use her physics education to become a high school physics teacher.

“My main career goal is to take students who enter physics with the belief that it is an impossible synthesis of confusing math and unintelligible theories and show them that physics is all around us. It is simpler and less daunting than many people think it is,” Graham wrote in her scholarship application. “Even as a teacher, I know I will still be looking for new ways to conduct experiments and bring hands-on lessons into the classroom.”

Moreland is also from Juniata College and is a senior who is majoring in engineering and physics. She plans a career in aerospace engineering and has been using her lab time to create projects related to the field.

“During my second-year modern physics lab, I performed a personal research project in which I designed and 3D printed airfoils,” Moreland wrote in her application. “I also developed a system that allowed me to measure the lift coefficient of each of my designs.”

Douglass is a junior at the University of Dayton and studying mechanical engineering. She wants to continue her education after undergraduate work to delve into human space exploration and space technology innovation.

“With a focus in bioastronautics, I will understand how humans can survive in space and how I can make a difference to propel NASA astronauts back to the moon and, eventually, Mars,” Douglass wrote in her application. “Growing a human presence in space will allow the United States to perform more sustained space research for the benefit of humanity. I plan to be a part of this grand endeavor to expand our knowledge of space.”

The gift from LLNL will provide three $2,000 scholarships for this year and the following two years to be distributed to SPS members. This effort exemplifies LLNL’s commitment to academic and social engagement while also helping to build a diversified workforce for a global community.

“We could not ask for a better partner in supporting the next generation of physicists and astronomers,” said Brad Conrad, director of Society of Physics Students. “Through the LLNL-AIP leadership scholarship, SPS is able to engage with the brightest minds in the country and encourage their future leadership of the community. SPS aims to be a foundation for every student, especially those from underserved communities.”

“LLNL is happy to contribute to SPS’s efforts to purposely build a more diverse and inclusive physical sciences community,” said Annie Kersting, director of university relations and science education at LLNL.

The scholarship applications are accepted each year by mid-March for that year’s distribution. Applicants are judged on high scholarship performance both in physics and overall studies, the exhibition of the potential and intention for continued scholastic development in physics, and active participation in SPS and department programs.

For more information about eligibility, application, and criteria, visit the LLNL-AIP leadership scholarship website.

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About American Institute of Physics

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a 501(c)(3) membership corporation of scientific societies. AIP pursues its mission—to advance, promote, and serve the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity—with a unifying voice of strength from diversity. In its role as a federation, AIP advances the success of its Member Societies by providing the means to pool, coordinate, and leverage their diverse expertise and contributions in pursuit of a shared goal of advancing the physical sciences in the research enterprise, in the economy, in education, and in society. In its role as an institute, AIP operates as a center of excellence using policy analysis, social science, and historical research to promote future progress in the physical sciences.

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