STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania — On the weekend of January 20-22, 2023, University of Mount Union physics majors Danielle Daiger and Brianna Rapp had the unique experience of attending the American Physical Society Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (APS CUWiP) at Pennsylvania State University. The conference aims “to help undergraduate women continue in physics by providing them with the opportunity to experience a professional conference, information about graduate school and professions in physics, and access to other women in physics of all ages with whom they can share experiences, advice, and ideas.”

Daiger presented a poster titled “Designing Novel Lining Adhesives for Damaged Painting” that shared her research on a combination of polymers that create a lining adhesive which could be used to retore paintings that have been damaged from stress. Rapp presented a poster titled “Twisted hBN/graphene Tunnel Junctions” where she showed her research in a new technique of fabrication in nanotechnology used in everyday technology featuring graphene and twisted bilayer of hBN.

Both Daiger and Rapp left the conference with some valuable insights and hope for their futures. Daiger explains that while at the conference she learned that there are numerous career pathways students could pursue after completing a physics degree.

“Students are not limited in their futures and have many opportunities for growth,” said Daiger, “through this conference, I met a diverse group of women, developed connections, and gave/received advice about undergraduate and graduate studies.”

“Ultimately this research experience and the conference helped me solidify my future on applying to master’s/PhD programs in biophysics or condensed matter physics,” said Rapp.

Upon graduating, Daiger plans on applying to a graduate program in medical physics and Rapp plans on applying to a graduate program in biophysics or condensed matter physics.

Learn more about physics at Mount Union at mountunion.edu/physics.