I was born in Washington State and lived in the Olympia area where I attend high school and college. In 2013, I moved from the Pacific Northwest to Las Vegas for graduate school.

I came to UNLV for the unique opportunity to work in the high pressure group as a radiochemist. Simply put, this was the best place to embark on this research project. At the time I was making my decisions, I was very apprehensive about living in Las Vegas, having spent my entire life in the constant green environment that is the Pacific Northwest. After meeting the group and getting to know the area, it is very clear that I am in the right place.

I am a second year student in UNLV’s radiochemistry program with my research efforts being based out of the High Pressure Science and Engineering Center (HiPSEC).

Bachelor of science in chemistry and a bachelor of arts in mathematics from Saint Martin’s University, graduating summa cum laude.

My research is in the field of high-pressure science with a focus on compounds relevant to the field of radiochemistry. During the summer before my senior year of college, I attended a Nuclear Chemistry Summer School and learned how important the nuclear community is to our world. This school opened my eyes to all of the fascinating chemistry and physics that can be found in radiochemistry and I knew I would not be satisfied in any other field. After speaking with professors from the radiochemistry group, I was offered a collaborative project with the high pressure group at UNLV. Since then I discovered how exciting it is to work with diamond-anvil cells and to manipulate the atom structure just by squeezing it.

After completing my Ph.D., I will be looking for a National Laboratory position either at a user facility where I can be involved in a wide range of research activities across the nation or a staff position working towards our nation’s research goals.

As a student you have many options and choices in front of you. It is impossible to accomplish everything you want to or do all of things that you feel you should do but that should not stop you from tying to take every opportunity that presents itself to you.

Upon entering the group at UNLV, I was awarded a fellowship through the Malcolm F. Nicol Graduate Scholars Program in High Pressure Science. At the end of my first year I was awarded a fellowship from the Nuclear Energy University Program in Nuclear Engineering.

I have been fortunate to present my work at a Gordon Research Conference as well as two international conferences: the European High Pressure Research Group Annual Meeting in Lyon, France and the Italian Crystallographic Association and Italian Synchrotron Radiation Society joint meeting in Florence, Italy.

I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, rafting, and snowboarding, basically anything that gets me out of the city. I have also developed an interest in traveling and experiencing the many wonderful flavors of food the world has to offer.