Q: What are your physics/science interests?

Although I have not yet fully determined where my future interests may lie, I am currently completely enthralled by studying the foundations of quantum mechanics. In the course of my studies and life, I hope to gain a better grasp of the true reality of things through forming interdisciplinary connections and new trains of thought.

Q: What are your other interests?

Outside of physics, my academic interests lie mostly in philosophy. However, I am keenly interested in my work on campus involved in promoting the role of women in physics. My greatest love is for the outdoors, and I would give up just about any plans (besides a music festival) to go on a hiking trip. I play guitar, though it has been about a year since the band last met… Perhaps my family can be enlisted instead.

Q: What would you like to do after college?

Although I once thought I had a rigorous plan for after college, as graduation approaches (in a year, yikes!) I have become less strict with my requirements. I would like to gain a position in industry that (hopefully) uses physics skills that I have learned while also teaching me useful and interesting new ones. After a few years of work, I would then like to go to graduate school, with the hope that by then I will have a clear understanding of a specific area of interest.

Q: Tell us one strange but interesting fact about yourself.

My name is April and I was, in fact, born in April. However, it is merely a coincidence! I was due in May, and once receiving the news of my early arrival in April, my parents almost changed their intended name because they thought an April born in April would be weird. I, on the other hand, would have been truly dismayed to be named April and have been born in May, where’s the fun in that?

Q: What first sparked your interest in Physics?

My high school physics teacher (Mr. Chen) was a smart, young, funny, and realistic guy who was one of the most authentic teachers in the school. He taught the class on an appropriate conceptual level but with college-level standards of work, and the class was both extremely challenging and extremely interesting. Thinking back, learning how to model a wheel rolling down a hill doesn’t seem all that exciting, however the difficulty of the course along with the genuine desire to convey knowledge that was exhibited by Mr. Chen were enough to make it so.

Q: If you could have any pet what would it be?

I would never trade my dog Riley for any other pet! He is the squishiest little nugget of all time.

Q: If you had a free month and unlimited funds, how would you spend your time?

I would convince my sister to take off work (easiest part of the entire plan), fly us both out to New Zealand, hire a personal guide, and hike around the country. If we still had time left in the month, we would then make our way over to Southeast Asia and travel through Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos; Though already a plan of ours for post-graduation, unlimited free funds would be nice :).

Q: If you could get a grant to study anything what would it be?

I think if I was presented with a grant right now, I would go back to the Horidol-Saridag mountain range in northern Mongolia to continue working with the national park and their endeavors to prevent poaching. Although slightly self-indulgent as I loved my time conducting research there, the park also has limited resources and would therefore truly benefit from more researchers being involved.