Profile

Zeynep (Zay)  Bayraktar is the Associate Zone Councilor for Zone 7. She was elected to the SPS National Council for the 2026-27 academic year. 

Zay is an undergraduate at Miami University majoring in Physics and minoring in Mathematics. She conducts experimental physics research, with experience spanning atomic, molecular, and optical physics and condensed matter physics. She is particularly interested in exploring areas such as quantum optics and photonics. Long-term, she wants to pursue a PhD and a career in research.

Zay has been involved with the Society of Physics Students since her first semester of college and is passionate about science communication, advocacy, and outreach, as well as building a strong and welcoming community for physics students.

As Associate Zone Councilor, Zay looks forward to strengthening connections among Zone 7 chapters, facilitating collaborative events and Zone meetings, and helping students across the Zone become more involved with the broader SPS community.

Contact Information

• Email:   bayrakz@miamioh.edu

Profile

Dr. Laura DeGroot is the Zone Councilor for Zone 7.  She was elected to SPS National Council in 2025.  

Dr. DeGroot is an assistant professor of physics at the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, where her research focuses on galaxy evolution and morphology. Dr. DeGroot has a PhD and MS in Physics from University of California, Riverside and a BS in Astrophysics and Physics from Michigan State University. She is the faculty advisor for both the Physics (SPS) and Astronomy student clubs on campus, which have a very active outreach program within the local community. Dr. DeGroot is very passionate about student experiences in physics beyond the classroom. She first became involved with SPS as a sophomore at Michigan State University, where she eventually served as secretary of the chapter. She has greatly benefitted from her active engagement with SPS throughout her physics journey, and she is excited to support students doing the same. As Zone Councilor, Dr. DeGroot aims to continue to build connections between all the chapters in Zone 7 by engaging in conversations to find out how to best support other chapters as well as how we can better support each other. By working with the Associate Zone Councilor, we will maintain regular communication among the chapters, encourage membership and attendance at the Zone meeting, and pass along the many benefits of SPS to the chapters, new and existing, within Zone 7. 

Contact Information

• Email:   ldegroot@wooster.edu 

• Phone:  330-287-1974 (office)