Agnes Scott College

Tell us about your work or research.
I work in the environmental science division at Alion Science and Technology, a firm that contracts with the government. I work closely with EPA scientists to develop and perform complex Monte Carlo simulations that model human exposure to air pollution and pesticides. These models simulate humans moving through a number of environments and are based upon known pollutant concentrations and human behavior patterns.

This research is truly fundamental in nature, but the results influence public policy decisions that address harmful exposure to chemicals.

Before my current position, I completed my Ph.D. in physics and astronomy at UNC-Chapel Hill and worked in a postdoctoral position at Space Telescope Science Institute.

In both of these places, I studied gamma-ray bursts—high-intensity flashes that last for only a few seconds and are composed of the most energetic photons in existence.

These bursts are thought to signal either the death of a super-massive star or the collision of two compact objects (such as neutron stars or black holes). These phenomena also mark the birth of a black hole. I studied the patterns of optical light that persist for a few days after the burst to determine properties of the burst and its surrounding medium.

How did a liberal arts education at a women’s college make a difference to you as a natural science student?
My preparation at Agnes Scott taught me analytical skills that have proven beneficial throughout my life and career.

Instead of just emphasizing formulas, rote memorization or computation, my liberal arts science classes at ASC focused on performing real research, problem-solving and analysis. Involving the students in research is a wonderful method of teaching, and this is an area in which Agnes Scott excels. By the time I graduated from ASC, I had more hands-on research experience than the typical graduate with a B.S. from a major research Ph.D.-granting institution.

I also took a diverse course-load, often in classes in which I felt strongly interested such as psychology, music and history, but that had no bearing on my major. These classes often had a greater emphasis on writing and communication than my major science classes. These skills are important no matter the field in which one works. Additionally, although the subject matter may not have benefitted me directly in my career, the knowledge I gained helped me to develop into a more well-rounded and intelligent person.

The women’s college environment allowed me to develop these skills in a safe environment, away from much of the unconscious bias pervasive in the natural sciences. This also taught me, once I left ASC, the strength to identify and resist these biases. Until women feel empowered enough to recognize and not tolerate these behaviors, the behaviors will persist.

Tell us about a memorable experience that you had in one of your science classes.
My memories of my science class work at Agnes Scott usually relate to doing homework or research up in Bradley Observatory. We’d often be up there late, working on data reduction or problem sets or projects. It can be a scary place late at night! There is a lot of old plumbing in that building, and back when I was there at least, the place made a lot of noises at night. But once you learn to not be scared, the observatory made for a great environment for us. It was the perfect place to get away from distraction and focus on work.