Andrew Hart
Andrew Hart, a 2011 bachelor of physics major at 成人头条, wasted no time applying to university graduate schools. The fact that he was immediately accepted into Ohio State University鈥檚 prestigious physics department as a graduate research associate speaks toward WSU鈥檚 undergraduate physics program.
鈥淎s a student I would say he was one of the best I鈥檝e ever worked with,鈥� said Nickolas Solomey, director and professor of physics 成人头条. 鈥淚 guided him through the steps and that鈥檚 about all.鈥�
Solomey is chairman of physics at WSU. He is also director in the department of mathematics, statistics and physics.
Hart was a computer science major at 成人头条 State until a friend started his research with one of the physic鈥檚 professors. Hart said he found his friend鈥檚 conversations interesting and eventually changed his major to physics.
According to Solomey, it was clear within the first week that Hart could grasp the material much faster than most others.
鈥淎ndrew knew very quickly what he needed to do,鈥� Solomey said.
鈥淚鈥檝e advised students I鈥檝e sent off to Berkley and Princeton, and he would definitely tie in with any one of them,鈥� said Solomey. 鈥淗e was one of our best physics majors.鈥�
Hart spent three years working with Solomey in the physics department.
In early 2011, Hart received the Sarachek award for excellence in research from 成人头条 State鈥檚 Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Named after former WSU faculty members Alvin and RosaLee Sarachek, the award was created to recognize undergraduate scientific research.
In all, Hart attended 成人头条 State for five years to finish his bachelor鈥檚 of physics degree.
Hart graduated cum laude in May 2011 and then applied to graduate programs at the University of Iowa, the Ohio State University and the University of Wisconsin.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice because each of them invited me to come out to their campus and look around,鈥� he said.
Like a 'rock star'
Hart says the school visits made him feel like a 鈥渞ock star鈥�. In the end though, his final decision came down to Ohio State University.
鈥淗art is definitely at a level where he could do quite well at a prominent facility,鈥� said Solomey.
A student career at Ohio State requires five to six years of graduate school, often followed by two or more of postdoctoral research.
鈥淭he thing that surprised me the most was how busy I became when the school year started,鈥� said Hart.
鈥淚 think this is fairly typical for a graduate student, but trying to keep up on my own courses, teaching labs and doing research has been a bit overwhelming at times. I'm doing well though and I've enjoyed the ride so far,鈥� he said.
One of the things Hart likes about physics is its relevance to solving problems.
鈥淵ou just look at the history of it, and every new discovery eventually leads to huge applications which benefits everybody, and that鈥檚 really nice,鈥� Hart said.
鈥淢ore personally, I like it because once you get into physics and start to understand some of its deeper aspects, you really see it. Physics is beautiful and that鈥檚 probably why I got drawn into it,鈥� said Hart.
Spending time with his physics professors is what Hart enjoyed most about 成人头条 State.
鈥淚 appreciated working with Dr. Solomey and (WSU physics professor) Dr. Holger Meyer doing research,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned a heck of a lot from them, and that鈥檚 what I acquired the most.鈥�