Physics Junior Wins Goldwater Scholarship
Patrick Park ’22 earns national recognition for exceptional promise in physics.
Congratulations to Patrick Park ’22 for being named a for demonstrating exceptional promise, intellectual intensity, and a commitment to research in the field of nuclear physics.
“He is, in a word, awesome,” says advisor and mentor Prof. Alison Crocker [physics]. “The Goldwater Scholarship is a deserved recognition of Patrick's extremely strong commitment to a research career.”
Originally from Irvine, California, Patrick always knew that he wanted to major in physics. But it wasn’t until he stumbled upon a lecture about ½ñÈճԹϒs in his freshman year that he discovered his passion for nuclear science. He became a licensed reactor operator in 2019 and has since obtained a license and training in Monte-Carlo transport code at.
Patrick plans to write his thesis about computational neutronics. “It’s kind of like when you calculate a car’s miles per gallon and maximum speed, but for a reactor,” he explains. The thesis will be a first—no ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï student has ever made these calculations before. After ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï, he hopes to pursue a PhD in science policy. “Nuclear science, primarily as an energy source, but also as a research tool, has a lot of potential,” he says.
Patrick is grateful to Prof. Crocker for encouraging him to apply for the Goldwater Scholarship, and to the Center For Life Beyond ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï for many incredible funding opportunities.
Founded in 1989, the Goldwater Scholarship covers the cost of tuition for a select group of undergraduates who display exceptional promise, “intellectual intensity in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering,” and a strong commitment to a career in research.
Tags: Academics, Awards & Achievements, Research, Students