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Learning Through Work
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| A Presidential Scholar resolves to find his niche in science through broad academic exploration and practical work experience. |
| by Xavier Kyablue, Senior, Chemistry |
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As a native Eugenian, my move to the UO residence halls took me three blocks from home. Nevertheless, I felt a new sense of independence, and I set out to explore all that university life had to offer.
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| Xavier Kyablue |
During my second term at the UO, I enrolled in a Freshman Science Colloquium where, each week, faculty members in mathematics and the sciences would talk about their research. One of the speakers, Professor Dave Johnson, said that there were opportunities for undergraduates to do research in his lab, and so I soon found myself working in a solid state chemistry lab as a freshman! I became part of a group of undergraduates and graduates that synthesized new semiconductor compounds for electronic applications. I quickly learned how to use the machines and got paid to work in the lab that summer. The following year, I was thrilled to be published as a contributing researcher on several papers. This early introduction to scientific research was essential to many of my opportunities at the UO.
During my sophomore year, I was one of four students nominated by the UO to apply for the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, a federally funded national scholarship program to encourage undergraduate scientific researchers. I worked with faculty adviser Jim Hutchison to perfect my application and, as this scholarship is only awarded to 300 undergraduates in the nation each year (mostly juniors), was pleased when he told me that I would have a very competitive application for next year's competition. So, imagine my surprise when, a few months later, I received notice that I had been selected! Since this scholarship covered all living expenses for my last two years of college, I decided to use this time to learn about as many different scientific fields as possible.
I started off the summer with quantum physics and optics. Through an internship at Texas A&M University, I learned about all things laser—from femtosecond pulses to the laser-based detection of anthrax. For the final week of the program, we traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a quantum physics conference, and I soon learned that the resort setting was no accident. Our afternoons were completely open. We traveled to Yellowstone, hiked to the top of the Grand Tetons, and rafted past Harrison Ford’s house along the Snake River. I can’t pretend that it was all work and no play. I learned a lot but had a lot of fun.
For the second half of the summer, I had the opportunity to work for the biotechnology company Molecular Probes [ed. note: now Invitrogen]. I learned about fluorescent dye staining and even got to wear a full lab suit while working in the microarray clean room.
During my junior year, I sought experiences outside of scientific research and entertained the possibility of entering the field of medicine. Through the pre-health society, I was able to shadow several local physicians. A local radiologist, Dr. Greg Kienzle, sparked my interest in medical imaging technology. The Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans that he showed me were amazing. This machine was capable of producing 360 degree views of radioactivity within a patient’s body. I needed to learn more about the physics behind this exciting technique. So, I spent the following summer at Washington University in St. Louis studying microPET imaging. In this lab, we did PET imaging on pets. We also used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), and a variety of other imaging procedures.
I am currently a senior heading my own project in the Johnson Lab. Looking back on my time at the UO, I am astounded by the breadth of opportunities it offered. My course work comprises classes in chemistry, biology, physics and anatomy. My research includes quantum physics, solid-state chemistry, biotechnology and radiology. I came to the university with a desire to learn as much as possible, and I was not disappointed.
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1245 University of Oregon • Eugene, OR • 97403-1245
(541) 346.3950 • FAX (541) 346.3282 • alumnidev@cas.uoregon.edu
Copyright © 2005 University of Oregon
Updated May 25, 2005
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