Space Physics Degree Has Alumna Set for a Stellar Career

Almost from the moment she set foot on Embry‑Riddle’s Prescott Campus, Jennifer James (’22) was immersed in research. And she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

The unique hands-on experience offered to undergraduates at Embry‑Riddle helped James earn her bachelor’s degree in Space Physics, define her career goals and gain more than a few accolades, including being part of a team that had results of their examination of how gravity works at the quantum level published in the January 2023 Classical and Quantum Gravity Journal.

With her respected degree and plenty of practical knowledge, James has now moved on to a Ph.D. program in physics at Vanderbilt University, where she continues her research and one day hopes to become a professor who will train a new generation of scientists and engineers.

James took time out recently to reflect on her Embry‑Riddle journey and the future it has helped her reach.

Why did you choose Embry‑Riddle for your B.S. in Space Physics degree?

I didn’t really discover physics in depth until I took AP Physics my senior year. I was immediately fascinated by the science. It amazed me that we could describe the movement of large objects galaxies far away and how particles interact on a minute scale.

I saw that there was so much about our universe that I didn’t know about and wanted to discover all of it. I emailed my admissions counselor at Embry‑Riddle and said: “Please change my major to Space Physics!” I chose Embry‑Riddle initially for its aerospace engineering program until I did a campus visit. I met Dr. Darrel Smith of the Space Physics department, and he told me about the fascinating research happening in their program. From LIGO to theoretical physics, I was convinced I should continue my education with Embry‑Riddle.

What were some of the highlights of your Embry‑Riddle experience?

From research to social events, Embry‑Riddle was great. Because of the small class sizes, I felt that my Space Physics class was especially close-knit. Being a part of the Society of Physics Students also built camaraderie across space physics, astronomy and other majors. I was able to have professional rapport with my professors and meet with them when I needed advising.

One social experience I loved was painting “the rock” in front of the student union. It was a little past 1 a.m. when a group of us decided to paint the first-ever image of a black hole on it, a photo that had been taken the day before on April 10, 2019.

The next day at the spring semester finals breakfast, Dr. Frank Ayers, the previous chancellor at Embry‑Riddle Prescott, asked “who painted this?”

Our group answered “us…” with hesitation because only clubs were supposed to paint the rock. But a smile broke out on his face! He was ecstatic to see the artwork and we were glad the community could share such a groundbreaking event for humanity!

What work are you doing now as a graduate student?

I am currently a first year Ph.D. student in the physics program at Vanderbilt University. I was recruited for my undergraduate research I performed at Indiana University on the Majorana Detector through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program, as well as my overall research experience with Professor Quentin Bailey at Embry‑Riddle.

The heavy-ion physics group at Vanderbilt now has me working on jet-substructure analysis using the super Pioneering High Energy Nuclear Ion eXperiment (sPHENIX) at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Lab. With this experiment, I will be measuring the modifications to the topology of jets and extracting information about the structure of Quark Gluon Plasma to quantify its transport properties.

Although my subfield of physics has changed, I still intend to stay on top of the work going on in theoretical gravitational physics. I’m labeled as an experimentalist now, but I still very much enjoy the theoretical side of all physics subfields.

I am currently a graduate teaching assistant and I teach two labs a week where I create my own lectures. I love teaching, and this opportunity has taught me a lot. I am also the graduate representative for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Division of Nuclear Physics. I aim to help create equal opportunity for graduate students of various backgrounds and identities as well as creating safe environments where they can thrive both in life and academics.

What is your ultimate career goal?

I want to earn a tenure professorship at an institution that has a high investment in heavy-ion collision studies. I would also be looking for opportunities to teach in programs that support underrepresented groups in STEM fields, such as bridge programs. Overall, I want to continue my research and teach the next generation of scientists and engineers!

How did Embry‑Riddle help you get to where you are now?

I think the small classes and personalized experience with faculty played a huge role in my successes thus far. I began my research with Dr. Bailey the second semester of my freshman year at Embry‑Riddle.

His guidance and patience taught me a lot about research strategies and how research plays out in the physics community. The most important takeaways I got were to be confident in my intuition and to ask a lot of questions. In undergrad and even grad school, you are there to learn. Take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions.

What would say to someone considering Embry‑Riddle for their undergraduate degree?

I may be biased, but I think Embry‑Riddle is a wonderful place to earn your degree. A lot of my success is attributed to the close-ties I had with faculty and classmates. Geographically, in Prescott there are cool hiking spots and being away from the city made me feel less stressed during my time there.

Anything else you would like to add?

Whether you want to reach for the sky in a Cessna 172 or search for gravitational waves, Embry‑Riddle can help you do both!