Exploring the Possibilities of Physics and Engineering at LVC

Key Highlights:

• Sara Wray ’28 declared as one of LVC’s first Engineering Physics majors.
• Wray has spent two summers at LVC conducting research alongside faculty mentors and will present her research at an upcoming conference this fall.

A high school physics class sparked Sara Wray’s interest in the intersection of physics and engineering. At Lebanon Valley College, the new Engineering Physics major offered the flexibility, hands-on experiences, and opportunities Wray ’28 was looking for as she began exploring her future career.

“I didn’t have a particular sector of engineering or physics I favored over the other, so LVC’s Engineering Physics program stood out to me as the perfect jack-of-all-trades program,” said Wray. “Once I toured the department, I immediately knew this was the perfect environment for me.”

Wray jumped into research right away, participating in LVC’s Research First Program where students complete four weeks of research the summer before their first year.

“The paid research I did with the Chemistry Department introduced me to the school and what the lab was like early on in my college career,” said Wray, who received a First Year Achievement Award in Physics after her first year.

That early experience paved the way for more advanced research. This past summer, Wray spent 10 weeks conducting research with Dr. Dan Pitonyak, Associate Professor of Physics, around the extraction of Transversity Parton Distribution Functions using Generative AI Methods and Normalizing Flows. Pitonyak received his third three-year grant from the National Science Foundation to help support this research.

“I learned a lot about programming, theoretical physics, and its applications,” said Wray. “My peers and I made such progress on this project that we intend to present at the Inquiry Symposium this Spring, as well as individually at three different conferences.”

Wray’s research has also opened doors to professional networking and academic conferences. She plans to present her research at the Fall Meeting for the Division of Nuclear Physics with the American Physical Society in Philadelphia in October. While this is her first conference as a presenter, it is not her first time attending a major physics conference.

Last March, Wray traveled to Colorado with two other LVC students for the American Physical Society Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities (CU*iP), where they connected with students and professionals who share their interests.

“I met so many energized women and people like me working towards their degree in Physics, Astronomy, or Engineering,” said Wray. “Between workshops, networking, poster presentations, and graduate school seminars, it was simply inspiring. I am counting down the days until I can attend the conference again!”

With two years remaining at LVC, Wray looks forward to growing the Physics Club on campus, attending more conferences like CU*iP, and securing an internship as she explores potential career paths in nuclear engineering and medical physics. Graduate school is also a possibility.

For Wray, the opportunities to explore her interests, gain practical experience, and connect with others in her field have been an important part of her college journey.

“You can really get involved and cater your education to your interests here at LVC,” said Wray. “Private colleges of this size are often overlooked, particularly when choosing a school for Engineering or Physics, but LVC provides plenty of opportunities plus a personalized, small college experience.