Calista Pearlstone is a Kenyon College Class of 2027 student studying Physics with a minor in Religious Studies.

Research interests: I'm interested in using physics to tackle environmental challenges. Whether it be developing clean energy technology, improving environmental sensing capabilities, or building more efficient, low-impact infrastructure, I plan to apply my background in experimental physics to help create a more sustainable future.

Previous research experience: In the Kenyon Physics Department, I conduct experimental AMO research under the supervision of Dr. Aaron Reinhard. Broadly, we're interested in the three-body interactions and coherence of ultracold neutral Rydberg atoms. This work has applications in quantum information. I've taken on several hands-on independent projects as a member of this research group, several of them involving CAD, circuit construction, data analysis, and/or experimental design. I also spent a summer working on this research as a Kenyon Summer Science Scholar.

In the Kenyon ENVS Department, I study atmospheric deposition under the supervision of Dr. Ruth Heindel. We are broadly interested in how different land uses, seasons, and other processes influence the chemical composition of airborne particulate matter as observed once it is deposited into local ecosystems. The results we obtain are critical to understanding air pollution and ecosystem health! This research has given me the opportunity to do everything from fieldwork to lab work—one of my longest projects involved running complex computer simulations.

I also spent one summer working in UNL's Electrical Engineering Department as an IFE-SURE participant. The research I conducted during this time was in support of broader efforts to scale up and ultimately commercialize inertial confinement fusion technology. More specifically, I was working on the microfabrication and characterization of nuclear fusion targets.

How I got started: For my physics research, I reached out to Dr. Reinhard via email to set up an in-person discussion about his research. I spent the remainder of that semester sitting in on lab meetings before formally joining the lab the following semester.

For my Environmental Studies research, I attended an ENVS Department research fair, after which I reached out to Dr. Heindel via email to set up an in-person discussion about her research and my interest in joining the lab. I cycled through a variety of projects in the lab before finding the type of work that was a good fit for me.

For my engineering research, I spent a lot of time on Google! I knew that I was interested in conducting some clean energy-related research over the summer, so I sought out undergraduate-specific summer opportunities that aligned with my goals and applied to a LOT of them.

Looking for: Alumni/recent grad mentorship

Skills / methods: Software: Ansys, SOLIDWORKS, OnShape CAD, MultiSim, LabView, Origin, ImageJ, Nanoscribe DeScribe; Programming: Python, C, R, Mathematica, CSS Techniques: Spectroscopy, Finite Element Analysis, Optical Alignment, Laser Operation and Safety, Circuit Design and Construction, Microfabrication, Advanced Experimental Methods, Advanced Data Visualization and Statistical Analysis; Equipment: Oscilloscope, External Cavity Diode Laser (ECDL), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Vacuum System

Open to being contacted: Yes

Preferred contact: calistapearlstone@gmail.com

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