Jacob Lord '24
Maynard, Massachusetts
Physics major. Periclean Honors Forum minor. Physics researcher, tutor, teaching assistant, student representative, lab assistant. Hillel member.
I chose Skidmore for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, students are highly encouraged to participate in multiple disciplines. I’ve taken numerous classes in interest areas outside of my major, such as history and music. I’ve also gotten involved in projects such as analyzing the aerodynamics of certain professional soccer balls.
I also chose Skidmore due to the incredibly tight-knit communities in individual academic departments — physics, of course, but also German, history, and math. Research groups are easy to join, and the encouragement, compassion, and support that professors give to their students is unparalleled.
I have been able to conduct amazing research and make presentations at symposiums and conferences, including to the Astronomical Society of New York. Being able to become, as one professor put it, “one of the most knowledgeable undergraduates [in part] in the field of Cosmic Strings” is something I will carry with me as a testament to the enthusiastic learner I have become at Skidmore.
In terms of cocurricular life, I have been extremely active in Hillel and all things physics related. Hillel has fostered a community that has helped me to continue practicing my Jewish identity during some of my most challenging times.
In the physics community, I have thrived and gained experience in research, advocacy, teaching, and mentorship — all outside of the classroom. Specifically, I’ve been a tutor, teaching assistant, student representative at faculty meetings, and a lab assistant, allowing me to engage in multiple aspects of the physics academic experience.
My goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in nuclear fusion/plasma physics and work in renewable energy relating to nuclear fusion. I hope to help aid the process of making fusion an accessible source of energy and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many things were uncertain, this scholarship made my family confident that I could go to college. I cannot be more thankful, as the Skidmore experience has allowed me to thrive and grow in ways not possible elsewhere.”