Angela Ludvigsen

Learning is my passion and the study of physics truly inspires me. It is my goal to successfully complete my undergraduate studies in physics and math at the University of Wisconsin River Falls (UWRF) and then to earn a PhD in Physics. My long term plan is to join a university, doing research and teaching. I am very proud to be the first person in my family to pursue an advanced degree in science.

I discovered my research interests while still in high school at St Paul Central in Minnesota. I interned with Science Research Institute (SRI) for a year working on a water quality project at Northwestern University. I learned to perform chemical analysis on water samples and then, with my team, presented our findings at local area high schools. After working on a research paper in nuclear power plant shielding and successfully completing two years of high school physics classes, I realized I truly enjoyed physics and wanted to make the study of physics my life work.

I am currently engaged in research on Optical Tweezers with Dr. Lowell McCann. The objective of my project, Sizing Optically Trapped Water Droplets Using Cavity Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, is to determine the relationship between an aerosol droplet's radius and the droplet's seemingly random movements in an argon laser beam. I have found that combining the background physics of my research project, the hands on activity, and integration with my classroom learning has improved my physics education.

While I am truly driven to be a respected scientist, I do have other aspects to my life. At UWRF, I tutor Math and Physics, joined Math Club, volunteered a semester as a Chancellor's Student Ambassador, and am serving as secretary of the UWRF chapter of the Society of Physics Students. I worked as a lifeguard and a swim instructor for St. Paul Community Education. Additionally, I captained the Central High School Girls' Dive Team and still volunteer at a number of charities I first served in my high school years.