A physics major from Chazy, New York, senior Samuel Meehan has spent the last four years at the University of New Hampshire seeking opportunities to expand his knowledge of the world. From late May through early August 2008, Sam lived in France while he researched particle detectors. The research, funded by the International Research Opportunities Program (IROP), was designed to complement research being done for his Honors thesis project. “By doing this, it helped me to find a unique type of satisfaction by balancing being a student and learning from others with being a researcher and discovering for myself,” he said of the experience.
After graduating in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in physics and a minor in applied mathematics with an honors designation from the University Honors Program, Sam plans to attend graduate school. Ultimately, Sam aspires to become a physics professor. “I have always loved learning and discovering and showing others the interesting aspects of nature through teaching them what I know,” he said. “I have realized that the more I learn, the less I know and [more] I want to discover.”
Dr. Maurik Holtrop is an associate professor in the Physics Department at the University of New Hampshire. Lately he has been focusing his teaching on quantum mechanics, which he admits can be challenging. His research focuses on studying the details of particles, specifically how quarks combine into particles such as the proton. Dr. Holtrop has mentored several undergraduate and graduate students in the past, and found the opportunity to mentor Sam Meehan very rewarding. “It has been great working with Sam,” he said. “It is very satisfying to see a young person’s career take off.”
Though he is now on the faculty, Dr. Holtrop also knows what it’s like to be a student at UNH: He graduated with a bachelor’s of science in physics in 1987. He then went to M.I.T. for his graduate studies before returning to his alma mater in 1995 as a post–doctoral student. In 2000 Dr. Holtrop joined the research faculty, and in 2002 he became part of the teaching faculty.
Read Samual Meehan’s research article Pure Science and So Much More: Particle Detector Development in France >>
