Frazier Baker, while a student at Ohio University Zanesville, shows his work to his mentor, Dr. Gabriela Popa, assistant professor of physics at the Zanesville campus.
By Chris Shaw
From Compass
Dr. Gabriela Popa, Assistant Professor of Physics at the Ohio University Zanesville campus. encourages her students to take the classroom experience and build on the knowledge gained through research opportunities at the students’ comfort level.
Frazier Baker, a 2014 Tri-Valley High School graduate under the leadership of Popa, adopted nuclear models developed by Dr. Steven Grimes and Dr. Thomas Massey from the Physics Department at the Athens campus. Baker’s project involved calculated nuclear level densities for a series of nuclei and plotted the experimental and the calculated nuclear level densities and other properties that contributed to improving the model.
Popa explained that while not all students take full advantage of the opportunities to extend the classroom learning experience, Baker, then a post-secondary student from Tri-Valley High School, enthusiastically went above and beyond.
Baker joined the nuclear level densities project in the Spring 2014, while a student in Algebra-Based Physics at Ohio University Zanesville. Popa explained that Baker took the initiative to learn the programming language, Python, in addition other programming languages like, C, C++. Those experiences and his love of learning helped Baker contribute to the research often unprecedented of an undergraduate student.
“Although Physics was not my major, I was able to use and apply my own skills, experiences, and talents in a way that added a new twist to my learning experience,” Baker said of his experience working with Popa. “It taught me how to be more comfortable around my professors, gave me confidence as I moved forward with my own interests, and also made many interdisciplinary connections for me.”
Baker presented the results of his and Popa’s project at the American Physical Society Ohio Section meeting Youngstown University last spring. Popa also presented the work at the 33rd International Nuclear Theory Workshop at Rila, Bulgaria, over the summer.
“Even after my last day of classes at Ohio University Zanesville, my undergraduate research experience followed me everywhere I went, unlocking resources and scholarship opportunities for me at other academic institutions.” Baker said. He is now a Computer Science major at University of Cincinnati, where he received significant scholarships thanks in part to his experiences working with Popa at Ohio University Zanesville.
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