Physics major Emi Eastman ’19 is using a particle accelerator—and the skills she’s developed at Whittier—to save people from cancer-causing chemicals.
This summer, she earned a research opportunity at the University of Norte Dame, where she uses atomic physics to test everyday objects, like food wrappers, for environmental toxins. The accelerator is as powerful as it is complex, but Eastman was up to the challenge.
Stepping into the huge laboratory, she’s surrounded by tons of equipment, wires, and the constant humming of machines. The large, blue, tube-like accelerator fires protons up to about 11 percent of the speed of light, with energy up to 6 million electron volts.
“Seeing that for the first time was terrifying. I was like, ‘There is no way that I’m ever going to operate this thing,’” Eastman said. But that didn’t stop her from learning its intricacies and experimenting with its operation. Now, it’s her near-daily companion to help rid the world of cancer.
Her noisy partner in science—the accelerator uses two giant chains inside its metal shell—is also complicated, affected by any number of tiny details. But when Eastman runs into a complication, the soft skills she’s picked up at Whittier see her through. When the accelerator does something unexpected, she problem solves. When the problem needs different expertise, she communicates with many different teams in the lab.
She thanks physics professor Glenn Piner for introducing her to Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs). One day during class, Piner invited everyone to stay a little late to talk about REUs, which Eastman hadn’t heard of before. Inspired by the opportunity, she applied to several, with an eye for research that would have tangible impacts for people.
“I feel like these are one of those experiences where I’m getting a lot out of it,” she said. “I feel very lucky to be doing the work I’m doing.”
