Gustavus Adolphus College student Shelby Klomp ‘20 has been named a Rossing Physics Scholar for 2019-2020 for her outstanding work in physics.
The Maplewood, Minn. native is one of six students in the nation receiving a $10,000 scholarship from the Rossing Fund for Physics Education Endowment through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Six additional students receiving honorable mentions are awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
A physicist who did his undergraduate studies at Luther College before going on to an award-winning career in musical acoustics, Dr. Thomas Rossing funded this program that awards physics students with annual scholarships at one of the 27 ELCA affiliated colleges and universities. Over the last nine years, at least one Gustavus physics student has been awarded one of the Rossing Scholarships each year.
A junior physics major, she performed research last summer at Brigham Young University in Utah on magnetite nanoparticles. “Shelby was selected as a second-year student for a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). It is relatively rare that students are selected for these national REU programs in their second year,” said Dr. Thomas Huber, professor and chair of the Gustavus physics department.
Klomp has also been involved in on campus research focused on developing a cosmic-ray muon detector that can be carried by a high-altitude balloon. This summer, she has plans to work at the University of California, Davis in the experimental particle physics lab.
“The physics department at Gustavus is phenomenal. The professors are so supportive and really put in the time to make sure every student is challenged and has the opportunity to reach their potential,” said Klomp. “All of these opportunities have been a direct result of the skills I have learned in the Gustavus physics department and will allow me to be successful in my professional career.”
When Klomp is not doing research, she is involved as a teaching assistant, tutor, and is a junior class representative in the Society of Physics Students. Outside of physics, she is a philosophy minor, enjoys singing in the Chapel Choir, and is a part of the Feminist Bible Study.
After her time at Gustavus, Klomp plans to pursue a Ph.D. with a focus on researching particle and high-energy physics.
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