Katrina Hanson

Biography

I am currently completing my third year at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, where I am pursuing dual degrees in Applied Physics and Bioproducts Engineering. I will complete my engineering coursework at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities beginning this fall. My three year active membership, including my two-year role as the president, of the UWRF SPS chapter has equipped me with strong leadership skills and instilled in me a passion for encouraging female representation in the STEM fields. I also contribute to the physics department by working as a tutor and grader, as well as planning and participating in a diverse range of science outreach opportunities. I am a member of honor societies Sigma Pi Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi and was recently awarded the UWRF Chancellor's Award for my service and leadership to the university. My current research involvement utilizes computational chemistry methods to model the photochemical scission of the S-N bond of an aromatic sulfilimine, resulting in the formation of the corresponding aromatic compound and a nitrene. Additionally, I work as a technical aide within the shape memory polymer program of 3M's Corporate Research Materials Laboratory. I am excited to partake in an internship program at NASA's Glenn Research Center this summer, where I will be working on a project related to polymer aerogels for aerospace applications. I am driven to pursue a career in research due to the ever-increasing demand for environmentally friendly industrial and consumer products and am passionate about making sustainable options convenient and accessible to the public. Because of this, I plan to enroll in a doctoral program upon completion of my undergraduate degrees. Alongside my academic work, my hobbies include running, doing creative projects, cooking, spending time with friends and family, and choral singing.