In the weeks leading up to the 2026 commencement ceremonies for UVM's College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Class of 2026, we will be sharing senior spotlights of some of our exceptional students from each CEMS program.

How did you choose your major?

I've always been interested in how things work, so I began as a Mechanical Engineering Major. I switched to a Physics major after 2 years. I didn't expect to switch majors, but I found the physics program more interesting and preferred the smaller cohort.

Did you choose to include a minor or certificates?

I earned a Certificate in Semiconductor Engineering and Physics. It was unexpected, and I just kind of fell into it. A lot of the elective courses that I had taken fit it, and it matched up well with the research I was already doing.

What extracurricular organizations and activities did you enjoy at UVM?

SPS, the Society of Physics Students, is a club that most of the physics students end up attending at one point or another. It is very casual, but a good way to socialize and find out what everyone else is up to.

Do you have a memorable research experience from your time in CEMS?

I spent two years, including summers, working in undergraduate research. At the beginning of that research, I helped to build up a lab for physics professor Alexander Kozen, who had joined the department recently. It was really cool to see things come together from an empty room to a functional space, and it was a great experience. It also gave me a useful look at things that might otherwise be unremarkable in a lab space.

Will joined our department after deciding to switch majors midway through his undergraduate career, but he immediately distinguished himself through his work ethic, curiosity, and determination. He made essential contributions to my group during a formative stage of the laboratory, helping to set up critical equipment and collect some of the very first data we generated. It was an especially rewarding experience to grow together professionally over the past couple of years.

—Dr. Alexander Kozen
Assistant Professor, Department of Physics

Is there a class or professor who had a significant impact on your academic journey at UVM? 

Professor Alexander Kozen took me on as a research assistant as he was starting to set up his lab at UVM. He is an incredibly supportive mentor and excellent teacher. I gained an incredible amount of practical experience and many professional connections thanks to his efforts on behalf of his students.

Has your research experience helped to guide you on your career path?

The experience gained during my undergraduate research has heavily influenced the work I have done thus far. It also gave me a much better idea of what grad school might be like if I choose to pursue it.

Is there an achievement during your undergraduate years at UVM that you are particularly proud of?

After two years as a mechanical engineering student, being able to successfully reorient myself to the physics program is an achievement I am proud of.

What are your plans after graduation?

Since graduating in December, I have started working with Verde Technologies on perovskite solar cell development. I got the opportunity thanks to working with them while doing undergraduate research that overlapped with their own work.

One of the most exciting aspects of mentoring students is seeing them draw inspiration from research and ultimately choose to pursue science as a career, and Will has done this with aplomb. It has been gratifying to watch him develop into a successful young scientist, and I am thrilled to see him now contributing to Vermont’s growing clean-energy ecosystem through his current position at Verde Technologies, a solar technology company spun out of UVM’s Physics department.

—Dr. Alexander Kozen
Assistant Professor, Department of Physics

Is there any advice you would share with incoming first-year students?

Get to know your professors well. They are there to help support you, fun to talk to, and can connect you to opportunities that you might miss otherwise.

Would you like to include any "shout-outs" to people who helped support you?

I would like to thank Professor Joan Rosebush for her support with some of the difficult math classes I took, Professor Alexander Kozen for his extensive efforts to support his students, and the faculty of the physics department as a whole for being dedicated and enthusiastic teachers.

Do you have any parting thoughts or memories about your time at UVM?

I have always thought that Burlington is the perfect size for a college town. Not so small as to have nothing else there, not so large as to be annoyingly crowded.

I loved teaching Will!  He has a tremendous interest in learning! I could count on him to ask great questions that would help him and his classmates solidify our course material! I also welcomed our meetings, during which Will would share with me some of his goals. I am delighted that I had the opportunity to help him achieve those goals!  What a great guy!  I wish him all the very best!  

—Senior Lecturer Joan "Rosi" Rosebush
Department of Mathematics and Statistics