Jackie Corbitt is a shining example of the opportunities available to graduates of the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
Corbitt, who graduated from the Department of Physics and Astronomy in 2011 and is now doing graduate work at the University of Washington, recently received a fellowship from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
An NSF Fellowship is a prestigious honor awarded to only a few top graduate students around the nation each year in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These fellowships provide three years of financial support, which may be used over a period of five years.
Dr. Gus Hart, who advised Corbitt while she was a physics undergraduate at BYU, noted that her driven nature and responsible attitude toward her work gave Corbitt a great advantage when she moved into her graduate program.
Dr. David Allred worked with Corbitt in the classroom and in research-based writing and was impressed by her ability to excel.
“She was already operating at a graduate level as an undergraduate,” he said.
Corbitt explained that her positive experience as an undergrad in the College provided “fantastic growth experiences” that prepared her for the work she does now at the University of Washington.
“I had the opportunity to give formal scientific talks at local and national American Physical Society meetings as well as the annual CPMS Student Research Conference,” she said. “The professors, especially Drs. Hart, Turley, and Allred, were very supportive of my goals, and remembering their encouragement helped me get through the challenges of the first year of graduate school.”
Corbitt took many different kinds of classes as an undergraduate, building a strong background in biology, which helped in her future graduate work.
“The College allowed interdisciplinary studies, enabling me to expand my knowledge base in preparation for the biophysics research I now do,” Corbitt said.
With the help of the NSF Graduate Fellowship, Corbitt is currently studying a type of bacterial secretion system that could assist in the treatment of cystic fibrosis and chronic wound infections.
The fellowship allows Corbitt to dedicate more time to this important research “without the added stress of continually seeking funding or working long hours as a TA,” she explained. “More importantly, it offers me national distinction that honors BYU . . . and sets me apart for future employment opportunities.”
Dr. Allred feels that Corbitt’s success will inspire future students to reach toward high goals.
“Students need to understand that it is possible for them to get a prestigious fellowship like this. They need to try for this—and more than once,” Dr. Allred said.
Corbitt encourages interested students to apply.
“Writing fellowship applications is an excellent preparation for writing grant proposals, and the reviewer feedback is priceless,” she said. “Beyond that, you may surprise yourself and receive the award!”
Corbitt expects to receive her doctorate in physics with a research focus in biophysics in 2016 and hopes to mentor future physicists through research and teaching.