Excellence occurs every day in
graduate education at UT Austin. Everyday Excellence highlights a
UT graduate student and features his or her thoughts on various aspects
of life and academia. Vince Holmberg is the winner of the Hertz Fellowship
as well as the National Science Foundation's Graduate Fellowship for his
work in nanoscience and nanotechnology. He is a first year graduate student
in the department of chemical engineering, and is currently working on the
supercritical fluid synthesis of semiconductor nanowires. Holmberg is a member
of the Korgel research group.
What first drew your interest to Chemical Engineering?
I have always loved chemistry, but as an undergraduate, I found that I wanted to study something with more mathematical rigor. As a result, I ended up getting bachelor's degrees in both chemistry and chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota. Chemical engineering is a very centralized field which allows for interaction with people from a variety of disciplines, and provides a very good balance of chemical and mathematical knowledge.
How have you found UT's graduate program in Chemical Engineering?
The University of Texas has a very strong program in chemical engineering, and I only see it expanding and getting stronger. The professors in the program have a wide range of expertise and the graduate students are very enthusiastic about their research. The new Center for Nano and Molecular Science and Technology is also a huge resource. All of this makes UT an ideal environment for collaborative research.
What have been the most exciting elements for you as a scientist/researcher?
I love the idea of making new types of materials and doing things that haven't been done before. In the back of my mind, there is always the thought that something I do could have a significant impact on science and technology. I owe a lot to Professor T. Andrew Taton and his graduate students for getting me excited about nanoscience as a freshman at the University of Minnesota.
What sorts of projects are you currently working on?
Right now I am focusing on synthesizing new types of precursors for semiconductor nanowire growth, and attempting to develop a solvent based process that doesn't require supercritical reaction conditions.
What was your initial response to being named Hertz finalist and ultimately winner?
I am still in disbelief over the whole situation. It was definitely the most difficult interview process I have ever been through. It's hard to comprehend that out of all the science and engineering graduate students in the nation, only 15 people received the Hertz Fellowship. It is a huge honor to be included among such a distinct group of scientists and engineers, and I am very grateful to all of the people that helped me get where I am today.
How will winning the Hertz change or expand your research?
Winning the
Hertz Fellowship will give me a lot more flexibility and freedom to take
my research in any direction I choose. I am also hopeful that it will bring
about a number of potential collaborators.
What are your current plans
after graduating?
Graduation is still a long way off for me, but I would love to eventually become a professor or work in a national research laboratory, and I still haven't ruled out a career in industry. Regardless of which path I end up taking, I hope to continue conducting research at the forefront of science and technology.
Q & A by Elisabeth McKetta, May, 2007
