草榴社区

Declan Brick, an aerospace engineering and physics double-major at 草榴社区 (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, has been named a Goldwater Scholar, the first from UAH in 13 years.

Brick is an undergraduate research assistant at the UAH Plasma and Electrodynamics Research Laboratory and is mentored by Dr. Gabriel Xu, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship was established in 1986 by Congress in partnership with the Department of Defense National Defense Education Programs (NDEP) to honor Senator Barry Goldwater, who served 30 years in the U.S. Senate. The undergraduate scholarship is given annually to applicants in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics to around 300 college sophomores and juniors nationwide with the goal of providing the country with a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers. The scholarship is awarded based on merit, up to a maximum of $7,500 per academic year. Colleges and universities are allowed to nominate only four undergraduate students per year, making it a premier award in the U.S.

The honors student says the application process helped point him toward what he wants to do in his Ph.D. research.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been both rewarding and also part of the process,鈥� Brick explains. 鈥淚 loved Honors 201 and working for Dr. Xu. That鈥檚 where I first heard about the Goldwater. I came to UAH at just the right time. Dr. Xu was picking up a bunch of undergraduates, and, working with the application, I could see where I fit in.鈥�

His Capstone project involves plasma jet modeling where low temperature plasma and plasma devices have been shown to sterilize biological materials without incurring thermal damage.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been great working with Dr. Xu!鈥� the student says. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 express that enough. He鈥檚 been very supportive. Helping out, but not handholding. He offers guidance but lets me go into the muck. I really appreciate that. I鈥檓 a computationalist, whereas his line is very experimental. Somehow I鈥檓 a computationalist who likes to experiment a lot!鈥�

Brick also touts the help he received from his Goldwater Campus Representative, Jennifer Staton, who is the Fellowship and Graduate School Advisor in the UAH Honors College.

鈥淭he Goldwater is very much a research process,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚鈥檓 a decent writer, but I鈥檓 an engineer. I very much like to get it exactly perfect, but you have to turn it in at some point! Jennifer was great, having that person who would go over every detail. I had to write my essay, write my questionnaire, and she would come back with comments. She is an experienced grant writer and is great at balancing things.鈥�

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Brick鈥檚 family moved to Arkansas when he was very young, but he has always had a foot in both worlds. 鈥淭he line between Canadians and Americans is very blurry,鈥� he says. He is also modest about his achievement. 鈥淚 did the work, but the other applicants were strong! But my parents said, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e doing the Canadian thing, feeling guilty for winning,鈥欌�� he notes with a broad grin.

Exploring life on two different paths simultaneously appears to have become a theme with the dual major. Brick has been interested in science and engineering since a very early age, but also excelled in sports, and it took a pair of early mentors to help him channel his energies in the proper direction.

鈥淚 was a bit of a problem child in school, and I actually kind of struggled,鈥� he admits. 鈥淏ut a second-grade teacher saved me! She said 鈥榊ou are not mischievous, you are bored!鈥� So they put me in the gifted program. And when I turned 12, I had a drill instructor for a hockey coach, and that helped too.鈥�

Brick states his love of aerospace and astronomy ultimately led him to seek out UAH.

鈥淚 pulled up the list of NASA centers, one of those internet things where you pick your top aerospace schools. Huntsville came up on the radar, but they didn鈥檛 list them as having a bachelors in aerospace! But one of my teachers got his masters in Huntsville, and he saved me! He told me, of course they had a bachelors. I also am a hockey referee, which is big here,鈥� the scholar adds.

Now it simply feels natural to explore in two directions at once, as he ponders the potential track for his Ph.D. But when it comes down to making a final decision, will he choose aerospace engineering or physics?

Or perhaps鈥�both?

鈥淚 occupy a weird space,鈥� Brick says. 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 with engineers, I like a little more theory, and when I鈥檓 with physicists, a little more application. I like theory-driven modelling, for example. I鈥檝e always defined myself by two things, usually, Canadian and American, or two sports in high school. Within simulations, I can do that too! I like plasma simulations, because it鈥檚 fluids, but it鈥檚 also electrodynamics.鈥�

With a curiosity this large, it鈥檚 no wonder seeing how trying to map a future direction can feel daunting.

鈥淭he summer after my freshman year, I actually did some research in solar flare prediction. It was a great experience! Between that and the Astronomy Club, the real reason I picked up the physics major was trying to decide which side of space do I want to do? Every few months I want to be an astrophysicist, but I鈥檓 not an astrophysicist at heart, I鈥檓 an engineer!鈥�

This revelation has become clearer as he has delved more deeply into his research work. 鈥淲ith the space weather experience, I was developing computational stuff and data processing, looking at data trends, and I thought, I could develop this computational tool further. Making the tool was much more interesting to me! I liked the science, but I loved developing the tool! Now the physics, particularly with plasma, is serving to help me get a deeper theoretical base. But I ultimately want to build something, have an application. Plasma is the leading proponent for me going forward 鈥� propulsion energy, also fusion theory. I am reaching that point to where I鈥檓 ready to specialize and focus.鈥�

But it鈥檚 challenging to let some things go in order to make that life-defining choice. 鈥淭he dichotomy has become so ingrained,鈥� Brick says. 鈥淚鈥檝e been mixing the two for so long! It鈥檚 like hockey. I learned to skate on a backyard rink. It鈥檚 ingrained in me. The dichotomy, figuring out how to balance it, I鈥檝e been doing it for so long, I can鈥檛 explain it. It just is. For me as an undergrad, sometimes I think I should have done this, this and this, but unless you鈥檙e like Einstein, that鈥檚 not a realistic expectation!鈥�

The 草榴社区 is already considering his long-term goals, but feels there is no need to rush.

鈥淚 definitely want to do research. I鈥檓 looking towards working in a national lab or a government center like NASA. My second choice would be academia, but research-focused. The third option is industry. I want to get it right. But I鈥檓 21! Because I鈥檝e kind of locked onto the Ph.D., that鈥檚 enough long-term goals for now.鈥�

The Goldwater Scholar鈥檚 advice for those who would like to follow in his footsteps, but are perhaps struggling to choose their way? Characteristically, Brick offers the kind of guidance that can be taken鈥�two ways.

鈥淒on鈥檛 just blindly follow your passion, but also don鈥檛 be afraid to express it! Don鈥檛 be afraid to take specific steps toward that.鈥�

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