Nine undergraduate physics students from UNI had the unique experience of presenting original research and engaging with some of the brightest minds in science at the American Physical Society Global Physics Summit in Denver, Colorado, during the spring 2026 semester.

Hear from Physics major Clare Wright, who attended the conference, on what she learned from the experience.

What was your biggest takeaway from attending the APS Global Physics Summit? My biggest takeaway from attending the APS Global Physics Summit was seeing how big of a community we have in physics and also seeing the many different areas people choose to explore with it.

How did it feel to present your research at a national/international conference? It felt super rewarding and validating to present my work at an international conference. My group members and I put a lot of time and work into our project, so it was rewarding to get to expose what we found with others.

Can you briefly describe your research project in simple terms? Our project involved analyzing datasets given to us by a researcher at the University of Iowa. While doing this, we used math that accounts for randomness to understand how protein–DNA molecules clump together, and used experimental measurements to figure out the important numbers that represent this process. This type of work can help with the understanding of different diseases, including cancer.

What was the most exciting or memorable moment from the trip? The most memorable moment from the trip was getting to listen to the three 2025 Nobel Prize winners speak about their work. This was especially meaningful to me because I had heard and learned about the topics their prize covered in class and in Physics news, so seeing them speak live was special to me.

Did attending the conference change how you think about your future career or graduate school plans? How? Attending the conference did change how I think about my future plans. Speaking with several graduate students and hearing about different programs definitely made me start to put more thought into attending graduate school.

What was it like interacting with professional physicists or students from other universities? Interacting with other students and physicists was very enjoyable. It was interesting to hear their experiences at other universities and what their physics journey has been like.

How did UNI prepare you for an experience like this? UNI prepared me well for an experience like this. I had already presented our poster at the SURP symposium last summer, so I knew what to expect. Other students from UNI who had been to conferences similar to this one also attended, so they were great mentors to me and my group members.

What would you say to a prospective student considering studying physics at UNI? To a prospective student considering physics at UNI, I would tell them that you won’t find a department that is more dedicated to the success of its students. Although it is a smaller university, the professors are eager to expose students to opportunities everywhere. I haven’t regretted my decision to study here at all!

Why do you think opportunities like this are important for undergraduate students? I think opportunities like this are important for undergraduate students because it’s such a great chance to network with other students and professionals in physics and to be exposed to other projects and ideas that will only further their passion.

 What are your future goals? How has UNI helped prepare you for them? My future goals are to become a data scientist in behavioral health. UNI has helped me prepare for them by allowing me to participate in Biochemistry undergraduate research in the Physics department and by offering courses that will prepare me well for my future career.