UC Merced Connect: Atwater native first to earn prestigious physics scholarship

Jeremias Gonzalez fell in love with physics at a young age, but it almost stopped there. He didn’t think he was academically prepared for such a rigorous discipline and considered going in another direction.

But instead of giving in to fear, the Atwater native decided to challenge himself – and he’s never looked back.

“It’s been a rewarding choice,” Gonzalez said. “Physics steadily explains the world’s workings from the most fundamental level upward, and also strives to answer the questions I had been asking myself over the years.”

That level of focus and natural curiosity has earned Gonzalez a prestigious scholarship from the American Physical Society. Gonzalez is the first UC Merced student to receive such a scholarship, putting him alongside fellow scholars across the nation from Stanford to MIT. He applied for the scholarship on his own after seeing it mentioned on a website.

“It seemed a perfect fit for me, considering that it’s specific to my major,” the transfer student said.

In addition to offering financial support for Gonzalez’s education, the scholarship provides for guidance and academic support via assigned mentors from both the organization and the university. Professor Ajay Gopinathan is the student’s local mentor, and the two meet weekly to discuss a wide range of topics.

“He’s been of great help, easing my adjustment from community college to UC Merced as well as introducing me to his network within the physics community,” Gonzalez said of Gopinathan.

Gopinathan is a theoretical physicist, which matches Gonzalez’s interests. The professor said he’s gotten as much out of the experience as he’s invested.

“I was impressed by Jeremias’ academic record and thought I could be in a position to offer useful advice,” he said. “I have really enjoyed our weekly chats, where I’ve gotten to know how curious, insightful, methodical and hardworking he is.”

For Gonzalez, the ability to get the undivided attention of an accomplished physicist is beyond compare. He’s met some of Gopinathan’s research team and learned a lot about their accomplishments.

“He’s introduced me to the physics community and has given me a clearer picture of what life can be like as a professor in this field,” Gonzalez said.

UC funds student sustainability awards

The UC Office of the President will provide $7,500 to each of the UC’s 10 campuses, as well as the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, to fund student awards in support of UC’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative and other university sustainability efforts.

The program was inspired by UC’s Global Food Initiative fellowship program, through which 54 students across the university system have received $2,500 awards to support projects that further the food initiative’s goals.

UC President Janet Napolitano said she hopes this new program will spark a similar universitywide interest among students in advancing UC’s carbon neutrality goals.

“It is essential that we harness the passion and creative energy of our students as we look for new ways to reduce the carbon footprint of our campuses, our communities, our country and the world,” Napolitano said. “I am hopeful that these awards will galvanize student activity.”

The program will be open to both undergraduate and graduate students, and will be administered at each location to ensure that student efforts align with local needs.

At each UC campus, one award recipient will be designated to support student engagement and communications for the Carbon Neutrality Initiative and the President’s Global Climate Leadership Council, which was created in 2014 to guide UC’s efforts on climate action and sustainability.

This story was originally published January 21, 2015 at 4:26 PM with the headline "UC Merced Connect: Atwater native first to earn prestigious physics scholarship."