Samuel Pedersen is graduating this week after successfully defending his PhD dissertation entitled, “Mechanochemical synthesis of functional layered materials.” In a digital world, demand for faster, smaller, more reliable telecommunications technologies is rapidly increasing. Black phosphorus shows potential as a replacement for III-V compound semiconductors. Sam’s research focused on the conversion of red phosphorus to black via high-energy ball milling, and subsequently doping the black phosphorus to tune the electrical properties of the material. You can read Sam’s dissertation abstract. After working on an inherited IGEM (Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission) project studying borated aluminum, Sam wrote a College of Engineering Seed Grant to fund his investigation into black phosphorus. The seed grant led to another IGEM, as well as an Air Force STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grant, which funded the rest of Sam’s dissertation research.
Sam’s Path to PhD: My path towards grad school began initially after I graduated Purdue in 2011. I got a job working for Boeing. Several engineers at Boeing recommended getting some real life experience in industry before committing to a 4-5 year PhD program. If after a couple of years I missed the academic side or strongly felt a need to return to pure science, then going after a PhD would be meaningful. I worked at Boeing for 5 years then headed to BSU to try my hand at fundamental science in a more academic setting. It wasn’t so much an attempt to check a box but rather to dive deeper into a pure science role and to see if I had the mettle to persevere in the unknown.
Sam’s Advice for current & potential students: It’s not about the money – if it is, you’re doing it for the wrong reason. For me, a PhD was an intensive research project aimed at solving the unknown, discovering and proving new ideas, and gaining deeper scientific understanding and technical skills. You have to want to solve challenging problems and there isn’t an answer in the back of the book. Some advice – get a hobby and a few friends. Some weeks, you’ll pull 16 hour days – and when those weeks grind you down – you need an outlet (preferably where you’ll get some sun) to recharge yourself. If you’re in the Boise area – hiking, skiing, camping, etc. Activities that pull you out of the lab completely for a few hours or a couple of days will go a long way to help you keep your sanity. Having a social network will help you stay connected and not feel isolated. You can vent to them, celebrate with them, and do activities with them to keep you grounded. A PhD isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Having a couple of friends on the side cheering you on makes all the difference. Lastly, don’t forget that science is just that – it’s science, not life. You don’t live to work but rather you work to live. A PhD research project gives you a chance to do good scientific work that can help make our lives better.
Congratulations Sam!
