Alexander Pantoja

Biography

My name is Alexander Macario Pantoja, and I am entering my senior year at Texas Lutheran University (TLU) where I am completing my Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics. I was the president of my TLU SPS chapter for 2021-2022 and have recently been elected for my second term for 2022-2023. For summer 2022 I will be participating in nuclear research at Texas A&M University as part of the Texas Research Expanding Nuclear Diversity (TREND) program, which promotes diversity in nuclear physics by selecting minority undergraduate students to participate in research at the Texas A&M Cyclotron Institute. The goal for the summer is participate in work that centers on constructing a microwave camera to explore the behavior of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion sources.

In addition to my involvement with SPS and pursuit of my academic and research interests, I also serve the youngest member of the Board of Directors for the Teatro de Artes de Juan Seguin, a non-profit, cultural arts program. Teatro engages Seguin youth in learning and participating in traditional Hispanic heritage and culture. Though I am neither a dancer, nor a Mariachi aficionado, I see this work as important, since I am committed to serving as a role model for younger students who might be interested in a STEM career. As a physics major and community supporter, I do not have many other activities, since there is little "spare time"!

My plan is to spend my senior year finding a great place to continue my education, with my primary interest being in nuclear physics. I hope to pursue a nuclear science related career in an industrial setting.