Physics student Noah Kramer will graduate with his Master’s degree in May 2016. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from UMKC.
“I did my undergrad here and was already involved in a Physics research group (the Caruso-Paquette group),” he said. “I chose to stay as I enjoy my research, the people, and living in Kansas City.”
Both of Noah’s Bachelor’s degrees are beneficial to his current work.
“Between those two degrees and pursing research, I’ve spent many hours in labs performing experiments, and even more hours analyzing data,” he said. “I’ve also taught myself how to code some simple things to automate aspects of data collection and analysis, but nothing extremely complex.”
Noah is currently starting his second semester as a graduate student.
“So far, I have taught two undergraduate physics labs and taken a few graduate classes, in addition to doing research,” he said. “One thing about UMKC that I have enjoyed is that the professors are generally quite approachable and truly desire that the students understand the material.”
Along with his involvement as a member of the Caruso-Paquette research group, Noah also attends meetings for the Society of Physics Students. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. after he finishes the Masters degree.
“Studying physics is a great pleasure, as it allows me to better appreciate the world and how it all fits together,” he said. “It is also a degree that is useful in a variety of fields, as it fosters good problem solving and critical thinking skills. I am hoping to pursue a career in research, as I enjoy finding things out.”
Noah recommends that current undergraduates consider graduate school if they are interested in a subject.
“It’s not something to be taken lightly, but it is also very rewarding if you are willing to put in the time and effort,” he said. “Try to take a genuine interest in your classes, even the ones that seem uninteresting on the surface; understanding is better than memorizing.”