Research Leads Physics Student to International Award
Marissa Dierkes didn’t hesitate when it came to student-faculty research, joining the Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Program after her first year on campus, a decision that shaped her Cal Poly experience.
“I’m so thankful I started undergraduate research as a freshman,” Dierkes said. “It has been extremely beneficial to my physics career.”
Dierkes worked with physics Professor Colleen Marlow on research that may contribute to the advancement of medical diagnostics, such as hormone-level detection. If successful, the work may improve biosensors commonly used for routine medical diagnostics.
A biosensor is a device that converts a biological response into an electrical signal. These signals can then be used to measure a wide range of naturally occurring chemical substances.
Being able to break down and conquer complex, seemingly impossible problems is what makes research so special to me— Marissa Dierkes
Currently biosensors lack sensitivity and need large samples — such as a blood sample — to measure the chemicals present in the human body. With the advances that Marlow and her team are working on, biosensors may be able to use samples as small as a drop of blood for detecting molecules. Instant results and less expensive medical tests are also potential results.
“The cool thing about our research is that we can actually sense individual molecules,” Marlow said. “We hope to develop a sensor that can detect any molecule we’re interested in.”
For Dierkes, research is more than an investigation of nanoelectronics — it’s a learning environment that has taught her some of the most valuable lessons of her Cal Poly career.
“Being able to break down and conquer complex, seemingly impossible problems is what makes research so special to me,” she said.
From problem-solving to persistence to team work, research provided Dierkes with the skills she needs to succeed in the future. In addition, she gained a supportive network within the professional physics community.
Marissa Dierkes presents her research on biosensors at the
International Conference on Advanced Materials
and Nanotechnology in Wellington, New Zealand.
Marlow works on this project with professors at two universities in New Zealand. This international collaboration led to greater opportunities for Dierkes. With support from the Frost Fund, she traveled to the International Conference on Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology in Wellington, New Zealand, where she was awarded second place for her poster presentation among a field of presenters who were mostly doctoral students.
Dierkes accolades don’t end there. She graduated with two publications in peer-reviewed journals and will be a co-author on two more.
“Marissa is a natural in the lab,” Marlow said. “She is creative, intelligent and brings enthusiasm and commitment to everything she does. Her contributions to the project have enabled us to advance our research significantly.”
Dierkes plans to pursue a doctorate in physics in the near future and credits research with igniting her passion for this career choice.
“Undergraduate research has been a life-changing experience for me,” she said.
