Since 2018, Emergent has awarded scholarships to the children of Emergent employees who plan to pursue a post-secondary education through our Emergent Scholars program. Emergent Scholars is one of the ways we demonstrate our commitment to educate tomorrow’s scientific leaders, support efforts to build a STEM-capable workforce, and continually invest in our employees and their families.
To celebrate the five-year anniversary of the Emergent Scholars program, we’re checking in with past scholarship recipients to see where they are today and highlight the great work they are doing.
Today we speak with Michael Richardson, Cornell University ’21, and current master’s candidate at The University of Wisconsin-Madison. Michael is pursuing research in nuclear fusion, with the goal of being a part of advancement in cleaner energy solutions.
Name: Michael Richardson
School: Cornell University (undergraduate), University of Wisconsin-Madison (graduate)
Area of study: Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics
Graduating class: 2021
Hometown: Rockville, MD
Tell us about yourself, and what you’re currently up to.
My name is Michael Richardson, I was born in New Jersey, but I’ve spent most of my life in Rockville Maryland. I completed my undergraduate at Cornell University in 2021, and I am currently working on earning my master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I am studying Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, with a focus on plasma and nuclear fusion.
What inspired you to pursue a degree in a STEM field?
I’ve adored physics and engineering ever since my first few classes in the subject in high school, and I knew I wanted to go into a physics-heavy field. I also want to help people with my work, and one of the more direct ways to do that is through energy research. Nuclear fusion promises a great physics and engineering challenge, but also an excellent source of cleaner energy when achieved.
What are some of your favorite courses so far, and how have they impacted what you want to do in the future?
The first physics and engineering courses I took in high school and the fantastic teachers who taught them inspired me a great deal (Dr. Hirsch, Dr. Kim, and Mr. Thompson). I think those first classes cultivated a sense of wonder for everything we can do now, and all that we might be able to do in the future. Every class I have taken since then has built on that excitement.
What do you want to do for a career, and why did you choose that profession?
The first physics and engineering courses I took in high school and the fantastic teachers who taught them inspired me a great deal (Dr. Hirsch, Dr. Kim, and Mr. Thompson). I think those first classes cultivated a sense of wonder for everything we can do now, and all that we might be able to do in the future. Every class I have taken since then has built on that excitement.
What advice do you have for high school students considering your area of study?
If you are at all interested in physics or engineering, keep being interested! Explore, question and wonder about everything you know and don’t know. Talk about these questions with your teachers and your friends. One of the coolest experiences you can have is finding something you don’t know, and working to understand it with other people.
Congratulations on all your accomplishments, Michael! We look forward to hearing about your continued success, and the research you pursue.