Zorayda Martinez

My name is Zorayda Martinez, and I'm currently a junior with a major in physics with a concentration in astrophysics and a second major in mathematics.

In SPS, I have always been most drawn in by our events that encourage the growth of our physics community here at Texas A&M University-Commerce (TAMU-C) and in the broader community. Since becoming Secretary for 2021 and Vice President for 2022, my role in helping plan and participate in events that seek to get young people involved in physics has increased and must be my favorite part of being in leadership.

Outside of SPS, I work as a Learning Assistant (LA), or an undergraduate teaching assistant. I'm beginning my fifth semester as a Learning Assistant (LA). For me, this experience has not only altered the way I learn physics (for the better), but it has also changed the way I share my love for physics. I have always felt that being an LA is about making a connection with the students and guiding their thought process in a way that teaches them to become confident in their own abilities rather than dependent on someone always giving them the answer. On that note, I believe it is my responsibility to create a situation where my students can openly discuss the material with me and their peers without fear of judgment or having their ideas shot down. I am a firm believer in the idea that to truly master something is to be able to teach it well, and what better way to master course material than to help others develop an understanding of it. Therefore, over the last four semesters, I have gained a perspective that never would have been possible had I only been a student in these classes.

I am excited by the many wonderful fields of astronomy and have had the pleasure to participate in two research projects so far. In the summer of 2021, I had the opportunity to be a part of Northern Arizona University’s REU in Astronomy and Planetary Sciences. Over the course of the program, I worked at Lowell Observatory Dr. Deidre Hunter on a project comparing turbulence and star formation in nearby star-forming galaxies. From this work, I am on one publication that has been accepted by the Astrophysical Journal (ApJ). Additionally, at TAMU-C, I have been working on my honors thesis with Dr. Kurtis Williams looking at the period distribution of massive magnetic white dwarfs.

After obtaining my bachelor's degree, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in Astronomy. This is the hope of someday working as an observational astronomer and continuing to promote the growth of young people in physics by helping them pursue their goals. The same way those around me now have helped me achieve mine.