Samantha Tietjen

Biography

I am a senior at Cleveland State University, pursuing an honors degree in Physics with a double minor in Mathematics and Biology. I originally applied to college as a Studio Arts major with the intention of completing a degree in Scientific Illustration, but I so thoroughly enjoyed my high school physics class that I decided to do a last minute degree switch and have enjoyed every resulting moment of that decision. In my time at Cleveland State, I have been involved with SPS as both our Outreach Team Coordinator and most recently as Chapter President. Working with SPS has allowed me to take on leadership opportunities through physics in ways I previously never would have considered. My involvement in SPS helped to pave the way for my student research, in which I study soft matter systems using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). I am currently working towards applying to graduate school to enter a PhD program in optical systems or observational astronomy. Outside of academics, my interests include studying music history (in particular, the roots of rock and heavy metal), training horses, bizarre science fiction novels, and continuing to work as a commissioned illustrator.