From Lightsabers to Life Savers
Chad grew up in a small town just outside Rotorua, known for its stunning natural landscape. His parents were big Star Wars fans, and he inherited their love for it. “I just got super into it – the whole space thing,” Chad recalls. While he cherished the beauty of his hometown, as he grew older and discovered new study opportunities at university, he found himself drawn to the bright lights and endless possibilities of the big city.
Lasers came to life in a very real sense when Chad began studying photonics (the physical science of light waves). His growing interest led him to a Summer Research Scholarship, which offers undergrad students the chance to work as assistants on research projects led by top academics from across the University. These scholarships provide valuable skills, knowledge, and experience, and are designed to spark enthusiasm for postgraduate research. Hundreds of these opportunities are available each year.
"I love looking back and seeing what I've done."
“I love looking back and seeing what I've done. Studying math and physics, you get these paid side hustle sort of things. I applied for and got offered a melanoma research opportunity, using lasers to help detect melanoma. That was insane as a third-year student.”
At the University, Chad has encountered some common stereotypes about studying math and physics. He notes, “Being math and physics students, we get quite a bad rep for being unsociable computer nerds, but we’re actually quite a friendly bunch.”
“My family had no idea what I was doing. They’d ask, ‘Can you explain it?’ And I would. ‘Can you dumb it down?’ they’d ask. And I would. ‘Can you dumb it down again?’ LASERS. Lasers, people!”