“Dr. Dhital showed me around the lab and introduced me to the concepts of magnetism, why we’re interested in it, and what’s so special about it,” Wilson said. “It opened my eyes to a whole new branch of science.”

Wilson most recently worked on experimental condensed matter research with Dhital and has an upcoming publication as the first author that focuses on the magnetoelectric effects arising from the correlation between crystal symmetries, magnetic structures, and electrical properties of materials. Understanding such magnetism-driven magnetoelectric effects is essential for developing energy-efficient memory storage, sensors, and multifunctional electronic devices.

 

Wilson also has two other co-authored publications during his time as an undergraduate in Dr. Dhital’s group.

“What really changed it for me was when I started to realize that what I wanted out of college and life in general was to be learning,” Wilson said. “My motivation was to learn and as long as I’m learning, whatever career I end up in, I’ll be happy.” 

When Wilson began working in his lab, Dhital was in the process of planning a trip to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Fla., the largest magnet lab in the world, and brought Wilson with him. 

Wilson found it to be an incredible experience, despite feeling somewhat out of his depth in a new field. 

“I realized that research was the definitive answer for continued learning, and I chose physics because I feel like it offers the most questions,” Wilson said. 

Wilson spent the next year working with Dhital, and he honed his skills before spending a week at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn. 

That experience along with two in person presentations in American Physical Society National conferences, allowed him to realize how prepared he was for graduate school as he actively participated and progressed the work. 

“I was actively talking with Dr. Dhital and discussing what might be the best course of action,” Wilson said. “It felt like I was really a part of the discussion rather than just being brought along. It was a surreal experience, and it showed me what all my work has been leading up to.”

Wilson faced a difficult challenge early in his undergraduate career. He failed out of school after his first year because of what he calls a lack of motivation and direction. 

He returned with a 1.17 GPA and worked tirelessly to put himself in a position to apply to graduate programs, attaining a 3.09 GPA.

“It took a lot of work, and I had to hunker down,” Wilson said. “It was tough, especially knowing that so much of my perceived worth boils down to that one number. But the important thing is what I’ve accomplished with how much I’ve pushed myself.”

Wilson is grateful to his professors for their guidance in his education. It would have been easy to write him off due to his past, but they recognized that he came back to school a different student, having the drive to push himself, and they gave him everything needed to succeed. 

“They showed a lot of patience,” Wilson said. “They mentored me and helped me grow into the researcher that I am now.” 

— Story by Alyssa Ozment