Reflecting Lewis & Clark’s strengths in the sciences, Emma Falk BA ’26 and Jack Waite BA ’23 have been named NSF Graduate Research Fellows. Finn Watson BA ’26 received an honorable mention.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports outstanding students pursuing research-based graduate degrees in STEM fields. The fellowship is among the nation’s most competitive awards for emerging scientists.
Falk, a double major in physics and mathematics, received the fellowship in physics and astronomy, with a focus on atomic, molecular, and optical physics. At Lewis & Clark, she conducted research with Assistant Professor of Physics Ben Olsen. Next year, Falk will be pursuing a PhD in physics at the University of California at Santa Barbara. She plans to work in Professor David Weld’s atomic physics lab laser, cooling strontium atoms to make Bose-Einstein condensates and other exotic non-equilibrium matter.
“My time working in Dr. Olsen’s atomic physics lab provided me with valuable research experience and clarity in my scientific interests, giving me confidence in my decision to pursue graduate studies and my future in experimental physics research,” says Falk. “At Lewis & Clark, I developed a specific interest in atomic physics and learned experimental techniques that will be an asset as I continue to pursue academic research.”
Waite, who majored in biochemistry and molecular biology, received the fellowship in life sciences, with a focus on genetics. At L&C, he conducted research with Associate Professor of Biology Sharon Torigoe. Waite plans to pursue a PhD in genetics and epigenetics at the University of Pennsylvania, where he will focus on how gene expression is regulated during development.
“Dr. Torigoe was instrumental in my scientific development,” says Waite. “She introduced me to the world of molecular biology research and taught me so much in the lab, but more importantly, she taught me how to think, write, and communicate like a scientist. I wouldn’t be where or who I am today without the guidance of professors like her.”
Watson, a biochemistry and molecular biology major, received an honorable mention in life sciences, with a focus on evolutionary biology. At L&C, Watson conducted research with Professor of Biology Greta Binford and will attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison for graduate study.
The NSF recognition highlights a signature strength of the Lewis & Clark science experience: Undergraduates are not simply learning science in the classroom; they are practicing it alongside faculty. In small research groups, students help design experiments, analyze data, ask new questions, and build the technical and communication skills that define strong researchers. For Falk, Waite, and Watson, that foundation is helping launch the next stage of their careers in science.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Mathematical Sciences Physics
