Research Ambassadors
Mia Trenbeath '28
Email me at: mtrenbea@u.rochester.edu
Discipline(s) of Research
- Engineering and Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
Major(s) and Minor(s)
- B.S. in Optics
- Minor in Physics
Areas of Interest/Research Focus
Labs:- Nichol Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester (Spring 2025 - Present)
- Quantum Defect Lab, University of Washington (Summer 2026 through the Quantum@UW REU)
Areas where I may be particularly helpful
- Getting started in research
- REU applications
- Personal statements
- Research planning/time management
- Lab tours
What advice do you have for prospective or new researchers?
Through research and at UR, I've often found myself clinging onto the next goal or opportunity. However, once I get there, another goal takes its place. Especially in research where progress is incremental and nonlinear, this cycle can really sap my motivation. What's helped me is the advice from one of my mentors: consistently asking myself how my current work fits into the larger picture. The simple reminder keeps me oriented when I inevitably hit a roadblock or get lost in the weeds, and helps me communicate the significance of my work to others.