Illinois Physics alumna Claire Baum (BS Physics, 2017) made the most of her time in the department—she took a leadership role in several student groups, surmounted her fear of public speaking, took advantage of undergraduate research opportunities, and formed lasting relationships with friends and mentors. Born and raised in Illinois, she is now a graduate student at the University of Chicago, working in the Simon Lab doing atomic molecular optical physics.
A visit with alumna Claire Baum
Illinois Physics alumna Claire Baum (BS Physics, 2017) made the most of her time in the department—she took a leadership role in several student groups, surmounted her fear of public speaking, took advantage of undergraduate research opportunities, and formed lasting relationships with friends and mentors. Born and raised in Illinois, she is now a graduate student at the University of Chicago, working in the Simon Lab doing atomic molecular optical physics.
What are your favorite memories from your time at Physics Illinois?
Probably all of the crazy antics of SWIP (Society for Women in Physics) and SPS (Society of Physics Students), especially the donut eating contest, playing the Star Trek bridge simulator, Artemis, building a 33-foot straw and trying to drink from it. And interacting with the physics faculty, especially finding and hanging out with Dale Van Harlingen at a bar in New Orleans during the APS March Meeting—that was amazing!
What are the three most important things you learned here?
Ask questions! It doesn’t have to be in front of the whole class, but asking questions has helped me see physics from different perspectives, or has made me think of things in ways I haven’t before.
One of the things I learned as an undergrad is that you really can always be busier. Each year, I thought my schedule was so crammed full, and then the next year, it was more so. You end up just chipping away at your sleep to fit it all in.
I came in so shy. I was afraid of public speaking—I was that kid whose face turned red. Being actively involved and especially being president helped with that. Getting up in front of a group casually, on the fly, and speaking—it got much easier.
You were a member of PhySAB (Physics Student Advisory Board) all four years at Physics Illinois, and served as co-leader of the group your junior year. What was your greatest accomplishment in PhySAB?
Probably creating an actual schedule of events for the first time. When I was a younger member on PhySAB, we had difficulty just scheduling a Town Hall. But PhySAB really started getting out there around my junior and senior year with the start of the Coffee, Cookies, and ___ meeting series and better advertising!
In SWIP, you served as treasurer your sophomore year and as president your junior and senior years. What did you achieve in those roles?
People actually come to the meetings now! SWIP has been doing a lot of new meetings over the past couple of years, which I think has attracted people. We still need more women, though.
In SPS, you served as snack officer in your sophomore and junior years. Besides providing scrummy nosh, what was your greatest achievement with SPS?
Helping organize the SPS Zone Meeting my sophomore year—there was more than a little bit of sleep deprivation in the week leading up to the meeting. The attendees seemed to find it fun and helpful, which made me very happy.
In these groups, you did some outreach. What did you enjoy about that?
I really liked sparking people’s interest in science and critical thinking. One of SWIP’s fan favorite demonstrations was “marshmallow peeps in a vacuum.” The peeps expanded. It was always great fun watching kids’ eyes go wide and be like, “THAT MARSHMALLOW IS SO BIG CAN I EAT IT!?”
The summer after freshman year, you did research with Kevin Pitts high energy physics group. You later did a summer REU program at University of Florida in AMO physics. What did you take from these research opportunities?
The research I did at Illinois and Florida really helped me narrow down my interests. I came into college thinking maybe I’d do theory in particle physics or astrophysics, and now I’m in grad school doing experimental AMO physics! I also took horrible sunburn from research experience in Florida (I’m pretty sure I still have tan lines).
While at Physics Illinois, Baum was recognized with several honors, including the APS March Meeting Outstanding Undergraduate Presentation (2017), the Laura B. Eisenstein Award (2016), the AWIS Kirsten R. Lorentzen Award (2016), and the SPS Leadership Scholarship (2015). She was ranked an “Excellent TA” by her students in PHYS 123 in her junior year and an “Outstanding TA” by her students in PHYS 101 in her senior year.
What advice do you have for new students at Physics Illinois?
Talk to people as much as you can (undergrads, faculty, grad students, etc.)! I have learned so much from others it’s ridiculous. It is also very nice having a network of people you can reach out to. Also, please check your emails—a lot of good opportunities come through there!
What is your ultimate career goal, and how did your time here influence that goal?
I would love to be a crazy inventor, but I don’t think that is a legitimate job title (yet). I think ultimately I want to do something that helps people (perhaps through a startup). While at Physics Illinois, I learned about different career paths people have taken and actually heard quite a bit of life advice from the faculty, whiched helped me shape my goals.
What made you choose atomic molecular optical physics for your graduate studies?
I love the hands-on aspect—it’s a mix of computer work and then you can tinker. There aren’t huge collaborations, but your individual work does connect to a larger picture, other people are doing the same type of explorations, and collaborating is part of what advances the work.
Were you involved in other extracurricular clubs during your time at Illinois?
I made it my goal to try something new every year. I signed up for many things the first two years, got a taste test, then narrowed my interests. Some highlights, I was a DJ freshman year for Pizza FM. Joined Archery Club (I was so bad—but it was fun). Also joined the sky diving club, but had other commitments every opportunity for dives, so didn’t get to do that. It’s still on my bucket list.
What will you miss most about Physics Illinois?
The people, my physics family. Coming in, I didn’t know anyone, and I have gotten to know Mats, Celia, Dale—to the point where it’s just super casual. Our conversations weren’t just about physics, they were about life. The quality of the people here definitely spilled into the quality of the physics. I’ve learned a lot about how to approach both physics and life. I learned it’s important to take the time out to do something you really want to do.