Calista Pearlstone is a Kenyon College Class of 2027 student majoring in Physics and minoring in Religious Studies. Their interests center on using experimental physics to address environmental challenges, including clean energy technology, environmental sensing, low-impact infrastructure, AMO physics, and atmospheric biogeochemistry.

Previous research experience: I conduct experimental AMO research in Professor Aaron Reinhard's lab on three-body interactions and coherence in ultracold neutral Rydberg atoms, including hands-on projects involving CAD, circuit construction, data analysis, and experimental design. I also study atmospheric deposition with Professor Ruth Heindel, examining how land use and seasonal processes shape airborne particulate matter and ecosystem health, and I previously conducted electrical engineering research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in support of inertial confinement fusion target development.

How I got started: I reached out directly to faculty whose work interested me, began with in-person conversations about their research, and grew into independent projects and summer research experiences.

Open to being contacted: Yes

Preferred contact: calistapearlstone@gmail.com

Advice/notes: Alumni/recent grad mentorship; experimental physics; AMO physics; environmental research; CAD; Python; R; spectroscopy; finite element analysis; optical alignment; microfabrication; advanced data visualization.

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