Nisha Wilson, an Optics Track student in the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program (KCGIP), is a natural leader, a diligent problem solver, and a dedicated mentor who is always quick to help a friend or peer in need.
Wilson is currently completing her internship at MKS Instruments in Hillsboro, Oregon, and is also heavily involved in the National Science Foundation’s Science Pathways mentorship program, a collaboration between the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program and UO STEM CORE. This program provides four years of support to community college students coming to the Knight Campus, and the opportunity to become a mentor is advertised to all students in the master’s program.
When she’s not in the lab conducting research on high-powered lasers, Wilson can be found adventuring across Oregon. She especially loves exploring waterfalls in Eugene or snowboarding in Bend on her own or with the friends she’s made in the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program. One of the ways Wilson creates inclusive spaces within the Knight Campus is by building a sense of community and inter-track relationships. She is often the first person to suggest a KCGIP pizza-run or weekend excursion and she can always be seen surrounded by a large group of students.
Before starting her master’s in applied physics at the Knight Campus, Wilson graduated from California State University at Sacramento with a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering Physics/Applied Physics, where she co-founded her own mentorship program. As a mentor in the Knight Campus, Wilson assists historically underrepresented community college students interested in industry careers with professional development and achieving their goals. She is currently mentoring UO juniors in physics and goes above and beyond by providing additional engagement through email check-ins and one-on-one sessions, demonstrating her drive and passion for leadership and inclusion.
March is Women’s History Month, which this year is themed “Women who advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” It seemed a good time to shine the spotlight on Wilson, who embodies these ideals. We caught up with her to learn more about her passion for science and learning, which shines not only in the lab, but in her personal and professional life as well.
What was the best part about being in the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program?
The hands-on work that we get to do. There’s a lot of labs throughout the time on campus and just a lot of hands-on experience learning how to use optical mounts and lasers, beam expanders, and coupling light into fiber optics. I think this experience is going to be really valuable for me moving on.
What’s been one of your favorite memories of being in the KCGIP?
Outside of the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program and doing all the classes that I had, I took a lot of time to explore Oregon and see a lot of the natural beauty that was in the state. It was my first time in Oregon, so I was very excited to go out and hike and see the waterfalls. One of the most memorable experiences that I had was going on a seven-mile hike that ended at a hot spring that rested on a cliff looking down on a river. It was just a great time to spend on the weekends outside of the program.
How do you think the program’s cohort model contributed to your success?
In the KCGIP, one thing that’s really valued is teamwork and working together with peers and the friends that you make. If I didn’t have the friends that I made during the program, I don’t know how I would have made it through all the classes. Any time you get stuck, you always have this super tight-knit network of friends to kind of help you get through things. Even if you’re struggling, you kind of take comfort in knowing that everyone is going through the same thing that you’re going through.
