Physics and astrophysics major Olivia Medina received this year’s Excellence in Undergraduate Research award from the College of Science and Health, an annual honor that commemorates exceptional achievement and initiative in undergraduate student research.  

Medina has been conducting research in physics and astrophysics since her first year at DePaul, later joining Associate Professor Gabriela Gonzalez Aviles’ lab as a sophomore where she was introduced to condensed matter physics, analyzing the atomic structure of various compounds. She received both an Undergraduate Summer Research Program grant and an Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program grant to complete ongoing research on transparent conducting oxides, compounds frequently found in touchscreen electronics due to their flexibility and transparency.

This work led to a collaborative, National Science Foundation-funded project in partnership with Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory, where Medina analyzed x-ray scattering data to better understand the atomic structure of zinc-indium-tin-oxide, or ZITO, an electronic material that could potentially improve the performance of existing touchscreen technology. Her work and those of other participating students were spotlighted in a feature on the college research website. Medina presented her contributions at the 2024 Undergraduate STEM Research Showcase and at the joint National Society of Black Physicists-National Society of Hispanic Physicists conference in Houston, Texas. Her findings also led to a co-authored publication in a special issue of the renowned Journal of Applied Physics.

In addition to her research on conducting oxides, Medina has worked on multiple innovative projects. With mentorship from Associate Professor Enrico Au-Yeung, she completed an independent study investigating conical radon as an alternative approach to medical imaging, where her findings were published in DePaul Discoveries, the college’s peer-reviewed undergraduate research journal. She also received a Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship last summer to study ferromagnetic materials at Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University.

Medina will continue her research career after DePaul as a PhD student at Arizona State University. The College of Science and Health offers heartfelt congratulations on her incredible work and best wishes for her future success!