Class of 2024: Yannick Pleimling named Outstanding Senior for the College of Science
Name: Yannick Pleimling
College: Science
Hometown: Blacksburg
Plans after graduation: Pursuing a Ph.D. in applied physics at Stanford University
Favorite Hokie memory: Pleimling’s favorite Hokie memories center on connecting with students about their science, especially at events such as the Virginia Tech Undergraduate Research Symposium.
“I find it really fulfilling and exciting to hear someone talk about their interests and passions — and it can be in any field, not just physics,” Pleimling said.
Researching ultrasmall behavior using ultrafast lasers
While he can always find something to learn from other student researchers, Pleimling has developed an extensive research portfolio of his own throughout his undergraduate education.
In the summer of his sophomore year, he started working in the Khodaparast research group led by Professor Giti Khodaparast, a faculty member in experimental condensed matter physics at Virginia Tech. The Khodaparast group uses ultrafast lasers to learn more about different materials.
In one such technique, called pump-probe spectroscopy, Pleimling operated a set of lasers that pulse once every one quadrillionth of a second to investigate electron dynamics. While working closely with graduate students and materials scientists, Pleimling applied spectroscopy approaches like this on several projects, including next generation solar cells, magnetic memory, and semiconductor devices.
Through these research experiences, Pleimling established a foundation for understanding research best practices as well as how to contribute meaningfully to a research group and recognize the value of collaboration.
“Science is more interdisciplinary now than ever before, and science benefits from including as many perspectives as possible,” Pleimling said. “More expertise makes science stronger.”
Internship spins up grad school
In 2022, Pleimling’s foundation in research helped him secure an undergraduate research fellowship from the Virginia Tech Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, followed by the Goldwater Scholarship in 2023. During the summer of that year, Pleimling interned for the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory at Stanford University, where he applied techniques he first learned in the Khodaparast group on a range of new materials. This experience cemented his interest in pursuing research on a graduate level. He was accepted to Stanford the following year to build on this foundation.
Campus connections through science
In the lab, the classroom, and elsewhere, Pleimling’s touchstone continues to be deepening and broadening his understanding through conversations and connections. In his senior year, Pleimling became more involved with the Virginia Tech chapter of the Society of Physics Students.
With the goal of creating more opportunities for people to share their research, Pleimling helped organize a conference at the end of March.
They expected to have about 50 or so attendees and were surprised and delighted when almost triple that number expressed interest. As a member heavily involved in logistics and planning, the enthusiasm presented Pleimling with a whole new type of problem.
“But I like new problems,” Pleimling said. “The experience also reminded me that community doesn't have to be just talking about your research. The strength of your connections is the strength of your science.”
And what career combines connections with science? The very one Pleimling has been pursuing since he first started college: professor of physics.
