Introduction
Thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, and subatomic particles are just a blip of the topics within the study of physical chemistry. Physical chemistry, the study of physical and chemical properties of matter, is an intersection of chemistry, physics, engineering, and math. Making this a broad, yet very detail-oriented subject. I interviewed Dr. Alice DeSimone, an Associate Professor at the University of Alabama, to gain a perspective of a woman in this complex field.
Background
Dr. DeSimone excelled in both chemistry and physics in high school. She shared an anecdote of when she was in 10th grade and missed a week of her AP chemistry classes. She had to learn all the material on her own and still earned the highest grade in the class when the next test came around. Dr. DeSimone noted that the class was challenging, yet she memorized and manipulated the equations well and got by on her math skills. She attended Harvard University and majored in chemistry and physics as a single major. Dr. DeSimone found herself gravitating toward classes that offered definite answers rather than interpretive, defendable ones.
College Choice: Harvard
Dr. DeSimone earned her Bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics at Harvard University, known for its prestige and low acceptance rate of around 3.5%. When asked what Dr. DeSimone thought was the driving factor in her admission to Harvard, she lauded her extracurriculars and determination. Dr. DeSimone attended a private school in Georgia; she was the girls’ valedictorian for her class (her school had separate girls’ and boys’ valedictorians), took the maximum number of AP classes available at her school, and participated in 3 varsity sports —cross-country, swimming, and track — as well as other extracurriculars. She comments that she was more well-rounded than specialized, which may have looked good to admissions officers. One of her essays was an extended metaphor about her quitting swimming at 15, with ‘following the black line on the bottom of the pool representing the straightforward, focused path of continuing to swim every day’.
Physical Chemistry’s Impact
Additionally, Dr. DeSimone has published multiple research papers. These new discoveries in physical chemistry could lead to clean, sustainable energy production, the development of materials that capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and many other technological advancements. Physical chemists often study atmospheric reactions and surface chemistry. Additionally, many technological advancements start in a physical chemistry lab, for example, transistors, which are now found in every piece of modern technology.
Women in Physical Chemistry
Like many STEM careers, her field is male-dominated. There are only three women who primarily teach, and only four women out of the whole chemistry tenure-track research faculty. Dr. DeSimone comments that she had to move many times for her husband’s career, and after she had a baby, she couldn’t find any postdoctoral positions in the area. When she moved to Tuscaloosa, she was lucky to get a position at UA with her husband. Dr. DeSimone states that ‘she is happy where she ended up, but my priority was to keep my family together during the critical time after graduate school, when career building is usually the focus for men, and moving is typical in academia.’
A Closing Word
If you have an interest in physical chemistry, or any subject, Dr. DeSimone says, ‘If you love it, go for it! Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you don’t understand what your teacher or professor is saying, get clarification. Other students are always wondering the same thing, but they may lack the confidence to ask. Follow your curiosity!’
