Claudia Morello B.S. IN ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
Claudia Morello’s (’18) journey to becoming a computational physicist was anything but conventional. Initially setting her sights on a culinary career, she attended cooking school before realizing that the high-stress environment of a professional kitchen was not for her. A lifelong curiosity for math, physics and outer space inspired her to pivot toward astrophysics. That decision ultimately led her to Embry-Riddle, where she found a community of like-minded individuals and an academic environment that set the foundation for her future success. A Career in Computational Physics Today, Claudia works as a computational physicist for a defense contractor, leveraging her expertise in light scattering and optics to develop models of complex systems. Her role involves coding and building simulations in Python, MATLAB and C++, as well as engaging in research discussions and staying current with the latest technological advancements. It is a field that challenges her analytical abilities while allowing her to push the boundaries of what is known. The Road to a Ph.D. Encouraged by her mentors, including Associate Professor Dr. Muhammad Farooq and Assistant Professor Dr. Leroy Long from Embry-Riddle, she pursued further education and research. “Dr. Farooq and Dr. Long both went above and beyond helping me get into grad school, from writing my reference letters to giving me advice about what to expect from the GRE and grad school culture” she said. Her doctoral work focused on modeling how light scatters off ice particles from cryovolcanoes on Saturn’s moon,
STUDENT ENROLLMENT
Enceladus, as observed by the Cassini satellite. She uncovered a vast amount of unprocessed data from the mission, leading to the first published analysis of the degree of polarization of Enceladus’ surface. Her groundbreaking work provided valuable insights into the composition of the particles there and solidified her passion for being at the forefront of discovery. A Bright Future Beyond her professional achievements, Claudia is passionate about outreach efforts, particularly those aimed at supporting women in STEM. She actively contributes to Reinvented Magazine, founded by another Embry-Riddle alumna, to inspire and mentor young girls pursuing science and engineering careers. Witnessing the impact of her mentorship fuels her commitment to giving back to the STEM community. Looking ahead, Claudia sees both challenges and opportunities in her field. She notes the growing role of AI in physics and the potential risks of automating problem- solving to the point of replacing human expertise. However, she is excited about the advancements in quantum computing and cryogenics, which are opening new frontiers in experimental physics. Advice for Future Scientists For students aspiring to follow a similar path, Claudia emphasizes the importance of both technical and interpersonal skills. Proficiency in high-performance computing and strong physics intuition are crucial, but so is the ability to communicate effectively to non-scientific audiences. She also shares valuable advice: embrace failure as a learning tool, recognize that even experts were once beginners and understand that networking is not just about professional connections but about building relationships that can lead to unexpected opportunities.
COURSE ENROLLMENTS:
Fastest growing majors in last 5 years: s M.S. Data Science (700% – started in 2019) s B.S. Computational Math (60%) s B.S. Astronomy and Astrophysics (57%) s B.S. Communication (55%) s B.S. Aerospace Physiology (51%) s M.S. Engineering Physics and MS Human Factors (both 50%) 1,072 Fall 2024 Student Enrollments in COAS degree programs. (11% increase from fall 2019)
On average, every Embry-Riddle student takes more than two courses in COAS every semester. 17,093
19,991 Students in COAS courses in fall 2024 (17% increase)
Students in COAS courses in fall 2019
Largest increases: (fall 2019 – fall 2024) s Global Conflict Studies (257%) s Air Force Aerospace Studies (112%) s Chemistry (107%) s Human Factors and Systems (48%) s Cybersecurity (35%)
(fall 2019 – fall 2024)
RESEARCH
On average, a COAS faculty member mentors two students in research; publishes 2.5 papers, book chapters or books; and has one active grant and submits another proposal every year. 100 Funded research grants. 204 % Five-year increase (FY24 vs. FY19)
$ 42 M Total value of more than 100 funded research grants.
20 | Daytona Beach College of Arts & Sciences
2024 - 2025 Annual Report | 21
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online