Katherine Stroh, Central College Class of 2024 from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was selected for a U.S. Department of Energy Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship. Stroh, an engineering major at Central, will work at the Ames National Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, during the summer.
Stroh’s research will focus on engineering materials, specifically demonstrating early-stage cooling concepts. The vapor-compression systems found in most cooling appliances, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, can emit greenhouse gases and lead to increased global warming. The team at Ames Lab is attempting to find more sustainable methods for cooling technology by researching caloric refrigeration techniques.
“The research team at Ames Laboratory has been instrumental in driving the advance of caloric technologies for cooling,” Stroh says. “The research will focus on demonstrating early-stage cooling concepts using magnetocaloric and electrocaloric materials. It will be a great learning experience.”
Stroh’s academic advisor Liz Golovatski, associate professor of physics, added, “I’m so excited for Katherine. This is a great fit for her. This project sits right at the intersection of engineering and physics and Katherine excels at both.”
The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships program encourages undergraduate students and recent graduates to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers by providing research experiences at the Department of Energy laboratories.
