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Physics major and math minor Leonardo Juarez, class of 2026 from Springfield, Ohio, has been awarded a $10,000 Thomas D. Rossing Physics Scholarship through the Network of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Colleges and Universities. Juarez is one of only three to earn the larger award with nine other students each receiving a $5,000 scholarship.

Specifically designed for individuals who are passionate about their faith and committed to using their education to make a positive impact in the world, the scholarship, courtesy of the Thomas D. Rossing Fund for Physics Education, is annually awarded to exemplary students in physics enrolled in an ELCA-related college or university.

鈥淲e're very excited about Leo being awarded the Rossing Physics Scholarship,鈥� said Paul Voytas, professor of physics at Wittenberg. 鈥淚t's a very competitive award, and Leo being awarded speaks volumes about his interest and capabilities in physics. Dr. Elizabeth George, [professor of physics at Wittenberg], and I have worked with Leo on a research project for several years, and it's been great to see his growth with that experience and his growth in general at Wittenberg.鈥�

Juarez, who serves as a research assistant for Voytas and George, applied for the scholarship last year but was turned down.
 
鈥淢y professors encouraged me to apply again this year, and I received the scholarship,鈥� Juarez said. 鈥淚 was surprised to receive the $10,000 scholarship. It is good to take a step back and re铿俥ct on how much I have learned and done over the past three years. I plan to use the scholarship to help pay my tuition.鈥� 

The awards are made possible through generous gifts from Dr. Thomas D. Rossing, who created the fund through the Foundation of the ELCA. Rossing, an accomplished physics scholar himself, decided to support the study of the field at colleges and universities connected with the ELCA by providing scholarships and other financial assistance to academically strong physics students.

鈥淲hen I visited Wittenberg, I got to meet Dr. George, and we talked about what physics is and what they do here, as well as my plans for the future. It was a good talk and was the main reason why I chose Witt. Wittenberg is also close to home,鈥� Juarez said. 鈥淚 like how welcoming Wittenberg is and how much great work goes on here. So I arrived at Witt knowing I would study physics. I have had good experiences with my professors at Wittenberg. They're all intelligent, passionate about their work, and hardworking. After my 铿乺st year, I asked Dr. George about research opportunities, and she told me about her and Dr. Voytas' research.鈥�

Their research sounded interesting to Juarez, so he decided to pursue. 

鈥淭hey are searching for Charge Conjugation Parity Violation in Positronium Decay, which would help us understand the matter and antimatter asymmetry in the universe,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the beginning of the universe, equal amounts of matter and antimatter were created. Matter and antimatter annihilate each other whenever they come together. But now we have more matter than antimatter, so there must be a process that leaves us with more matter than anti-matter. So, we're looking at positronium annihilation as one of those processes that would result in the matter and antimatter asymmetry. Positronium is an electron and its antiparticle (the positron) bind together. My contribution to the research includes testing detectors that would measure the energy from the annihilations; simulation of detector signals to 铿乶d optimal parameters for signal processing method; the design and building of a power and signal feedthrough to the detectors in a superconducting magnet; design, building, and testing of possible light transmission systems to bring light out, and the simulation of decays in the experimental apparatus.鈥�

Juarez was also selected to present a poster on his research at the fall meeting of the Division of Nuclear Physics (DNP) of the American Physical Society (APS). He presented in October in Chicago, Illinois, with the invitation being a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to present to a larger academic community. 

鈥淚 have been able to use all the skills I learned in class to help me conduct research with my professors,鈥� Juarez said. 鈥淚 have been able to attend conferences and meetings to present my research to others. At these conferences and meetings, I was able to talk with others in the 铿乪ld and learn about what everyone else is doing. I got to meet people who are intelligent and passionate about their research. I am grateful for the experiences that Witt has given me.鈥�

Rossing Scholarships open doors and propel students toward their dreams, allowing them to pursue their studies with greater sense, purpose, and fulfillment. All applicants must be enrolled in an ELCA or ELCIC-related college or university, must be currently classified by their college or university as a sophomore or junior, must have declared their intention to graduate with a major in physics, and must have completed at least one course in physics at that college or university.

In their time at Wittenberg, George and Voytas have often provided students with research opportunities through grants received from the National Science Foundation. One grant allowed faculty and students to develop and construct a high-sensitivity instrument to search for CP violation (C -charge conjugation and P -parity) in positronium decay, and the second helped to further research on fundamental symmetries and interactions in weak and electromagnetic decays.

Through these grants, Juarez, along with Jourdan Stipe, class of 2025 from LaPlace, Louisiana, were also able to visit the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University, which was an impactful experience for both of them.

鈥淥ur NSF grants have always included funds to support students working with us as NSF has long understood the value of student research in developing the science and technology workforce,鈥� Voytas said. 鈥淪tudents like Leo and Jourdan learn a lot, but they also contribute materially to the project. Leo and Jourdan designed and tested some parts of our experimental apparatus and then went to FRIB with us in the summer of 2024 to install a major part of the apparatus there. Leo went back with us several times this summer to install some additional components and take some preliminary data. He's continuing to contribute to the project by developing computer simulations that will be needed as we analyze data from the experiment.鈥�

Both projects enabled talented undergraduate students at Wittenberg to develop instrumentation and computer skills important for many post-college paths in STEM fields while learning to think independently, solve practical problems, and communicate clearly in preparation for careers or graduate work in physics, engineering, and related fields.