Alumni Spotlight - Elena Wanvig Dot

Elena Wanvig Dot

The feeling of finishing my last IB exam is as fresh in my mind as if it happened yesterday – it’s shocking to think that it was five years ago.

After graduating from Haut-Lac in 2019 I went to Cornell University to study molecular biology – I eventually found out that it wasn’t quite right for me and switched to a chemistry degree. By that time, I had conveniently taken enough molecular biology classes to graduate with both degrees.

During my degree I had the great pleasure of working in the department of biophysics for just over three years. My research was a fun mix of working in a cold room and controlling an X-ray source to “image” the structure of protein crystals. Working at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source was rather exciting, and much more convenient than sending samples by post to the Advanced Photon Source in Chicago and having to control the beam remotely! This research finally culminated in a paper on OLD family nucleases which was published last year.

As much as fraternity parties had their time and place, I was rather relieved to be leaving them behind. After graduating in 2023 I went straight to the University of Cambridge where I started my PhD in Chemistry. I was doing polymer synthesis and rheology (which is the study of the mechanical properties of gel-like materials). Even though Cambridge and its colleges are wonderful, the lab I joined in my first year was not a good fit. Thankfully, though, I was able to transfer to Prof. Axel Zeitler’s Terahertz Applications Group in the department of chemical engineering.

Having to change research groups was a rather hectic challenge. It forced me to reckon with what parts of research I enjoy, and what I really care about. I am now having an incredible time using lasers again, this time on the opposite side of the electromagnetic spectrum to x-rays. I never would have guessed that I’d end up studying physical chemistry and optical physics, especially having taken only SL chemistry and skipping physics entirely in the IB! Being a chemist in a group of physicists and chemical engineers has its benefits, but I’ve also had to learn a lot of new theory, take more courses, and painstakingly chew on a lot of basic maths.

Despite the challenge, I have learned that most people, most of the time, are just as confused as I am.

England has been wonderful so far, and I love being in Cambridge which is but a convenient train-ride away from London – it has made for a lot of Haut-Lac reunions with the class of 2019!

Haut-Lac Alumni Magazine