Finding Her Momentum: Meet Antonia Frech, PNW 2024 graduate

Antonia Frech, ’24, originally thought she would become a doctor growing up. Early in her academic career in college, she tried biochemistry. Then she tried Electrical Engineering. But the real momentum finally came when she started taking more physics classes at Purdue University Northwest (PNW).

A native of Chesterton, Indiana, Frech is completing her Bachelor of Science degree in physics at PNW’s College of Engineering and Sciences. She will work as a nuclear fuels engineer at Warrenville, Illinois-based Constellation Energy, where she has been interning since 2022.

“The more science classes I took, the more I liked it,” she said. “I wanted to know the ‘why’ of various phenomena and what happened behind the scenes. I was also able to connect it with so many different interests and have a degree that was versatile.”

Why did you choose to go to PNW?

“I wanted a smaller school near Chicago and smaller classes. I wanted to get to know my professors and the students in my classes so that I could feel comfortable asking questions and discussing things with everyone. I also wanted a smaller school, because then I would have more opportunities for myself.”

How did you become interested in your subject?

“I didn’t like physics when I took it in high school. I didn’t see the beauty in it. When I started taking it in college, I saw it differently. It challenged me. It was satisfying to see a problem and work on it for hours or days to find a solution and watch it all become clear.

“Physics is like the bridge between mathematics and the most fundamental parts of our universe. The bridge between mathematics and pure physics also carries over into real-world applications. That’s where I think the beauty lies. If you really understand what’s going on at a basic level, you can do something with physics to give it meaning.”

Were you involved in student organizations or other activities on campus?

“Doing STEM on the Road with Dr. (Daniel) Suson and the Chemistry and Physics department was great. It was a good learning experience for me to understand how to teach and explain things in a simplified way to communicate with people at different levels.”

Did you have a pivotal experience while participating in PNW?

“In 2022, students from the Department of Chemistry and Physics were invited to join the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) department for a tour of the Braidwood Generating Station. While we were on tour, I had never considered nuclear energy as an interest. When I saw it in person I thought ‘wow!’ There was so much happening that it was actually a melting pot of different disciplines. Sometimes it’s hard to say what you want to do until you see it and understand the magnitude of it in real life.

“I went home and applied online for a nuclear fuels co-op internship. I got an email back pretty quickly and had the interview. A factory tour with IEEE changed the trajectory of all my plans. Then everything fell into place.”

What words of advice would you share with prospective students?

“If you want to be involved in something, such as research, internship or job, don’t be afraid to get in touch. Make those connections and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Send emails and ask professors questions about what they do. There are plenty of options, you just have to look for them.”

Was there anyone at PNW who inspired or encouraged you along the way?

Adam Renstorf

interim chair of the department of chemistry and physics, associate professor of physics and astronomy

“When I was interning, he was a huge help in arranging my schedule for both work and school. He made that possible for me, otherwise I would have had a hard time.”

Daniel Suson

PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS

“He always tried his best to be thorough in his teaching. They were challenging, but he went into depth on different topics. Whenever I was feeling stressed about a certain concept, he would talk about a related topic and that would bring the spark back.”