After graduation: Grace is continuing her education at the University of Colorado - Boulder, pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.

Hometown: Papillion, NE
High school: Papillion LaVista South High School
Semester Selected: Spring 2022

What’s your dream job? I want to work for one of the United States Intelligence Communities as a Foreign Weapons Analyst using my knowledge in both Mathematics and National Security

What is the best project you’ve ever worked on or really admire in STEM? The best project I have worked on in STEM was for my summer internship at NSRI. We were tasked with updating a limited nuclear conflict table top exercise over conflict between Russia and Ukraine. To accomplish this task, we had to use our knowledge in STEM as well as humanities. I loved the multi domain aspect of research and how relevant it was to national security.

Who is someone (teacher, mentor, role model) in STEM you look up to and why? I look up to my supervisor Christopher Yeaw. He is the Associate Executive Director at NSRI and has his doctorate in nuclear engineering and engineering physics. He has shown me the importance of STEM when it comes to national security. I have learned how important it is to use my mathematical skill set to better secure the nation from various threats.

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone considering a STEM major? I would tell them to research different career options. I thought I was limited to certain careers paths when I became a Mathematics major but soon realized just how many options I had. I never thought I would be able to work for national security if I chose STEM but now that is exactly the career path I am pursuing.

What is one misconception about STEM that you want to break? I want to break the misconception that the only career path for a degree in STEM is research. I want to show others they can use their knowledge of STEM to make a difference in the world today. They can engineer weapons, rockets, influence policy, and create new technology to combat climate change.

Farson presents research at a Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) Conference in Hawaii