Jorgensen plans to combine passions for physics and business

Summer physics research on solar cells and wind energy at Cornell sparked Lucas Jorgensen’s interest in renewable energy. After graduating from Cornell in 2008, he plans to pursue the business side of the industry, incorporating skills learned from his second major — economics and business.

Jorgensen will also be able to draw from numerous leadership skills gained at Cornell. He served as a resident assistant, a member of student senate, and as the president of Greek organization, Sigma Kappa Psi.

His budding interest in renewable energy also led him to a marketing internship with Cornell’s Civic Engagement Office, where he sought out connections with other students and staff interested in social responsibility.

Jorgensen values the fact that he was able to pursue a diverse range of interests at Cornell while still gaining a strong grounding in physics. The best part of about the physics department is its small size, he says, which gave him tight connections to both students and faculty, especially during research.

“The best part of research at Cornell is getting to work with faculty on a peer level,” he says. “You always know that your professors are smart, but it isn’t until you see them tackle real problems not in a textbook that you begin to understand just how good they are at what they do. It gives you an appreciation for physics in the real world and what a career in the field might entail.”