By Brett Buckner

When the email arrived in November notifying Hunter that he’d been accepted into the winter School on Materials Science, he was “ecstatic.”However, his acceptance made him an outlier among his peers. Commonly referred to as the MateriAlZ Winter School, the five-day conference was held January 5–9 at Biosphere 2 in Oracle, Arizona. Ballard was one of just 29 students selected from universities across the country–and the only biology major in the group.

“By the standards of the event, I am not a traditional applicant,” said the 22-year-old senior from Oxford. Ï’m studying biology and planning to pursue medical school after graduation. Most people interested in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) are majoring in chemistry, engineering, or physics, and they generally want to work in the industry or academia after completing a master’s or PH.D. in the field.”

Not that Ballard has any regrets. He spent the week fully engaged, taking in as much as possible. Ït was an incredible opportunity and an honor to be selected to represent Jacksonville State, as well as the state of Alabama, at this event,” he said. I had the pleasure of meeting an outstanding group of brilliant and outgoing people–both students and faculty. I learned so much about the fascinating field of MSE from the lectures and from the people I met that I otherwise would have never known. Plus, I got to experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert and the Biosphere 2.”

The MateriAlZ Winter School is a joint event hosted by the University of Arizona and Arizona State University to provide undergraduate students with a multifaceted perspective on the diversity of MSE. The program offers a platform tp network with experts and peers, share research, and explore cutting-edge topics through tutorials and lectures on nanomaterials, semiconductors, planetary materials, quantum materials, and biomaterials, among other subjects. Students also participated in panel discussions focused on professional development in the field.

“The Winter School wasn’t all business, though,” Ballard added. “There were plenty of fun activities, including games, an art night, tours of the Biosphere 2 facility, visits to on-site telescopes, and more.”

Students had the opportunity to present their research for peer review and feedback. Ballard presented his projected title “Exploration of Transition Metal Complexes for Use in Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET) Pathways,” which he completed under the mentorship of Dr. Anusree Mukherjee, Jax State Assistant professor of chemistry, in collaboration with his peer Victoria Bamigboye.

Their research focuses on developing more sustainable methods of energy production beyond current options like fossil fuels, solar, hydropower, wind, or nuclear energy.

“To put it simply, we’re trying to capture and reuse the same mechanism that plants use to make energy during photosynthesis,” Ballard explained. “we’re starting by investigating which molecules–such as transition metal complexes–could work effectively for this application.”

Attending the MateriAlZ Winter School was a transformative experience for Ballard. “It helped me understand how materials science and technology can be applied in a variety of contexts,” he said. “This experience will help me stand out when applying for jobs or professional programs because I can offer a unique perspective on how to positively impact the field using what I’ve learned about MSE.”

Ballard expressed deep appreciation for Dr. Mukherjee’s mentorship throughout his academic journey. “She’s dedicated to her students’ education and to advancing the field of chemistry,” he said. “It was a privilege to have her as both a professor and a mentor.”