Alumni Spotlight – Laura Jennings
Laura Jennings graduated from Wake Forest in 2018 and now works in Fiber Optics for a communications company in Berlin. While an undergraduate student at Wake, she worked in the laboratory of Professor Oana Jurchescu conducting research on organic semiconductors and perovskites. In an interview with Professor Jurchescu, Jennings shares her professional journey since attending Wake.
Prof. Jurchescu: What are you doing now, career-wise?
Jennings: I’m currently living in Berlin, Germany working for Corning Incorporated’s Fiber Optics division, Corning Optical Communications. I work in strategic projects and data analytics supporting the world’s largest telecom carriers and hyper scale data centers who deploy fiber optic cables in their communications networks and AI builds.
Prof. Jurchescu: What did you do right out of Wake Forest?
Jennings: Right after graduation from Wake Forest in 2018 I enrolled in a Commercial Rotational Program with Corning Optical Communications in Charlotte, NC. I spent the year rotating through our Engineering, Product Line Management, Marketing, and Sales organizations, learning the science behind our innovative Fiber Optic technology while also learning how to monetize, market, and sell our products.
Prof. Jurchescu: How did Wake Forest Physics help you get where you are today?
Jennings: I like to say I was an “accidental” physics major and it was due to the professors and mentors I found in the WFU Physics department. I took Prof. Rick Matthew’s “flipped” physics class (watch lectures as homework, work problem sets in the classroom) my freshman Fall and loved it so much I took his next class in the Spring. The small classroom setting made it comfortable to ask questions and gave us nearly 1:1 help with problem sets. This experience truly changed how I learn, inspired critical thinking, and built confidence in myself that I can learn “hard” things. I use these lessons with me in my personal and professional life everyday.
Prof. Jurchescu: Do you have an anecdote you would care to share either from your time at Wake Forest Physics or from afterward relevant to Wake Physics?
Jennings: Too many to count! Being part of Prof. Oana Jurchescu’s research group was truly a highlight of my college experience. I learned from the inspiring and brilliant Andrew Zeidell during his PhD studies and made incredible friends in our research group. From keeping in touch with many fellow research team members, to getting coffee with Angela Harper in Berlin, and seeing Zach Lamport on the NYC subway, these relationships, both mentorship and friendship, will be lifelong!
Prof. Jurchescu: Is there anything you would like to share with prospective or current students?
Jennings: To prospective students: While you can take physics classes at any major university, the small class sizes and truly incredible professors set WFU apart. I wouldn’t have studied physics or gotten where I am today if I hadn’t chosen Wake Forest. To current students: There’s no wrong step to take in your career after graduating from Wake Forest. While I was considering PhD programs in Materials Science, I ultimately decided to enter industry and test a career on the commercial side of the business. It was the best choice I could’ve made! While my physics and research background helps me quickly understand the complex products we sell at Corning, I find I’m passionate in solving customer problems with data – something I never would’ve known if I didn’t take a risk in doing something different after graduation.