Leo Herrera
Leo Herrera graduated from SMCC this May with an associate degree in science and an emphasis in engineering, which was a momentous step that marked the beginning of his path in this career field. His passions continue this summer as he was recently chosen for an exciting opportunity to be a part of a REU research internship at Harvard University.
Herrera’s internship at Harvard is focused on using computational methods to design wavelengths and poling periods in periodically poled lithium tantalate to create entangled photon pairs via spontaneous parametric down conversion. He looks forward to working on creating a device that can efficiently and consistently produce entangled photons.
“These entangled photon pairs are extremely useful because they can be used for powerful new technologies such as new extremely secure and encrypted communication pathways, qubits used for quantum computing, and unfathomably sensitive and accurate sensors to name a few,” he said.
Herrera began his journey at SMCC in 2022 when he was initially drawn to the soccer program. After sustaining an ACL injury during the training sessions, he turned his focus to academics.
“I stayed for the quality of STEM courses and STEM professors. Each professor I had provided rich experiences in their respective courses, which laid a robust foundation for me to succeed in my field of study. I can't recommend South Mountain Community College enough for those who are thinking about pursuing an education in STEM,” he said.
It was in these classes that he learned of the NSF ETAP (U.S. National Science Foundation Education and Training Application), which led Herrera to apply for what is sure to be a transformative experience at Harvard. When asked about how he prepared for what lies ahead with his internship, he credits his math and physics courses at SMCC for inspiring him to keep going and yearning for more.
Reflecting on his years at SMCC, Herrera notes his professors, including Dr. Amdouni, Dr. Urbieta, Dr. Whitesel, Dr. McIntosh and Mr. Stangel, as playing key roles in his academic career. He also recognizes his support system at home as inspiration for his achievements.
“I wouldn't have accomplished anything near this magnitude without my family. I owe it all to my parents as their sacrifices paved the way for me and my siblings to have opportunities and reach incredible heights that they could only dream of,” he said.