The Best Kept Secret

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – When Sara Emigholz walked into her first physics class at William & Mary, she never imagined it would lead her to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. Now, with two summers of research under her belt, she's had the chance to see first-hand how physics shapes the tools doctors use to save lives.

“Everything changed when I realized that my work in the lab could directly help people,” Emigholz said. “That’s when I knew I wanted to be a medical physicist.”

Finding her Calling 

During her sophomore year, Emigholz heard medical physicist Julianne Pollard-Larkin speak about her career and the importance of blending science and medicine to positively affect patient outcomes. 

What resonated with Emigholz the most was not the technical detail, but the potential for real human impact. 

Medical physicists develop and calibrate imaging tools such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, which use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues without ionizing radiation, and positron emission tomography (PET) scanners, which use small amounts of radioactive tracers to show how tissues and organs function. The medical industry uses PET technology to diagnose conditions such as cancer and neurological disease by detecting localized build-up of radioactive traces inside the body.

“It was really interesting to hear stories of how the things you’re doing in the lab directly translate to helping people,” Emigholz said. “I really appreciated that and knew it was something I wanted to be a bigger part of.”

Taking the First Step

When she returned to campus, she told her advisor she wanted to pivot. While William & Mary does not offer a specific medical physics degree, her advisor recommended the pre-med physics track, allowing her to combine advanced math and physics with biology and chemistry. 

With a confirmed path and a future she felt excited about, Emigholz began looking for research opportunities to complement her coursework. She reached out directly to her professors. Her message was simple: she wanted hands-on research that made a difference in people’s lives. 

Her message reached Drew Weisenberger, the Radiation Detector and Imaging group leader at Jefferson Lab, and its Biomedical Research Innovation Center (BRIC) co-director. 

He responded with interest, asking about her coursework and research goals, and connected her with colleagues who were preparing new projects.

That exchange opened the doors to two transformative summers at Jefferson Lab.

The Inaugural Summer 

Emigholz began her first summer under the mentorship of Cameron Clarke, a BRIC staff scientist at the lab, focused on PET imaging. 

Current PET scanners pause to process each event they record, which can extend scan time, expose patients to more radiation, and risk image blur if the patient moves. 

The BRIC team had already developed a prototype to address some of these challenges. Instead of stop-and-go detection, their design streams data continuously and processes it in real time separately from the scanner itself.

Emigholz contributed to the effort by performing additional offline data analysis and calibrations to refine the system’s performance.

Beyond the research, Emigholz found mentorship. She was invited to group meetings where experienced researchers discussed cutting-edge projects. Initially, she felt intimidated sitting among scientists whose work she admired and had previously read about.

"My first group meeting, I felt very shy," she said. "It's humbling and profoundly inspiring to be around other staff scientists, beyond my mentor group, but everyone was so down to earth.”

The summer included seminars on writing research papers, organizing references, and social events for students to connect outside of the lab.

"It was a summer as much as it was an internship," she said.

The Next Challenge

When other students from her cohort chose different programs for summer 2025, Emigholz wondered if she should explore somewhere new or return to Jefferson Lab.

"Part of me was thinking maybe I should apply somewhere else because everyone else did something different," she said. "But the more I thought about it, the more I wished I was returning to Jefferson Lab."

She reached out to Weisenberger and Clarke again. Although the PET project had spun up into a Laboratory Directed Research and Development project (LDRD), based in part on her work from the previous summer, they had another project available: characterizing a compact gamma detector with Mike Dion, a Jefferson Lab radiation detector group engineering physicist. 

Her second summer brought new research, new collaborations, and a lot more time in the lab. Emigholz learned how to take benchtop lab measurements and how to model detectors with GEANT4, an advanced software that creates 3D physics simulations.

An industry partner sent a detector made of cadmium magnesium telluride (CMT) to Jefferson Lab for testing. Semiconductor materials, like CMT, make gamma-ray detectors smaller and more efficient, giving them strong potential for both medical and security applications. Jefferson Lab is partnering with the company to test and characterize the detector's performance.

For Emigholz, the project was less about a single prototype and more about proving to herself that she could work through challenges and come out with something tangible.

“At first, there were a lot of road bumps,” she said. “But it was really nice to see the end product and think back, two months ago I was stuck on this, and now I have a finished result ready to present to my mentor.”

A Moment to Remember 

Her proudest moment came when her mentors selected her to present her work during a visit from U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and the Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. 

Emigholz had three minutes to present her work. She used detector modules as props to explain her complex and technical projects in accessible, engaging terms. 

"It gives you something concrete to show, instead of just an abstract concept," she said. "People could actually see what the technology looks like."

She spoke with clarity and confidence, a skill that even veteran scientists can struggle to master.

At the end of the event, Wright presented her with a challenge coin, a symbolic token of recognition for her outstanding presentation ­— recognition she hadn’t expected to receive. 

“I was definitely very nervous, but it was such a rewarding experience,” she said. “To share what I had done the past two summers, and then to be recognized for it, was incredible.”

That coin now sits on her dresser in a protective case her mother bought, a visual reminder that taking a chance, even when success seems unlikely, can change everything. 

The Power of Mentorship 

Emigholz credits her mentors at Jefferson Lab for creating an environment where she could grow. Clarke and Dion gave her guidance on research, while Weisenberger encouraged her to develop her communication skills. 

“Sara impressed me with her initiative to find ways to get the most out of her education,” said Weisenberger. “On her own, she identified a funding source that allowed her to first work with us as a mentee in my group. I have no doubt she will be a successful scientist.”

“When looking for qualities in student researchers, I look for curiosity and independence. Sara exhibits both and is capable of balancing multiple responsibilities while delivering helpful results.” said Clarke. 

Emigholz found herself surrounded by researchers who took a genuine interest in her and her ideas. 

 "Everyone I've met here has been encouraging," said Emigholz. "The other staff scientists, my mentors, they all made me feel like I had a voice and I was part of something important."

She also hopes her story encourages other students to take chances.

“The best kept secret of college is cold emailing,” she said. “If you’re passionate about something, reach out. People are usually willing to share and talk about their research, and it’s a great way to learn and build connections.”

For her next chapter, Emigholz plans to apply to graduate school and hopes to work in radiation therapy, designing and calibrating imaging machines and treatment plans.

“A student should learn from a mentor, but also question their reasoning and goals, both so they can understand the bigger picture, but also to sharpen the focus and collaborate on doing the best work possible,” said Clarke. “Sara has done this on several projects in our group and has demonstrated her capability as a scientist multiple times over.”

Contact: Michelle Alvarez, Jefferson Lab Communications Office, malvarez@jlab.org