Matt Silveira has been named one of our Winter 2021 Undergraduate of the Quarter, and we’re excited to tell you a little more about him.
Matt was raised in the small town of Escalon, California. He is at least the third generation to graduate from Escalon High School, home of the Cougar’s. He chose Oregon State because his grandparents would take him and his brother on vacation in the summer through the Willamette Valley to visit extended family in Walla Walla, and he says, “it’s just a really nice place. I really enjoyed my time here as a kid.”
He had always enjoyed the physical sciences growing up. “You know, when you’re in grade school there really isn’t a distinction between chemistry, physics, biology and all that stuff, but science always stood out. I really didn’t get into chemistry until I was going through General Chemistry at Linn-Benton where I had a professor that was very enthusiastic and she taught in a way that really inspired me to pursue it further, as opposed to a different major I was in at the time. So, when I transferred to Oregon State, I was fully committed to being a chemistry major.”
After deciding to go to Oregon State, Matt was browsing the Chemistry Department website and ran across Dr. Walt Loveland’s website. His research sounded interesting, so he got in touch. They talked for 15-20 minutes and according to Matt, “before he knew it, I was working in his lab.” Matt’s job is to manufacture fission targets used for the study of kinetic energy when splitting an atom. The targets are used by graduate students as well as researchers at various National Labs including Livermore or Los Alamos. He got into this research area because when he was in High School there was an interesting section about radioactivity, and it really intrigued him. Dr. Loveland’s lab was his opportunity to learn more and expand his knowledge as a scientist. During his time with Dr. Loveland, Matt has had a paper published as first author.
After graduation, Matt wants to take a gap year. He’s also interested in Inorganic Chemistry, so wants to apply for a few different nuclear and inorganic chemistry positions wherever he can. He says his summer is going to be really heavy into the applications.
When he is not in the lab, Matt is a big outdoorsman. He says that is another reason why he chose Oregon State is because of its proximity to many good hiking and fishing spots, and will happily spend his time off on a trail in the woods.
His favorite book is a toss-up between For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. He says his favorite food has to be a classic American Cheeseburger. Block15 is his go-to when in school, and he thinks they have the best fries in town.
We’re incredibly proud of our Undergraduates of the Quarter and wish Matt all the luck with his future.
