Jon del’Etoile learned early on that he liked figuring out how things work. It began when he was studying metal fabrication at Bristol Plymouth Regional Vocation Technical.
“I really liked making new things and figuring out the best and most efficient way to bring all the pieces together,” the Taunton resident said.
Later this month, Jon will graduate from BSU with a bachelor’s degree in physics, but it will be just a stepping-stone. In September, he’ll begin pursuing his PhD at Ohio State University in theoretical biophysics. The program he’s entering is among the top ten in the country.
He has no idea where this penchant for the sciences comes from, saying: “That was kind of the weirdest thing. There wasn’t anything I can think of that would lead me down this path. Finding physics came from just taking advantage of the opportunities at Bridgewater. I just said ‘yes’ to this and then to this, right down the line.”
When Jon arrived on campus he wasn’t sure what he wanted to study. “I knew higher education would lead me down some sort of path,” he said.
Eventually, he began doing research in biopsychology, and was intrigued when he started to see within the brain’s neural networks something that made sense to him. Underlying it all was math and physics. And so he changed his major to the latter.
He spent a year working in the lab with Dr. Thayaparan Paramanathan, assistant professor of physics, and his work there led him to new and exciting opportunities. Last summer, Jon was accepted to the highly competitive (400 applications for 12 spots) National Science Foundation program in theoretical biophysics and neuro-degenerative diseases. There he studied a protein that most scientists believe breaks down the brain’s neurons.
The ten weeks were transformative.
“I thought it was great,” Jon said. “It kind of puts you in a grad school environment, so you get a feel for what it’s really like.”
Kansas State and Ohio State both accepted him to their PhD programs. He opted to become a Buckeye, and not just because the program there is ranked so highly.
“Ohio State just seems to be moving forward in the field,” Jon said. “They really care about the graduate students’ ideas. It’s a pretty unique program in that way.” Right off the bat he’ll be working with DNA and RNA modeling, both of which are important in cancer research.
Ultimately, Jon would like to teach at the university level. A research-focused institution definitely interests him, but he may opt for someplace closer to his soon-to-be alma mater, BSU.
“I’m really interested in teaching,” he said. Being at the front of a classroom or leading in other ways, is something Jon can do, said Professor Paramanathan.
“He is the president of the Society of Physics Students and has reformed the society and now it is very active,” he said. “As the adviser of the SPS I have seen his leadership skills and I believe he will be great leader one day.”
The professor added, “Jon is hardworking and thrives to excel in every research project he works on. It was an absolute pleasure having him as part of our lab and department. He is a story that BSU can be proud of.”
Which is another way of saying that wherever he ends up, there’s little doubt Jon del’Etoile will find a way to put it all together. (Story and photo by John Winters, G ’11, University News & Media)
