Meet Sadie Brasel. Brasel is a second year Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University. Brasel is from Oklahoma and is a Rice Graduate Ambassador. Ambassadors are students who represent the university and help prospective students gain knowledge of student life as a graduate student at Rice.
Brasel chose Rice as a graduate school because of their passion for research and the school’s location. Their research focuses on optics. Their research project involves using Ultrafast Single Particle Spectroscopy tools for studying plasmonic nanoparticles.
When she is not conducting research, she serves in various leadership roles within the Rice community. She is a part of the Queer Graduate Student Association (QGSA) and volunteers with Fun with Chemistry on campus.
Brasel advises prospective students to get involved in their new environment to help with adjusting to the new chapter of being a graduate student in Houston.
“You have to put yourself out there,” said Brasel. “Go out and explore the city.”
Brasel advises current students that it is essential to always take care of themselves.
“Proper alone time is needed,” said Brasel. “It is very easy to get burned out.”
Before pursuing the Ph.D., Brasel majored in dance. Outside of academics, Brasel enjoys the art scene and music shows that Houston has to offer, the bakery La Guadalupana and Chinatown.
Graduate ambassadors can be contacted via email at gradambassadors@rice.edu. Sadie Brasel can be contacted directly by email at snb11@rice.edu.