Kassia Schraufnagel
Kassia Schraufnagel
Class Year
’24
Current home
Madison, Wisconsin
Major(s)
Physics
Current Position
Ph.D. Student at University of Wisconsin – Madison
Kassia Schraufnagel ’24 received a Music Scholarship from Carthage, which allowed her to continue pursuing her musical interests while completing a major in physics and double minors in chemistry and mathematics. After graduating, she began a Ph.D. program in nuclear engineering and engineering physics at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where her research focuses on plasma physics and fusion energy production. Building on her academic achievements, Ms. Schraufnagel was recently selected for a prestigious U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant to attend the 2025 ITER International School in southern France, where she will continue advancing her research in nuclear fusion and sustainable energy.
Ms. Schraufnagel stays involved with Carthage through the Physics Department and the (SPS), regularly presenting information on graduate school, giving tours of her research experiments, and providing support to other physics students here at Carthage. “I made a lot of friends and was a part of the physics student community during my time at Carthage,” she says. “I feel it is important to continue to provide support to that same community where I can.”
What have you enjoyed most about your career?
“Whenever I run our experiments, it is exciting to watch the data to see if we find any new or interesting phenomena that have yet to be explained. I also enjoy getting to discuss my research and learn from my colleagues.”
How did Carthage prepare you?
“I did a lot of research during my time at Carthage, including a summer internship with the (WSGC). I also did work with WSGC each semester, which eventually culminated in my senior thesis. My work with WSGC confirmed that I wanted to continue doing research as a career. This experience helped me secure multiple external internships and a spot in graduate school.”
How has your liberal arts education benefited you?
“Many of the group projects I worked on at Carthage involved in-class presentations, allowing me to become more comfortable presenting to an audience. In graduate school, I now frequently present my work to my research group. My experience at Carthage taught me the skills necessary to create a good presentation and gave me the confidence to present.”
Why did you choose Carthage?
“I knew that the small class sizes at Carthage would allow me to work closely with the professors and that the WSGC would present opportunities for undergraduate research.”
What opportunities were made possible because of your Carthage experience?
“Because of my research experience at Carthage, I presented research at multiple conferences across the country. I also secured two internships at DOE national laboratories.”
What Carthage professors played a part in your success and how?
“I received a lot of help from the physics faculty at Carthage. Specifically, Professor Kevin Crosby helped me get a start in research and provided mentoring to me for my research with the WSGC. He and Professor Jean Quashnock helped with my applications to internships and to graduate school. By working closely with the faculty, I attained many opportunities and the guidance I needed to complete my degree in three years.”
What's your favorite Carthage memory?
“Some of my favorite memories from Carthage include my time in the Society of Physics Students (SPS), a physics club that often facilitated many fun activities, tours, and events for students who enjoy physics. My time at Carthage helped me to become more outgoing, which has helped me in meeting new people at conferences and discussing my research.”
Tips for current Carthage students?
“My advice is to explore anything that sounds interesting, both in activities and in testing potential career trajectories. Undergraduate school is a great time to learn both what you enjoy and what you do not enjoy.”