The Wilkins Group is just getting started, but we are excited to welcome student researchers to help build the lab and analyze some telescope data. If you are a Dickinson student interested in doing research with Prof. Wilkins, please email her at wilkins@dickinson.edu.

Photo of Prof. Wilkins, a white woman with brown hair (worn down) wearing black thick-rimmed glasses. Behind her is a Dickinson College campus building and a black lamp post with a red Dickinson banner.

Dr. Olivia Harper Wilkins

Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Dickinson Class of 2015

Favorite Dickinson course: Creating New Worlds: Myth in Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowling (RELG 301)

Campus involvement: Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Favorite interstellar molecule: Cyanoacetylene (HC3N)

Current project: ordering all the vacuum parts

Full bio and faculty page (with link to CV)

Millia Claire Martinez

Dickinson Class of 2028

Favorite Dickinson course: Mysteries of the Solar System (ASTR 109)

Campus involvement: The Infernos, Astronomy Club

Favorite interstellar molecule: Ammonia (NH3)

Current project: building a cosmic ice experiment

Boriana Victorova Yotzova

Dickinson Class of 2025

Favorite Dickinson course: Pause: The Politics of Race, Gender and Sexuality in Hip-Hop (AFST 220)

Campus involvement: Teaching Assistant (Chemistry), International Orientation Leader

Favorite interstellar molecule: Water (H2O)

Favorite Nebula: Cat’s Eye Nebula

Current project: ALMA observations of methanol isotopologues in Orion KL, rewriting computer code

Kylee Preller

Dickinson Class of 2027

Favorite Dickinson course: Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 242)

Campus involvement: Pi Beta Phi Women’s Fraternity, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, American Chemical Society (ACS) Student Chapter, Dickinson Quantitative Reasoning Center, Women’s Club Soccer

Favorite interstellar molecule: Propylene oxide (CH3CHCH2O)

Favorite Nebula: Hourglass Nebula

Current project: ALMA observations of methanol isotopologues in Orion KL

Katie Lynskey

Dickinson Class of 2026

Current project: Developing Data Analysis Tools for Laboratory Spectra Using Python

    Silvia Roberto

    Dickinson Class of 2029

    Favorite Dickinson course: Accelerated General Chemistry (CHEM 141)

    Campus involvement: Community Engagement Fellow (CEF) partnered with the United Way of Cumberland County, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, American Chemical Society (ACS) Student Chapter, Pi Beta Phi Women’s Fraternity

    Favorite interstellar molecule: Formic acid (HCOOH)

    Favorite Nebula: Tarantula Nebula

    Current project: building a cosmic ice experiment

    Alumni

    Grace Helton ’25 (B.S., Chemistry) – pursuing a PhD in chemistry at Pitt

    Favorite Dickinson course: Concepts of Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 347)

    Campus Involvement: Project Wave, ACS Dickinson Chapter, Dickincinema, Trident, Proctor, and Teaching Assistant!

    Favorite interstellar molecule: Acetic Acid (CH3COOH)

    Project in the Wilkins group: ALMA observations of methanol isotopologues in Orion KL

    Olivia Lyon ’25 (B.S., Chemistry) – pursuing a PhD in chemistry at UMich

    Favorite Dickinson course: Concepts of Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 347)

    Campus involvement: Women’s Club Soccer, ACS Student Chapter President, Teaching Assistant

    Favorite interstellar molecule: Formaldehyde (H2CO)

    Project in the Wilkins group: building a cosmic ice experiment

    Evelyn Pham ’26 (B.S., Computer Science) – completing her studies at Dickinson

    Favorite Dickinson course: Probability and Statistics I (MATH 225)

    Campus involvement: Center for Civic Learning & Action Community Engagement Fellow (CCLA – CEF), Career Peer Assistant

    Favorite interstellar molecule: Methanol (CH3OH)

    Project in the Wilkins group: rewriting computer code to analyze ALMA data