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

Alumni

Grace Helton ’25 (B.S., Chemistry) – currently working as a chemist at Carlisle Construction Materials before heading to Pitt to pursue a PhD in chemistry

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