Michelle Chong

Michelle Chong is a double major in history and physics. On campus, Chong was co-president of the Chicago Swing Dance Society and served as a physics tutor in the College Core Tutor Program. 

During the summer, she conducted atomic physics research at the University of Chicago and at Stanford University. Her research projects included locking a laser that excites atoms to high energy levels and studying the phenomenon of photophoresis, motion induced by intense illumination. 

“Thanks to supportive mentors in physics and history, I pursued research in both fields,” said Chong. "It was so fun to alternate wearing my historian hat and my physicist hat!”

Chong is a recipient of the 2020 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, a 2020 Fulbright Scholar, a 2019 Astronaut Scholar and was selected as a University Student Marshal. As a Fulbright Scholar, Chong will teach English in Indonesia for one year.