Union College student from Rotterdam wins Goldwater award
Union College physics student is doing work as Goldwater scholar
By Nick Niedzwiadek  Published in Albany Times-Union 8:36 pm, Thursday, July 3, 2014

Stephen DiIorio is interested in studying particles that defy the laws of physics – classical physics at least.

The rising senior at Union College is spending his summer conducting research at the University of Washington where he is using near-absolute zero temperatures to study quantum physics — which explores the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic level.

"Cold atom and molecule experiments bring out the quantum effects," he said.


DiIorio's academic curiosity and hard work helped him to become one of 283 nationwide to receive a prestigious scholarship named after U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater. Goldwater, a five-term senator from Arizona, was the 1964 Republican candidate for president.

DiIorio, a double major in physics and computer science, becomes the 11th student from Union to have won the award.

The $7,500 scholarship was created in 1989 and is awarded to students pursing a career in mathematics, science, or engineering.

DiIorio said his interest in physics started with a physics class at Mohonasen High School in Rotterdam.

"Physics was the most interesting subject I took because of the problems and math component of it all," he said.

He took an AP level class and said he knew he wanted to study physics in college.

While at Union, he took a computer science class to fill his schedule and enjoyed it enough to take additional classes in the subject and eventually declare it as a second major.

One field that interests him is quantum information research — where particles called qubits are used to process information.

One potential application of this research is to create new computer technology where long strings of qubits can process more information than traditional computer technology and at faster speeds.

DiIorio said he plans to attend graduate school and hopes being a Goldwater scholars helps him stand out when applying.

"I've heard its pretty prestigious so I guess it can't hurt," he said. "If I could get into a school like MIT or Caltech I would love to go there."