Congratulations to senior undergraduate student Ethan Simpkins for being selected as a 2026 Emma W. Locke Award Finalist!

According to Pitt Student Affairs, "Charles A. Locke established the Emma W. Locke Memorial Award in 1946 in memory of his mother, Emma W. Locke. The award recognizes high scholarship, character, leadership, and devotion to the ideals of the University of Pittsburgh. Each undergraduate school’s dean selects one nominee to represent their school for this prestigious award.  A committee then selects the final recipient.  The award recipient is recognized at the Senior Distinguished Awards Convocation in April/May."

Ethan Simpkins plans to pursue a PhD in Physics at Yale University and continue exploring his career as an experimental physicist. He plans to continue to work in quantum optics and quantum information. Currently, his goal is to pursue a career in academia, where he can conduct meaningful research while teaching and mentoring students. At Pitt, he served as an undergraduate researcher working in quantum optics, superconducting circuits, and FGPA-based machine learning. Additionally, he served as a Teaching Assistant, Recitation Leader, Mathematics Tutor, and a mentor for the Society of Physics Students, and is a recipient of the Brackenridge Research Fellowship. 

Learn more about the award and nominees here.