Daily Inspiration: Meet Mary Catherine Lorio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Catherine Lorio.

Hi Mary Catherine, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I developed a love for performing, the arts and sciences, and storytelling. As a child, I would put on plays for my family members, especially my grandparents. I still perform different characters for my 92-year-old grandmother to this day! It brings her so much light and joy, revealing the power of storytelling. Pursuing what brings you love and joy can change lives. When you share your light with others, it can change the world.

I have always enjoyed exploring my curiosity, questioning, and thinking deeply about the world around me. During my sophomore year of high school, my friend encouraged me to watch a video that explained a quantum physics property known as a superposition state. I was so captivated by the world of quantum physics and wanted to start researching the field. Around the same time, I also needed to select a topic for my science fair project. Despite being fifteen years old, I knew I wanted to complete a science fair project on quantum physics. I cold emailed a world-renowned quantum physicist, my late mentor, Professor Jonathan P. Dowling of Louisiana State University (LSU). He responded, saying that he just so happened to have funding for a high school student to conduct research with him that summer, and he did not know where he would find one. The following summer, I worked with Prof. Dowling and his Quantum Science and Technologies (QST) group at LSU. I was the first high school student to join the QST group. During that summer, I completed my science fair project, where I performed the quantum eraser experiment.

After completing my first quantum physics research project, I began competing in research competitions. By combining my gifts in science and storytelling, I excelled. I earned multiple national and international awards. My research experiences granted me the opportunity to travel across the country and, eventually, around the world. I won three special awards at the world’s largest international science fair, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF); first place in Louisiana at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) and was a national JSHS finalist; a bronze medal at the The International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering, and Environment) Project (ISWEEEP) Olympiad; the Yale Science and Engineering Award; and more. I attribute my science fair success to my lifelong love of performing and science. I loved to present my research as if I was an actress on stage, telling a story. When we embrace all of our gifts, great things can happen.

Between my sophomore and senior years of high school, I worked on four distinct research projects within the QST group. In my senior year, I won fourth place in physics at ISEF for my research on diffraction theory. During my junior year, I worked in an Optomechanics Lab researching the optical spring effect. This work resulted in my first co-authored publication when I was seventeen years old. Our research was conducted in collaboration with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), recipients of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics. When I was not researching physics, I spent my time drawing, writing, painting, animating, and practicing my oral interpretation speeches for Speech and Debate.

I loved researching quantum physics and wanted to study physics in college. Initially, Princeton University was not on my radar–I had no legacy or connections to the university, and I could not imagine it was a possibility for me. However, after seeing that Princeton was consistently listed as one of the top five physics programs in the country, I chose to apply. While applying to Princeton, I decided to be fully myself on the application essays. Then, if they did not accept me, I knew it was not a good fit. I wrote about my love for quantum physics, animation, and storytelling. That year, I was accepted to Princeton University during the regular admissions cycle. The acceptance rate was about 5 percent. Opening that acceptance letter was one of the greatest memories of my life. It made me believe that truly anything is possible.

I graduated from Princeton University with an A.B. in Physics and an M.Eng. in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Now, I live in Los Angeles, CA, where I enjoy researching quantum physics, acting, and storytelling!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In high school, I sometimes struggled with staying present. As I grow older, I realize that living in the moment is one of the greatest gifts of life. Life is precious. We cannot take any moment for granted.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Apps: Calm, a great tool for staying present. Spotify, my go-to app for music, podcasts, and audiobooks.

Books: I love listening to audiobooks of memoirs. Some of my favorites include Finding Me by Viola Davis, A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost, Yes Please by Amy Poehler, and more.

Podcasts: I enjoy On Purpose with Jay Shetty, How I Built This with Guy Raz, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, and more.

I also love being outside, walking, spending time with my friends and family (especially laughing with them!), acting, reading, watching movies, and relaxing!

Image Credits
Sonya Katarina