NEWS

Louisiana Tech mechanical engineering and math junior Trilby Hill has been awarded a US Department of Defense Science Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship and will be presenting her research at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

For over a decade, SMART scholars have supported the Army, Navy, Air Force, and additional DoD facilities to lead the future of innovation and improve national security. SMART Scholars join the program to pursue education in high-demand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields crucial for government operations. The program provides scholarships covering full tuition, monthly stipends, health insurance, book allowances, and immersive summer internships lasting 8 to 12 weeks. Post-graduation, scholars transition into civilian positions within their sponsoring facility, equipped with a wealth of experience gained through internships and work opportunities.

Hill, a resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, is currently working with Dr. Jeffrey Obelcz at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Stennis Space Center using machine learning to geospatially predict submerged paleo forests. Utilizing machine learning algorithms, Hill’s team predicts the presence or absence of wood within sediments offshore Mississippi and Alabama to forecast where underwater preserved forests could be located.  This research identifies the location and abundance of carbon within the earth and its atmosphere, which is vital to predicting global climate change and employing effective carbon reduction methods. Hill has three publications and numerous presentations associated with her work at the Naval Research Laboratory.

Hill will be presenting her findings on behalf of the US Naval Research Laboratory and Louisiana Tech at the American Geophysical Union annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on December 10, 2024. The AGU24 meeting is the largest gathering of Earth and space scientists, with over 25,000 attendees from over 100 countries, including scientists, educators, policymakers, journalists, and communicators. The goal of the AGU24 is to better understand the planet and its environment; open pathways to discovery; increase awareness to address climate change; foster collaborations that lead to solutions; and advance justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in science and related professions.

After graduation from Louisiana Tech, Hill plans to conduct research in remotely operated vehicle design and prototype sensing and analysis devices for the United States government.

“My dream is to provide practical tools to the scientific community so that research and data-analysis will not be limited by quality or quantity,” said Hill. “The challenge of designing devices for extreme environments is especially interesting to me because the design process entails extensive research where traditional design processes do not apply.”

Hill is also an active member of the Louisiana Tech Honors College and the Society of Women Engineers and has worked with the coordinator of nationally competitive scholarships on communicating her research interests.

“Trilby is a great student and an even greater person,” said Stan McCaa, Louisiana Tech math and statistics instructor.  “Students like Trilby are the reason why teachers teach. She is a very bright student who always works diligently to do her best, and she exemplifies what it means to be a Tech Bulldog.”