Logan Burnett Receives Inaugural Sigma Pi Sigma Leadership Scholarship

In 2023, Sigma Pi Sigma announced the launch of the Sigma Pi Sigma Leadership Scholarships, created to recognize society members within ten years of induction who are pursuing advanced education in physics, astronomy, or related fields. The inaugural scholarships were made possible by a gift from longtime Society of Physics Students (SPS) supporter Jack Hehn, through the Hehn Family Charitable Trust.

For Logan Burnett, one of the first recipients, the scholarship affirms the value of leadership rooted in community. “While I strongly believe that drive and motivation are essential to becoming a successful physicist, I noticed a lack of emphasis on community and collaboration among students in my department,” Burnett said.

To address this, Burnett and fellow SPS officers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham organized a graduate school information session. The event connected alumni with undergraduates, helping to demystify graduate school for students across campus. “This event is one reason I applied for the Sigma Pi Sigma Leadership Scholarship,” he shared.

This fall, with scholarship support, Burnett will begin graduate studies at the University of Michigan in nuclear engineering and radiological sciences. His research will focus on developing digital twins to optimize microreactor design and accelerate the deployment of nuclear reactors using artificial intelligence.

He also plans to pursue an MBA and serve as a nuclear engineering officer in the Air Force National Guard. “I will carry the values of honor, encouragement, service, and fellowship from UAB physics and Sigma Pi Sigma into the future,” Burnett said.