Posted on October 9, 2026 by College of Sciences
#ThisIsWhatAScientistLooksLike
William Olson, Physics Major
By Christina Calvo
Meet William Olson, an undergraduate in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Will found his passion for physics by watching Neil deGrasse Tyson on Cosmos 2014 as a child. While watching the show, Will realized that physics was the key to discovering more about the universe we live in.
To pursue physics, Will chose UT San Antonio for the numerous opportunities that the school provides for their students. Along with several programs and research opportunities for undergraduates, Will was also interested in the outreach that UT San Antonio has with the greater community.
"UT San Antonio actively pushes students to engage with the city around them," said Will, "I believe that connection is instrumental to higher education because learning should extend beyond the classroom and into real experiences, opportunities and communities."
Will began his academic journey as a freshman in the Honors College and later serving on the Honors College Advisory Board. He has been involved in a number of student organizations such as the Academic Personal and Professional Excellence (APPEX) Program and the Work Study Research Training Program. He is a member of the Society of Physics Students. He currently works under Christopher Packham, Ph.D., professor of physics, in his lab and research group.
Most recently, Will received the opportunity to participate in a research program at the University of California, Berkeley, working with the Berkley SETI Research Center and Breakthrough Listen Team. The Breakthrough Listen team uses extremely large telescopes to search for signs of technology beyond Earth. Will was also given the opportunity to test signal detection tools and studied how well the tools could find both real and simulated signals.
Additionally, Will traveled to Kyoto, Japan to present a poster about his research at the Kyoto Torus Workshop. Will got to attend talks, speak with researchers and present his research over the course of several days at Kyoto University. While abroad, Will had to navigate several different situations such as language barriers, navigating public transportation, and speaking about his research to an international audience.
"The trip helped me become much more independent and confident. Being in that environment helped me begin to see myself not only as a student learning astronomy, but also as someone who can actively contribute to the field. Academically, I returned with a broader understanding of how international and collaborative astronomy truly is," said Will.
One challenge that Will has overcome is practicing balance and time management. Like many students, Will has the responsibilities of rigorous coursework, research and finances. In preparing for his recent research and travel engagements, he learned the importance of turning large tasks into manageable steps and the value of stepping away.
"I learned to decide what truly needed my attention each day," Will explained, "This also meant accepting that choosing one priority sometimes required setting another aside. Stepping away felt unproductive, but it often helped me return with more energy and a clearer mind."
When Will completes his bachelor's degree in 2028, he plans to continue to follow his passion in physics by pursuing a PhD. Though he is undecided where he will attend graduate school, his long-term goal is to continue combining astrophysics and machine learning research.
"Physics is about applying mathematics to nature," said Will, "What I love most is how interconnected everything becomes. Physics constantly reveals hidden relationships between mathematics, nature, and reality."
— College of Sciences
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