We have some of the most cutting-edge technology that not even private universities have access to. You have a huge amount of opportunities just waiting for you.
Ava Bickford, ’27, traces her love of science to performing simple childhood experiments with a beginner’s microscope alongside her uncle, Ray. Now a student researcher at BSU, Ava’s work has taken on deep personal significance.
Inspired by Ray’s ongoing battle with colon cancer, Ava is researching how lasers can be used to treat cancer, combining her passion for science with a desire to make a difference.
“He’s the reason I started studying science,” said the BSU photonics and optical engineering major. “He thinks the project is really cool and hopes that I help a lot of people.”
Ava is studying photodynamic therapy, a treatment that uses laser light and light-activated drugs to target cancer cells. The approach may provide a less invasive and more precise alternative to treatments such as chemotherapy by reducing damage to healthy tissue. Although the techniques she is studying are still in the early stages of development, Ava is excited to contribute to research that could one day improve cancer treatment.
In a BSU laboratory, she carefully aligns optical components, including mirrors and lenses, to direct a laser beam onto a specially designed material that mimics the optical properties of human tissue and contains a light-activated drug similar to those used in photodynamic therapy. By studying how the laser light interacts with the material, she aims to better understand and improve the effectiveness of the treatment.
“We have some of the most cutting-edge technology that not even private universities have access to,” Ava said. “You have a huge amount of opportunities just waiting for you.”
Ava came to BSU specifically for photonics, which harnesses the power of tiny particles of light in a range of applications. The Whitman native studied electrical engineering at Massasoit Community College and sought a nearby engineering-focused bachelor’s degree.
She is part of the Adrian Tinsley Program for Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship, which awards grants to students every summer. She praised her mentor, Dr. Samuel Serna Otálvaro, and all the department’s faculty for their enthusiastic guidance.
“The photonics and physics professors are so kind,” she said. “I’ve never had a school where the teachers are your number one supporter. They want you to succeed so badly.”
Ava, who is minoring in Spanish and math, brings genuine curiosity and an interest in building bridges across disciplines, Otálvaro said.
“What stands out most about Ava is her independence as a researcher,” he said. “She takes initiative in reading the literature, learning new concepts on her own, and returning to our meetings with thoughtful questions and well-developed ideas for the next steps of the project. This level of intellectual curiosity and self-motivation is uncommon at the undergraduate level.”
Ava hopes to use her research experience as a stepping stone to a doctorate program.
“It’s such a rewarding field,” she said of photonics. “You never stop learning new things. Every single day is something new.”
Her Uncle Ray will undoubtedly continue to be very proud.
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