The First Person to Earn a Ph.D. in Physics in the State of South Dakota

Wenzhao Wei recently received a Ph.D. in physics from the joint program of the University of South Dakota and the South Dakota School of Mining and Technology. Wei is not only the first woman, but the first person, to earn a Ph.D. in physics in the state of South Dakota.

Dr. Wei’s dissertation was entitled “Advanced Germanium Detectors for Rare Event Physics Searches.” Her research will help develop the next generation of germanium detectors for use at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. She published five papers where she was the lead author during her time at the University of South Dakota.

Dr. Wei is a graduate of Central China Normal University, where she majored in computer science. She earned a master’s degree in physics from the University of South Dakota in 2014.