This fall, when Oliver Wilson ’26 arrives at McGill University to pursue a Ph.D. in physics, he’ll do so after following an unusual academic roadmap. Wilson heads to Canada with four years of astrophysics research, a Goldwater Scholarship, and a deep grounding in French literature and philosophy under his belt.
At McGill, the physics, astronomy, and French triple major will join a research group focused on studying fast radio bursts, intense pulses of radio waves emanating from deep space. His decision to attend McGill in Montreal was influenced, he says, during his junior year, when his French class headed north to learn more about “Quebecois literature, by indigenous, European-descended, and later immigrant authors from Quebec.”
Wilson intended to double major in physics and astronomy, but added French as a third major after finding himself drawn to philosophy-focused coursework. “I have read works of literature and had conversations that have changed my understanding of what science is and what it means to be a scientist,” he says. That interdisciplinarity, he says, has added significant nuance to his view of the sciences.
Several courses stand out from his time at the College. “Observational Astronomy” was his favorite, since it offers weekly observation sessions at the Strawbridge Observatory, sometimes running as late as 3 a.m. In the French department, “Advanced Topics in French Literature: Machines,” with Professor of French and Francophone Studies, examined the writings of Descartes, Pascal, Turing, and others on what it means for machines to think, a resonant topic in the age of generative AI.
Several mentors guided Wilson on his path, including Research Associate Wynn Ho, who took Wilson on as a student researcher the summer after his first year. That opportunity, Wilson says, marked the launch of his career in astrophysics. In addition, Ho co-advised his second research project, was Wilson’s advisor for his senior thesis, and offered invaluable guidance during the graduate school application process.
Sedley was Wilson’s independent study and senior capstone advisor and, Wilson says, proved to be an equally profound influence. During his time at the College, Wilson took seven courses with Sedley, enough for a minor, and describes the impact on his thinking as long-lasting.
During his time at the College, Wilson made significant contributions to campus life through student government. As a sophomore, he championed a Plenary resolution to raise the student minimum wage, saw it pass, and then worked with the administration to develop and implement the proposal. As a senior, he created the foundational documents for a standing Student Employment Committee to carry the work forward.
“Being able to create a change like this is not something I could have imagined when I first came to Haverford,” he says.
He also served on Students’ Council as co-treasurer his junior year and co-vice president his senior year, and worked as a teaching assistant in the Physics department for nearly his entire time at the College. That experience, he says, kindled a genuine love of teaching that he hopes follows him to graduate school and beyond.
He sends his classmates off with this wish: “I hope everyone brings some of what made Haverford special with them — the values of kindness, collaborativeness, and trust that defined most of my experience interacting with others here.”