Science Teacher Karen Wendling Earns Fellowship to Cambridge University

In her first year as a Merion Mercy Academy science teacher, Karen Wendling, PhD, has earned a prestigious fellowship to attend the Oxbridge Teacher Seminar "Astronomy and Astrophysics" at Jesus College of Cambridge University. In August 2025, her seminar group will explore cutting-edge research in areas such as galaxy formation, exoplanets, dark matter, and space exploration.

“Astronomy and Astrophysics are exciting areas of physics that I am interested in learning more about, and I want to bring my learning back to the physics students I teach here at MMA,” says Dr. Wendling, who also teaches a Chemistry course.

In addition to delving deeper into the discoveries of the James Webb telescope, Dr. Wendling is particularly eager to study dark matter. “It is often referenced in science fiction, and I'm suspicious that most authors don't really get the science correct!” she adds with a smile.

Dr. Wendling earned her doctoral degree in Analytical Chemistry, a field that overlaps with physics, especially in electronics and spectroscopy — the study of how light interacts with different substances. She is among the 80% of Merion Mercy faculty who possess an advanced degree, a distinction that enriches the classroom experience for MMA students. Opportunities like this fellowship deepen our teachers’ expertise, ensuring that students learn directly from passionate scholars who bring real-world research and discoveries into their daily lessons.