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= Lara B. Anderson =

Introduction:
Lara B Anderson is an American physicist who is currently an associate professor of physics and an affiliate professor of mathematics at Virginia Tech[1]. Her research is in string theory and physical applications of geometry. Her research is currently funded in part by the National Science Foundation[4]. As well Prof. Anderson is well known for her work in science outreach and the numerous academic awards she has won[1].

Early life and education:
Anderson was home schooled until as a child. Then as a young adult she entered Utah State University. At home she was educated by her father a USU Professor (Andy Anderson), and mother who was a nurse (Sher Anderson). At Utah State University Anderson double majored in mathematics and physics[2]. In 2001 at age 19 Anderson won the Barry M. Goldwater and Excellence in Education Foundation Scholarship[2], And in 2003 won the Rhodes scholarship[3] and got to pursue graduate studies at Oxford University[3] in the United Kingdom.

At Oxford Anderson pursued a PhD in mathematical physics under the supervision of Philip Candelas[4] (Mathematics) and Andre Lukas[4] (Theoretical Physics).The PhD thesis is titled  “Heterotic and M-theory Compactifications for String Phenomenology”[4].

Career:
After finishing her PhD in mathematical physics from Oxford University in July 2008 Anderson returned to the United States as a post-doctoral researcher. From 2008 to 2011 she was a post-doctoral researcher in theoretical physics at University of Pennsylvania[1], while simultaneously from 2008 to 2009 had position of Visiting Researcher in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton[1].

After finishing her time at University of Pennsylvania and the Institute for Advanced Study, Anderson then took up a post-doc position at Harvard University as a researcher in theoretical Physics(2011 - 2013). After Harvard, in 2013 Anderson became assistant and now associate professor of physics and affiliate Professor of Mathematics at Virginia Tech, where she is now supervising 2 graduate students and 2 post-docs[1][5].

Outreach and Awards:
Anderson has participated in and conducted a large amount of outreach for under represented communities. Notably, she was Co-organizer of the Undergraduate Conference for Women in Physics at Virginia Tech, which is described as an effort for the American Physical society to support women as underrepresented minorities in physics[5].