Feature Stories 2026: Graham Burke '26: Breaking the mold

Graham Burke '26 often feels as though he's living a double life.  

By day, he's a physics student doing research on quantum computing; by night, he's a goalkeeper on the UMass Dartmouth men's ice hockey team. "Among my teammates I'm the physics nerd, and in the lab I'm the jock," he laughed.  Burke doesn’t fit neatly into any one box, but that's what makes him interesting.   

"I didn't think I could be an NCAA athlete and be in a rigorous academic program like physics, but I always wanted to play college hockey, and I couldn't imagine studying anything else," he said. "UMass Dartmouth allowed me to pursue and be successful in both." 

Why physics? 

"I hated math and science in high school. Then in my junior year, I took a required physics class, and it made sense to me in a way other sciences didn't. I had a great teacher who encouraged me to take AP Physics—it was hard, but I enjoyed it every day.  

"It's beautiful to learn how the universe works. Physics gives you more in-depth knowledge of things you see every day. You notice things in nature and understand why it is the way it is. My concentration is in computational physics, and in today's world, being proficient in computation is a very useful skill." 

Burke went from disliking math to doing research on quantum computing. Under the guidance of Dr. Renuka Rajapakse, Burke conducted research on variational quantum regressions, simulating how quantum computers can optimize data-driven models.   

Connections on campus 

But the best part of his UMass Dartmouth experience, Burke says, is the community he's found here on campus.  "Physics is a small department, so we're all very tight. And being part of a sports team is like having a built-in group of friends. I've met some great, smart people here with different interests who have opened me up to different perspectives."  

He also remarked that his professors have had a defining influence on his college experience.  "Here, professors are invested in your success. In a huge lecture hall, you might not get that personal bond, but here your professors are invested in you as a student and as a person. I don't know if I'd have had as much success without that connection." 

"Here, professors are invested in your success. In a huge lecture hall, you might not get that personal bond, but here your professors are invested in you as a student and as a person."

Being a student-athlete: a physicist and a hockey player 

"It's definitely challenging balancing the rigor of physics with being an athlete," Burke said, "but I would do it all again.   

"Hockey and physics isn't a typical combination, but I like that. I enjoy being able to break stereotypes and show what's possible.  None of us are one-dimensional; we all have something unique to offer the world."  

After graduation, Burke plans to play professional hockey in Europe. In the future, he hopes to pursue a career in nuclear or defense engineering.  

Any advice for future students? 

"Be curious. That's what led me to physics. My parents always encouraged me and my siblings to try new things and fail and find out what you're good at. Having that curiosity has helped me succeed."