Spotlights

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Major(s): Neurobiology and Genetics

Current Research Group: Blackwell

What are your plans after graduation?

Prior to joining the Blackwell lab, I was determined to go to medical school. However, after having first-hand experience in the lab I can’t see research not being part of my future.  While medical school is still the end destination, research has now too become part of that objective How exactly? I’m not for certain, however, the in near future research is the path I will continue take.

Why did you get involved in research?

Initially research was a way for me to connect course material to its real-world applications, more specifically, to find meaning to what is we are learning. Now I am curious to see how my learning has taken root and I am now able to apply what I’ve learned and engage in new discoveries.

Briefly describe your favorite part about research

On a more universal view, having the opportunity to learn more than what has already been made available. To be able to make our own, if not new discoveries, then expand our knowledge as learning is infinite. On a more technical note, I love learning from my own mistakes, while initially it is terrifying to have messed-up in the lab, it sets a precedent for the future now knowing this is a mistake I know to avoid or who knows it could be a happy accident and pave the way to an otherwise unknown realization.

Hometown: Janesville, WI

Major(s):Chemistry with a Certificate in Physics

Current Research Group: Goldsmith

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to attend graduate school in pursuit of a PhD in chemistry. I will most likely stay in the field of physical chemistry, specifically researching imaging and spectroscopy. After graduate school, I want to work in research in either an industrial or governmental setting.

Why did you get involved in research?

I knew since my freshman year of high school that chemistry was for me, and I knew that I wanted a career in chemistry. It seemed like the most rewarding career path in chemistry to me was research, so I joined the Goldsmith Group in my freshman year of college, and now I’m realizing how right I was about chemistry and research.

Briefly describe your favorite part about research

Making and owning scientific discoveries in incredibly rewarding. I have been on a project for about 2 and a half years and looking back at all of the progress that I have made in that short time is really astounding and makes me proud of the work that I have been able to accomplish.

Hometown: Gurgaon, India

Major(s): Chemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology; Certificate – Science Communication

Current Research Group: Wang

What are your plans after graduation?

Owing to my undergraduate research experience, I currently plan on applying to graduate programs in biochemistry next year.

Why did you get involved in research?

Chemistry, as a discipline, always stood out to me because of how applicable it was across a diverse spectrum of scientific spheres. Rooting from my fascination of finding out where and what all my elementary knowledge could be used to discover, I decided to look for potential research opportunities on campus. Having recently taken a fun biology class, Dr. Wang’s chemical biology research really interested me, and I went ahead with it.

Briefly describe your favorite part about research

Research is a culmination of various activities that I enjoy like hands-on work in the lab, deconvoluting data, writing, and making presentations. However, my favorite part of the experience is limitlessly learning and teaching your team new things as you explore different dimensions of solving your inquiry. As opposed to taking classes, research does not always involve correct and conclusive answers. Navigating your way through different fields of study to figure out the best possible explanation is what makes the process rewarding.

Hometown: Chongqing, China

Major(s): Chemistry and Biochemistry

Current Research Group: Boydston

What are your plans after graduation?

I want to pursue a PhD in organic chemistry.

Why did you get involved in research?

There were lots of times when I was not satisfied with explanations given in textbooks or papers, so I was propelled to be involved in research and get first-hand experience and try to explain something in my own words.

Briefly describe your favorite part about research

I am continuously learning new things and getting feedback from people in the field who motivate me to push the boundaries of human knowledge one step further. No matter what I have known before, I am always allowed to be a beginner in a different field or topic.

Hometown: Green Bay, WI

Major(s): Chemistry

Current Research Group: Ge and Jin

What are your plans after graduation?

I hope to attend graduate school for my Masters and then PhD.

Why did you get involved in research?

I got into research because I wanted to learn how research is conducted at a University and learn from others who are experienced in their field. I wanted to work in a lab and see how my classes and work intertwine with one another.

Briefly describe your favorite part about research

My favorite part about research is getting to talk and learn from graduate students/postdocs which expands on my knowledge from the class. This knowledge and skill that I learn lets me see the wide impact range of the research that I get to do. Doing synthesis allows me to conduct reactions that I learn about in class and then I get to see how those nanoparticles can allow us to study proteins which then lets us better understand the underlying mechanisms of heart

Hometown: Janesville, WI

Major(s): Chemistry

Current Research Group: Yoon

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I hope to continue doing research while concurrently pursuing a PhD in organic chemistry. My enamoration with organic synthesis has only grown since beginning research, so I hope to have the opportunity to further my knowledge and experience in a group focused on developing novel catalytic systems that can have a variety of modern synthetic applications.

Why did you get involved in research?

Before discovering organic chemistry, I had never felt particularly passionate about an academic field. When I realized how invested I was becoming in learning more and more about organic chemistry, I acknowledged the significance of my interest and decided to pursue active involvement. When I expressed my interest to my CHEM 343 professor, Dr. Aubrey Ellison, she was kind enough to guide me through the necessary steps to become involved in research.

Briefly describe your favorite part about research

To me, the beautiful thing about research is the consistent exploration of undiscovered processes. There is a seemingly limitless space for development and pursuit of new ideas, where even the ideas that don’t work have potential to provide insight into certain undiscovered mechanisms. The advancement of these ideas in the form of good results is something that I have found to be extremely rewarding, especially given the collaborative nature behind many of these projects.

Hometown: Beijing, China

Major(s): Chemical Engineering and Chemistry

Current Research Group: Boydston

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan on going to grad school and I am applying for PhD programs in both chemistry and chemical engineering. I haven’t decided if I should stay in academia or go to industry, but I would like to focus on research for my career.

Why did you get involved in research?

I have always been interested in exploring things I don’t know, and undergraduate research is a great opportunity for me to do so. Professor Boydston also did a great job in triggering my passion in research and showing me how fascinating polymer chemistry is.

Briefly describe your favorite part about research

I think the most exciting moment in research is when you find your result align with your hypothesis, or when “your reaction works”. Of course, it does not happen a lot during research. Research is all about figuring out things that nobody knows, and failures are inevitable along the way. That is the reason why you get a great sense of achievement when things finally start to come together.