DepARTMENT of Chemistry
UNDERGRAD Scholarships

A meaningful experience I have had at the U is participating in Science Research Initiative (SRI). SRI has helped me get involved in research and helped me realize how passionate I am about chemistry.   It has also helped me learn important chemistry skills.  

After I graduate from the University of Utah, my professional goal is to attend medical school.

After I graduate from the U of U, I plan to attend medical school and develop a career as a physician.

One of the most meaningful experiences I've participated in at the U is research. I've been an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Puri's lab for the past two years studying quorum sensing signaling in bacteria. I've been able to apply lab techniques I've learned about in my classes as well as learn new techniques. It's been fun to go through the entire process of research from formulating an idea, carrying out experiments, redesigning experiments, analyzing results, and then compiling those results into a paper.  

As much as I adore doing chemistry and my other coursework, it keeps me indoors a lot. Especially during COVID-19 times, I'm inside on my computer for a good chunk of the day, so a fun activity generally means going outside and moving! I try to go outside for a run, rock climb, or just go to brunch with friends several times a week to keep my life balanced.

Some professional goals that I have after graduation is to successfully complete a PhD in chemistry. Afterwards I want to be able to lead a research and development team either working for a private company or in a government lab. Where I can focus on creating new materials or improving renewable energy sources like more efficient solar cells. Also, being able to study aquatic ecosystems to better understand how water chemistry and pollutants affect aquatic ecosystems or studying aquatic geophysical landscape would be pretty interesting. Another route that interests me is to find a postdoc position that allows me to do research on solar cells, batteries, studying properties of novel materials, or aquatic environmental chemistry. In the fall I will be making progress towards my professional goals by pursuing a PhD in chemistry at BYU and I will be focusing on physical chemistry.

In order to balance out my challenging courses, I do a lot with music! I am a music minor and practicing the violin and piano and writing music when I have time really helps me use a different part of my brain and be creative and gives me a break from my challenging science courses. I also love to meditate and practice mindfulness, hike, run and ski!

After I graduate from the University of Utah, my professional goals are to attend a medical school and residency program to fulfill my dream of becoming a doctor. I am currently taking Pre-Med courses, participating in research, working in the healthcare field, and volunteering. I am very excited and determined to continue to take steps to become a doctor. It is an overwhelming and time-consuming path, but it is also rewarding and respected. It is my passion and a goal that I am willing to work hard to achieve.

My professional goal after schooling is to ultimately become a doctor. I hope that I can have a big impact on people's lives not only in our community but across the world.   I would like to travel across minority countries with weaker healthcare systems and help the people in rural areas.    

Once I have graduated from the U, my plan was to apply for positions revolving around analytical chemistry. I want to do something in this field for at least a year and in the time outside of work I would like to shadow various doctors, pharmacists, and Researchers. I'm not entirely sure what I want to do as a permanent career so I want to take some time to learn about different options and see which are appealing to me before perhaps applying to graduate programs.

The University of Utah is a fantastic school that offers a variety of opportunities for students to explore their own interests. While I came to the U of U to complete the pre-medical coursework, I also knew that I wanted to participate in research. During my first year here, I joined a group within the University of Utah Health's orthopaedic department that designs and tests surgical devices. From this experience, I've been able to work alongside both industry experts and department chairs in creating novel devices and testing them in the cadaver lab.  

After I graduate I plan to attend Pennsylvania State University to get my PhD in chemistry.   After that, I hope to study medically relevant proteins and their mechanisms to help aid in drug design in either the private or governmental sector.  

To balance out the challenging courses I am enrolled in, I spend a lot of time in the mountains.  Climbing, hiking, and backpacking are some of my favorite things to do and they really help me maintain a good work/life balance.  Being here in Utah is great for all of these hobbies because the mountains are so close.  Getting outside and relaxing or working out also really helps me destress and helps keep me motivated.  

My experience at the U was multifaceted. From the support of my peers to the encouragement of faculty and staff at the U, I was able to graduate with two bachelor of science degrees. At the end of the day, we are all human and need to support one another. This helped me overcome some of the hardest challenges in my life to continue my pursuit of higher education.  

A friend once told me, "take a deep breath, kick your shoes off, you know *something*." There were many times that I had to remind myself that I was here for a reason and I KNEW something. This helped me get through any roadblocks I stumbled upon.  

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While I've loved my time at the University of Utah, my classes can become quite stressful and I have to find ways to decompress. When I find that a class is difficult, I often take a step back for a breather. I might play the piano for a bit, go on a hike, or bake some cookies. Doing this helps me clear my mind and be more prepared to tackle difficult course work. Another way I find a sense of balance in my life has been with talking to people in my classes who are going through the same thing. Although it's been harder to connect with people while school has mostly been online, I've found that I'm always more motivated after I talk to people in my classes.

It's weird but I've enjoyed writing my honors chemistry thesis. It's been a neat cumulative experience I can be proud of.

I think the most meaningful experience I've been a part of at the U is doing undergraduate research. Doing hands on research has given me such a better understanding of chemistry, and has taught me so many useful skills along the way. It's also been a great way to gain insight into what a graduate program is really like, and is what helped me decide that pursuing a PhD is what I want to do.

Being a chemistry major means taking some really difficult classes. It is easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged. I remember when I failed a test in general chemistry on acids and bases. I was so distraught! But I have learned that in order to do well it takes consistent effort. So I have made little choices every day since then to work on tasks and be diligent. But the most helpful thing I have learned is to work on things one at a time. It is no use stressing out over every assignment due in every class every moment of every day. Keeping a planner and using it to organize my to-do's and want-to-do's, and then just doing it. Caffeine works wonders too. 

I'm a firm believer in "strength in numbers," and have used the online format this semester as an opportunity to reach out to as many students as I could for mutual support. Whenever I felt like an assignment was tough, I found that there were always others who felt the same and that we could build upon ourselves. The networking that I found in making online groups made a big impact on my social health and academic performance.  

In order to balance out challenging courses, I like to take time and read books. They take me away from all the stresses of my courses and make me feel rejuvenated when I'm done with them. If I'm not doing that, I will hang out with friends and do something fun like watch a movie or get food to get away from school for a little bit.

Some of my most meaningful experiences while at the U have come from my participation in the American Chemical Society Student Chapter. One instance that always stands out to me was a STEM night that we participated in at a local elementary school. I was doing a demonstration where I put an inflated balloon in liquid nitrogen and then explained why the balloon and its contents shriveled. The kids were not very engaged, so I decided to walk them through the scientific method. First, I described what I was about to do and then ask them each to make a hypothesis about what would happen. They had such a fun range of ideas such as the balloon popping, changing color, or even turning into something else entirely. Then, I put the balloon into the liquid nitrogen and ask for observations. As the balloon slowly and then more rapidly begin to shrink into the LN2 container, my audience became more and more excited. Finally, we talked about what happened and I explained why.

The event by itself was super fun and engaging, but what came a week after made this really stick in my head. ACS received an email from the principal of the school thanking us for everything we had taught to the children, especially the scientific method! They had become obsessed with it and were running around making hypotheses and observations like crazy. It blew my mind that something so ordinary at this point in my science career could have such an impact on those future scientists. The children helped me see again some of the magic of science that first enchanted me but had worn away over the years. I am forever grateful for it.

One of the most meaningful experiences I've had at the U has been the opportunity to work for the learning center and tutor chemistry and math. I love that I get to make new connections and help others on their academic paths.

Being a part of Prof. Ryan Steele's group has probably been the most impactful experience on my career path during my undergrad. When I first entered college, I was set on going to medical school to be a doctor. I thought I was bad at math, and I thought physics wasn't my thing based on the minimal exposure I got in high school. All I knew was that I loved chemistry and its biological applications at the time. But that all quickly changed when I took Honors General Chemistry I from Prof. Steele. I met some great friends in that class that I am close to today, and being his student allowed me to gain a valuable opportunity to join his group. Thereafter, I gained a deeper appreciation for math and physics that underlies many chemical phenomena. Also from being in his group, I realized how much I enjoyed computational research and coding--so much to the point that I decided to pursue a CS minor and reconsider my career path to go to graduate school (still not certain about what program I would want yet). I would have never predicted this going into college with zero coding experience, but here I am!

One of the most meaningful experiences  that I have participated in at the University of Utah is being a Teaching Assistant (TA) for Professor Sebahar. When I began Organic Chemistry, I was terrified.  I had heard so many horror stories of people failing the class that I was afraid I would end up with the same fate.  Instead, I fell in love with the subject.  I applied to be a  TA  for Professor  Sebahar  primarily  because I wanted to learn from her. Her pedagogy is incredible, not  because it is flawless,  but because she always  shows a desire to improve  by listening to others. She has influenced me to be a positive leader. As a woman pursuing a degree in STEM  in a  patriarchal  society, she is an influential person I can look up to.      

Although being a teaching assistant has given me someone to look to for guidance, the main reason  this experience  has been so meaningful is because I love watching the  students  grow.  I have taken the class, so I know how difficult it can be.  I  do my best to promote a healthy struggle and be a positive mentor to these students.  As a  TA,  I could  simply work through problems  or concepts, but I've noticed more growth when the student has independence.  The best part of being a TA is hearing about the successes of the students.    

I have this love of having a small farm. I currently have 7 chickens, 2 goats, and hope to have a baby calf or two this year. Raising animals is so rewarding, you develop some work ethic, and the tastiness of the eggs are unmatched.  

The most meaningful experience I have had at the U of U has been the opportunity to join a research lab through the ACCESS program. This program connected me to other students studying STEM and to an amazing opportunity to get involved with research early as an undergraduate. Since joining the Gagnon lab, I have grown as a student and learned lab techniques and how vital collaboration is to research.  

After graduating from the University of Utah, I hope to get accepted into dental school. It has been a dream of mine to become an orthodontist since I was younger. Helping someone become their best self is priceless. As a dentist, or specialist, you not only help make patients' lives easier, but you have the power to give them the confidence they've been missing. Being a factor in the reason why someone smiles a little bit wider and can live life with more ease, seems like feeling that can't be topped. The first thing I want to do with my degree, is to travel to my home, my village in India, and give everyone free oral care. It's the least I can do for the community of people that cared for me and my growth. I then want to travel to other countries and impoverished regions around the world to provide free oral care to those who never had the opportunity, or privilege, to get the treatment they need.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the University of Utah has still provided me with meaningful experiences to help further my understanding of what I want to be and the impact I want to make on the world. One of the most meaningful experiences I have had thus far at the University has been my participation in my organic chemistry lab class. Ever since high school, I have known that I love chemistry; however, participating in the lab helped to resolve any doubts I had about my chosen major. Of these labs, one of the most memorable for me was our first lab in which we were given the opportunity to synthesize aspirin and indigo. While my aspirin did not crystalize out of the solution, despite my best efforts, the indigo synthesis was successful and I was able to dye and keep a strip of various fabrics with it. The whole process of doing these experiments gave me a rush of excitement. To think I now knew how to create a synthetically useful compound out of just a few chemical reagents was astounding to me. The whole process of measuring, mixing, reacting, and then using the various instruments in the lab was fulfilling in a way I had never experienced before. Despite the lab taking the full five hours, I never felt bored or discouraged, I would have loved to be there all day. This experience left a profound impact on me, never have I been so interested and comfortable in a class or subject. I now know that whatever I decide to do with my degree, I want it to involve lab work. I'm grateful to the University for allowing undergrads to have this experience and for the amazing instruments and chemicals for which we have access to do these experiments.

My goals after I graduate from the U are to teach at a high school level. Since I was very young I have always admired my teachers and had an excellent experience in chemistry when I was a junior and senior in high school. I hope that I can make chemistry fun, just like my teachers did for me.  

Many of my best outlets that allowed me to balance myself during my most difficult semesters were physical outlets. When so much of what was being demanded of me was mental, I found that my best ways to decompress were physical outlets. I took up snowboarding during my first year of school and it has become one of my favorite pass times. I've also gotten pretty involved with hiking and trail-running. Something about spending time in the mountains helps me reach a meditative state, focusing solely on the task at hand promotes clarity and allows me to go back to my responsibilities with greater focus.

My plan after my undergraduate studies is to attend medical school and work towards my goal of becoming a physician.  I hope to become a physician that can improve the general quality of life for others. While also making a positive impact in the lives of those I interact with.  

I will play tennis and, in the winter, ski at resorts around Salt Lake City. I also enjoy reading in my spare time.  

As odd as it sounds, I've used teaching as a way to balance out my challenging courses. Teaching allows me to disconnect from the stress of the courses I'm taking by shifting my focus towards sharing the joys of organic chemistry with other students.

As I have passed through difficult situations in my time at college, I've come to appreciate the skill of time management. Not having enough time is an illusion. I always have enough time. I just have to use it well. By doing that, I've been able to balance a social life, relationship, education, part-time work, and religious pursuits. All without being too stressed about "having enough time."

As I have passed through difficult situations in my time at college, I've come to appreciate the skill of time management. Not having enough time is an illusion. I always have enough time. I just have to use it well. By doing that, I've been able to balance a social life, relationship, education, part-time work, and religious pursuits. All without being too stressed about "having enough time."

One of my most meaningful experiences at the U was participating in student government as the associate director of sustainability. I was able to work with so many diverse groups of students, faculty, and staff to facilitate various sustainability measures on campus and I learned so much along the way. I feel humbled to have been able to work with my campus community to do work that made an impact.

One of my major strategies I used in overcoming hardships during college was journaling. While I originally started journaling in Highschool, it was something that I only become stronger in and found even more help out of doing during my college experience. Journaling doesn't have to mean writing every single day, or even describing the day or what happened to you. My journal goes through everything from random stories and poems, to just things I hear, write about songs I like, or how difficult studying for an exam has been.

It's just a calm controlled way to either distract from problems or dissect them, and then you end up with this huge pool of your thoughts to look back through and can see exactly how you were feeling or how you made it through.

I will attend the West Virginia University School of Medicine, where I will receive an MD/PhD. I want to participate in research efforts to discover and design novel therapeutic compounds that can treat  neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and dementia. Later in my career, I would like to teach at an academic medical center.  

For fun I like to go roller skating and swimming/relaxing in the pool. I also work a lot with the American Chemical Society student chapter because it has some of my closest friends and doing demos never fails to make me happy or turn my week around.  

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The strategies I used to complete my degree at the U of U were;

1. I stopped comparing my learning success with other student's learning success.

2. I asked my Professors, Academic Advisors, and Student Aids, for help when I needed it. It was a lost opportunity for both me and my professor if I did not ask questions or ask for help.  

3. I tried not to be discouraged if my educational timelines were not met, even when I knew it may take me longer than I expect to accomplish my goal.

4. Most importantly, I never gave up on my goals.

The most meaningful experience I've participated in at the U has been my undergraduate research experience. Being involved in research on campus has not only taught me so much more about chemistry, but it is where I've met my best friends. Getting involved in research has helped me grow immensely as a scientist, and has given me a community of peers who I can always ask for help or have some fun with to blow off steam.  

My professional goals since graduating in December consist of working on obtaining my PharmD/PhD. This combination is quite uncommon but research has always captivated me - through minor modification can we only hope to generate big change. I want to focus on women's health specifically targeting drug therapy and utilization during pregnancy. This focus has certain boundaries and restrictions but I hope to remove some of that red tape through past personal experience and academic connections built during my time at the University of Utah.  

I also would love to continue teaching in some facet (everyone tells me I should change careers - can I not do both?). I feel that the connection instructors can create with students is similar to that of parents and children. If we can cultivate their minds to become even more independent and self-facilitating, then we can really change the world. However, it takes patience, understanding, effective communication and a non-traditional style to really see the change most instructors talk about. I have, firsthand, witnessed such incredible growth not only through my own research project but in the 3 years I have had the privilege of acting as a teaching assistant within the chemistry department.  

After graduating from the University of Utah I plan to pursue a PhD in chemistry at Princeton.

Working with younger students in the chemistry department has been a very rewarding experience for me.   I have loved TAing for general chemistry and organic chemistry labs and lectures, and enjoyed being a ChemUnit student mentor.  

After I graduate from the University of Utah, I hope to work in industry as a process engineer or chemical engineer.   I have recently accepted an internship with Rio Tinto for the summer and am excited to gain some new experiences there.  

I am a big baker! I try to bake one or two times a week and share with my friends, and I regularly try new recipes, searching for my new favorite dessert. My favorite thing to bake is cakes, and I also love pies and custards, but the thing my friends always want more of is my cinnamon rolls.

This last year was rough for everyone with the pandemic.   I unexpectedly lost an uncle last summer and am still dealing with that loss in my own way.   Some coping strategies I use are to write in a journal, especially negative thoughts to help put them down and make them easier to deal with and see from a different perspective.     Being a parent, my alone time is very scarce but very necessary.   I usually go to a friend's house, or go get a pedicure, or even just go sit on a bench at the park and read.   That helps me appreciate my kids and husband and even our house when it's a disaster.   My husband is a big sounding board for me also.   I can tell him anything and I know if he doesn't have good advice, he is at least a shoulder to cry on or will tell me honestly if I am being crazy.  

One of the most meaningful experiences I have had while at the U is participating in research. I have absolutely loved the opportunity to work in Dr. Roberts' lab studying peptide chemistry. It has given me a deeper understanding of chemistry as well as the process that occurs when carrying out research. I love when I am able to apply what I have learned in the classroom to a scenario in the lab because it is not only rewarding but helps me to further my understanding of the topic. I love participating in research and I am excited to continue to learn new things in the lab!

When I'm not doing school work, I like to be active. Exercising makes me feel good physically and mentally, while still stimulating my brain and preparing me for more challenging school work.  

The best strategy for overcoming difficulties is making connections with people you can rely on. A good study group, faculty mentor, or even just a few friends is key for a successful college experience. If you ever can't figure out how to navigate a tricky situation, talk to someone who has. College is a great for realizing that education is not a solo journey, and for me it has even made friendships that will last a lifetime.  

After I graduate from the U of U, I will attend the University of Utah School of Medicine in the fall of 2021! I hope to become a primary care physician and provide healthcare at reduced to no cost to urban underserved patients and people experiencing homelessness. My practice will focus on public and preventative health.

After I graduate I would like to go to graduate school either in biochemistry or molecular engineering. Then I would like to pursue a career in research for clean energy, either in industry or at a national lab.

After I graduate from the U of U I will pursue my PhD at UC Berkeley working in total synthesis and methods development. I then hope to work   in oncology research, specifically developing new anti-cancer therapies.

This June I start an intensive Masters in Teaching program at UC Berkeley to begin my career as a chemistry educator. In this program, I will spend my next year student teaching at a public high school in the Bay Area. I plan to stay and teach in the Bay Area for at least a few years after my degree. One of my goals as a new educator is to form meaningful relationships with students, their families, and the community. I also hope to build a science curriculum that is place-based and centered on social and racial justice.

After I graduate from the University of Utah with a chemistry degree, I hope to go to medical school and become a doctor. While I'm currently interested in emergency medicine, I'm open to a lot of fields and am excited to see where my future takes me.  

I enjoy almost any outdoor activity, especially hiking and camping. I like to weightlift and stay active, but I'm also a fan of a chill night in reading or watching a movie.

The most meaningful experience I've had has to be joining the Science Research Initiative (SRI) Program and working under both Dr. Shelley Minteer and Dr. Henry White's group. After searching for professors to work under for a long time, I was able to work in a lab that matched discovery and creation at the same time. The experience became extremely meaningful because not only did I learn synthetic chemistry techniques, and develop the mindset for conducting experiments that involved undiscovered chemistry, but I made amazing friendships and gained mentors that'll aide me in my future pursuits as a researcher.

When I'm not studying, I enjoy watching baseball and playing video games. In the winter, I was able to make time to ski at least once every week. This was my first winter ever skiing in Utah, and although the mountains were usually crowded, waiting in the lift lines was worth it to ski on the powder days. I heard from some locals that the snowfall this season was below average, so I'm excited to keep skiing for the rest of my time here at the U, and hopefully, I get to see what the snow is like on a good year.

After completing my undergraduate degree in chemistry, I intend to earn a Ph.D. in organic chemistry while researching catalytic transformations through both an experimental and computational lens. Whether I choose to work in an academic, industrial, or national laboratory environment, I hope to use my academic experiences for the innovation of sustainable practices in chemistry.

During my downtime classes, I like to go on aimless walks with my close friends and explore downtown Salt Lake. I also love eating spicy, savory foods and will most likely never refuse yummy spicy meals. 

The most important strategy I used to overcome hard situations in college was to know when to ask for help and then forget my pride and ask for it. There is nothing wrong with needing help, in class or in your personal life. The help I received turned weeks that I had a project and three midterms from a major stressor to a walk in the park. I took a breather and asked friends, family, peers, professors, and therapists for the help I needed.