FUN FACT:
When not dreaming about molecules, I’ve been found on three-day glacier trekking trips and whitewater rafting without the boat in the canyons of Switzerland (a.k.a. canyoning), to my mother’s dismay.

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FAVORITE COURSE: As crazy as it may sound to an outsider, my favorite class taken at Wellesley is Analytical Chemistry (CHEM 361). I entered the course never thinking that I would like it, for, implied by the name, the course requires an uncanny attention to detail. I’m much more of a big-picture thinker. However, my professor has such an incredible knowledge of the subject, an excitement and enthusiasm for teaching, and an incredible ability to challenge students to truly learn and think. As a result, I leave my class every day completely excited about something I found dry and tedious in the textbook. Because of this class and this professor, I have been able to expand my working knowledge of chemistry and have discovered direct links and applications to my research.

YOUR PERSPECTIVES ON ACADEMICS: For me, learning about science is not about attending classes, reading textbooks, and taking exams to try to prove that you understand abstract concepts and theories. Science is the creative and intuitive art of exploring, which, in my case, is a journey to discovering the natural world. Research has been the one piece that has given me the crucial context for everything I learn in class. Wellesley, and in particular my advisors, gave me the freedom to create my very own research project, which clearly demonstrated a great deal of trust and respect.

Several faculty members that I have established relationships with at Wellesley have guided me during my initial years here, challenged me when they saw potential, and gave me space and a great deal of freedom in my later years to pursue my passions in environmental research. They have written countless recommendations for me, which allowed me to conduct my research in Switzerland the past two summers; they have always been as excited about my research and goals as I have been. However, above all, they have supported my never-ending search to learn more and pursue greater depths than courses often allow.

RESEARCH/INTERNSHIPS: At the suggestion of one of my advisors, who knew that I was interested in utilizing properties of nature to clean contaminated freshwater, I decided to email an individual at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). I thought it was a long shot, given that Eawag is the leading scientific institution in the world for aquatic research. I was able to get a grant from Wellesley, and Dr. Laura Sigg welcomed me to her lab that summer. Little did I know that this experience would significantly shape my future. I returned to Wellesley, and the work that I started at Eawag quickly grew into my thesis. I was able to return again this past summer to conduct my thesis research in Switzerland and now plan to return again this August to pursue my graduate work.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT WELLESLEY: There are opportunities to be had at Wellesley. However, these opportunities certainly do not fall into the laps of students. Because of the support I received from faculty, I was able to actively pursue and take advantage of opportunities such as summer research grants, which have clearly helped shape my future plans.

DREAM JOB: I have come to realize that my life’s work is with water and delving deeper into nature to intuitively discover what nature already does perfectly. Finding ways that nature can clean contaminated potable freshwater is of the utmost importance given the current environmental crisis we are all facing. Not only is water disappearing at an alarming rate, but also the water we have is becoming more polluted every day. For me, my life is not about finding a job that makes money, or that I could be relatively happy with. It is much greater than that. To pursue this goal, be it running my own lab, creating my own company, or simply trekking in the wilderness with a pack on my back to learn more about what nature has to offer are all aspects of one pursuit.

Because I am graduating in December, I am planning on taking time off away from the lab to gain a bit of perspective. One of my plans to do so will be going on a NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) course to Alaska come May.