Undergraduate of the Quarter Archives - Page 4 of 4

Undergraduate of the Quarter - Winter 2013 — Undergraduate of the Quarter – Winter 2013

Arsalan was born in Portland and went to Aloha High School. He came to OSU because of the high quality of education available here for a “fraction of the cost of other places.” During freshman orientation, he was initially registered as a biology major. When Dr. Chris Pastorek walked into the College of Science orientation and announced “All chem majors come with me,” he felt a spontaneous desire to follow her and has never looked back. His favorite instructor is Emile Firpo due to his incredible generosity. His interest in organic chemistry was sparked during the CH 334/335/336 series and he considers doing research with organic chemistry professor Paul Blakemore his best experience at OSU. His favorite course was CH 435 Spectroscopy with Chris Beaudry. After graduation, he intended to go to grad school to obtain a PhD in Chemistry and hopes to be a university professor one day. OSU and the Chemistry Department are so lucky to have talented students like Arsalan.

Undergraduate of the Quarter - Fall 2012 — Undergraduate of the Quarter – Fall 2012

Monica Best has been selected as an undergrad chem major of the quarter for Fall 2012. Monica grew up in Portland, OR and attended La Salle High School. Her junior and senior-year chemistry courses in high school solidified her interest in Chemistry. When she visited OSU, she was impressed with the Chemistry Department and specifically credits Chris Pastorek with telling her all the great things going on here. She is in her junior year right now – working in Adjunct Chemistry faculty member Jennifer Field’s laboratory. She is unsure if she plans to attend graduate school, but hopes to stay in Oregon (or the Northwest) after she graduates. She is a fan of the TV crime dramas such as NCIS (particularly the lab tech Abby Sciuto) which has inspired her interest in the forensic science-chemistry option (with a toxicology minor). She has enjoyed participating in the Chemistry Club within the Department – particularly the laid back feel and the expectation that the students do the work. Her favorite courses so far have been Experimental Chemistry with Emile Firpo and John Loeser where she tells us that the student gets to be the “brain of it” – deciding what they are going to do. She is taking Physical Chemistry this term and really has enjoyed Professor Glenn Evans’ passion and enthusiasm in the classroom. Outside of chemistry, she likes going to OSU football games, swimming and waterskiing in the summer time and crafting ”everything” from picture frames to scrapbooks. She also recently joined the OSU Flying Club to learn how to fly. It is talented and diverse students like Monica that help to make the OSU Chemistry program so strong!

Undergraduate of the Quarter - Fall 2013 — Undergraduate of the Quarter – Fall 2013

Josh Holmes has been selected as an undergrad chem major of the quarter for Fall 2012. Josh was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts , but grew up in Wilton, New Hampshire. Josh took a non-traditional path to OSU. While excelling in math throughout high school, he was unsure what career path to take. Consequently, he decided to work in the construction industry after graduating from high school in 2002. During that time, he became interested in snow skiing and began working as a ski lift operator. His interest in skiing ultimately brought him to the west coast (California) were he met his wife. In 2008, his wife enrolled in graduate school at OSU in geology. Josh took the opportunity to re-engage with his education and starting taking classes at LBCC in 2009. Within a year, he had matriculated to OSU where he has excelled ever sense. He enjoyed taking math classes at OSU, but it was his General Chemistry course with Dr. Phil Watson that really caught his attention – commenting that he was “blown away by it.” His interest in the fundamental aspects of chemistry drove him to work for emeritus Professor Ken Hedberg because he “wants to known deep down inside what is happening” in chemistry. Josh has enjoyed the personal attention and friendly attitude that OSU offers – providing easy access to faculty. Both of those attributes he associates with the Experimental Chemistry courses run by Emile Firpo, John Loeser and Chris Pastorek. He is unsure exactly what he wants to do after graduation, but he feels that he would like to teach in some capacity. Josh still likes to snow ski and is an accomplished musician – playing guitar in the band called the Psych Country Revue (rock and roll with a country twist). Our Department is lucky to have wonderful students like Josh who will surely inspire the next generation of chemists through their passion and enthusiasm about science!

Undergraduate of the Quarter - Spring 2012 — Undergraduate of the Quarter – Spring 2012

Sam Bartlett has been selected as an undergrad chem major of the quarter for Spring 2012. Sam was born in Sunnyside, WA but was raised in Lake Oswego, OR until 4th grade when he moved to Corvallis. He attended Crescent Valley High School. Sam picked OSU because of its strong reputation, the in-state tuition costs and wanting to stay close to home. He initially was a biology major, but the first term of Organic Chemistry from Dr. Daniel Myles showed him that his real interests were in Chemistry. Sam cites Prof. Carter (for CH 336) and his current advisor, Chris Beaudry (for his instruction in CH 471 and CH 535) as his two favorite professors. Sam has conducted extensive undergraduate research during his time at OSU. In fact, Sam and Professor Beaudry have published a paper on his research in the Journal of Organic Chemistry – a major accomplishment for an undergraduate student. Sam is very grateful for this experience – particularly commenting that Professor Beaudry’s insights were valuable and he is very grateful for his help in getting into grad school. Sam has really enjoyed the community in the Department – feeling that it is like a close knit family. Sam will be starting graduate school this summer in Organic Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Professor Jeff Johnson. UNC-Chapel Hill is regarded as one of the top programs in his field and we congratulate Sam on all his accomplishments to date. It is students like Sam that make OSU Chemistry as strong as it is today!!

Matthew Stolt has been selected as an undergrad chem major of the quarter for Spring 2012. Matt was born and raised in Oregon – growing up in the Beaverton area. He attended Jesuit High School. He cites his big brother as a significant influence in his life including encouraging him to attend Jesuit High School as well as Oregon State University. While he came to OSU initially to be a Chemistry Engineering major, one of his friends, Evan, got him interested in becoming a Chemistry major. Matt has been conducting undergraduate research with Mas Subramanian since his sophomore year. He initially worked closely with senior graduate student Geneva Laurita-Plankis; however, he is now working on an independent project within Professor Subramanian’s lab. He specifically mentioned emeritus professor Glenn Evans as his favorite teacher. He described Dr. Evans has “unbelievably challenging,” but he did a wonderful job of making sure that the students really “know” the material. Matt plans to continue his education after graduation – likely getting a PhD in materials / inorganic chemistry. He would like to thank all the faculty and students he has worked with during his time here as well as his study group and friends for their support. We congratulate Matt on all his accomplishments to date and he is a wonderful part of the Chemistry program at OSU!

Undergraduate of the Quarter - Winter 2012 — Undergraduate of the Quarter – Winter 2012

Mai Doung is a senior undergraduate student in the Chemistry Department at Oregon State University and has been selected a Winter 2012 Chem Major of the Term. Mai grew up in Portland, OR and graduated from David Douglas High School. When applying for college, she selected OSU after having been awarded the first Sally Runes-Hicks Scholarship (http://osufoundation.org/campaignupdate/2010/apr/impact.htm). Her interest in chemistry was sparked by her high school chemistry teacher Renee Gibb. Since her time at OSU, her favorite chemistry courses have been in the area of organic chemistry because, as Mai is quick to point out, “it made the most sense to me.” She is currently conducting research in Claudia Maier’s laboratory where she works with mass spectrometry instruments. For fun, Mai enjoys hiking and hanging out with her friends. She is a chemistry major with an education option and hopes to become a high school chemistry teacher when she graduates. Students like Mai will help to inspire the next generation to focus on the sciences and we are honored to have her as a Chemistry major in our Department and a student at OSU!

Corey Wright is a senior undergraduate student in the Chemistry Department at Oregon State University and has been selected a Winter 2012 Chem Major of the Term. Corey grew up in Dallas, OR on a small farm. His interest in chemistry started during high school and he has had a long standing desire to become a medical doctor. He hopes to enroll in medical school in Fall 2013. Corey has excelled in his courses with his favorite chemistry classes to date being “Organic chemistry lab with Emile” and Quantum Theory with Professor Wei Kong. This unusual combination of favorite courses likely contributed to his current research project which is a collaboration between emeritus faculty members Joe Nibler (a physical chemist) and Jim White (an organic chemist). In his spare time, Corey likes to play soccer and music as well as interact with new international students. He has been to Mozambique twice to do charitable work – once with an orphanage and once with street boys. Corey feels he is blessed to have the education and opportunities he has had at OSU and we are honored to have such high achieving students amongst our ranks!

The Erlenmeyer Flask

Where Real Chemistry Happens…

Category Archives: Undergraduate of the Quarter

Undergraduate of the Quarter – Winter 2013 – Arsalan Zolfagari

Undergraduate of the Quarter – Fall 2012 – Monica Best

Undergraduate of the Quarter – Fall 2012 – Josh Holmes

Undergraduate of the Quarter – Spring 2012 – Sam Bartlett

Undergraduate of the Quarter – Spring 2012 – Matt Stolt

Undergraduate of the Quarter – Winter 2012 – Mai Doung

Undergraduate of the Quarter – Winter 2012 – Corey Wright

Contact Info