What led you to choose Georgia Tech for your studies?

I was already familiar with Georgia Tech growing up in Lilburn, Georgia, so being interested in science, especially chemistry, in high school made it a strong candidate. However, I felt really confident in picking Georgia Tech after going on a tour. I loved that there were tons of ways I could learn hands-on with research and internships but not at the cost of personal interests. Everyone I spoke with was equally invested in academics and at least some other form of club, and I wanted a school that had a “work hard play hard” culture.

How did you choose the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Major?

I had a lot of interest in chemistry and engineering, but I had a hard time settling on one thing to do after graduation because everything sounded too interesting to decide on one. I knew that with chemical engineering, I would be opening the door to a lot of different industries, so I would have the opportunity to explore my interests further without having to settle on one right away. 

Do you know what you’ll be doing after graduation in spring 2026?

After graduation, I will be working as an engineer for Eli Lilly.

Did internships/co-ops help prepare you for this experience? 

I think both my research experiences and my co-op at Moderna in Technical Development were invaluable for preparing me for this. Although classes are vital for understanding theory, I got a much deeper understanding of how to function in the workplace and how to apply all that theory in a real way. These experiences were also important to my understanding of how to overcome real problems and work in a team.

Did you participate in undergraduate research during your studies? If so, in whose lab and what did you work on?

I have worked in Associate Professor John Blazeck's lab for a little over 3 semesters. In this lab, I work on engineering the metabolic pathways for CAR-T cell therapy.

What kind of extracurricular activities did you participate in at Tech?

At Tech, I am involved in Swim Club and Greek life. I also have been involved in running and competing in triathlons.

What did you get out of being a Course Assistant or other leadership activities at Tech?

Being an Undergraduate Course Assistant gave me the opportunity to revisit coursework and understand it in deeper way in order to be able to explain it to other students. It has forced me to think through questions that I wouldn’t have thought of initially and gain a deeper understanding of the material while helping others understand the material as well.

How did your educational experience at Georgia Tech help you to achieve your goals?

Georgia Tech has helped me achieve my goals on multiple fronts. It has literally helped me understand the concepts I need to know to be successful in industry, given me connections to find opportunities in and outside of school, and, most importantly, has helped me grow as a person, pushing my limits to do more than I thought I was capable of.

What advice would you give to new students pursuing Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering? 

While ChBE is by no means an easy major, it is absolutely worthwhile to get you to your goals and help you grow. While at times you may be faced with difficult challenges and assignments, ultimately it is very rewarding to look back and see how far you’ve come. I encourage every student pursuing ChBE to take these challenges in stride and look for every opportunity they can to get involved to make the most of their experience.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your experiences related to your education? 

A lot of the best parts of ChBE are the opportunities you find outside of class. While the classes themselves have taught me a lot, I think it is super important to get involved with research, leadership, internships, or any other opportunities within ChBE for anyone to be able to grow as much as they can.