Graduate student Jonathan Bajko was one of the first Ph.D. students to join the research group of Joomyung “Vicky” Jun, who joined the Illinois Chemistry faculty in August 2024.“From day one, he had to be a mentor,” Jun wrote in her nomination of Bajko for a mentoring award. “Johnny has played a...
When Jubyeong Chae decided to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry, he said he wanted to do more research and take on new challenges with great faculty members and colleagues.Working under the advisement of Prof. Liviu Mirica, Chae has explored new challenges as a graduate student in his research...
Seth Putnam remembers putting the leads of a 9-volt battery in water and watching the bubbles form from splitting water, one of many simple experiments he did as a kid with his grandfather, Bradford Mundy, an organic chemistry professor at Montana State University.Still experimenting with...
An aspiring physician who wants to do Alzheimer’s research, Vito Failla describes graduating as bittersweet.“Being able to make my family proud by reaching this milestone in my life feels great. It does feel a little sad with this chapter closing in my life, but I am excited to see what the...
A chemistry major in the Class of 2026, Michaela Klein won’t miss the Illinois campus after graduation, because she will be pursuing a second degree in Atmospheric Sciences at Illinois.“There are many routes my future can take, but currently, my career goals are becoming an aviation...
In August, Abby Calixto starts her new job as a scientist for Eli Lilly and Company in the Manufacturing Science Department in Indianapolis.“I am so excited to be crossing the finish line of my undergraduate years here at Illinois,” said Calixto, a Class of 2026 chemistry graduate. “What once felt...
Getting involved in research completely changed the trajectory of Mary Choy’s undergraduate experience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.“I cannot emphasize enough how meaningful that experience has been for me,” Choy said. A senior majoring in chemistry and earth, society,...
As an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California Los Angeles, alumnus Soumitra Athavale (Ph.D., '19) has been working to engineer iron-containing enzymes that could change the way drugs are made by using sustainable and environmentally friendly systems to...
Each year, the Department of Chemistry recognizes the exemplary achievements of seven graduating students during the May Convocation ceremony. All the awards were established by a gift to the department, and some are in memory of an individual. All of the awards include a $1,000 monetary gift to...
