As a senior studying sociology and chemistry, Tonisha Thacker is used to people questioning her choice of majors, which on paper can seem like complete

Name: Alayna Johnson. Year: Junior. Hometown: Minneapolis, MN. Why Illinois? I actually enrolled at Illinois because of its highly-rated physics program, but I quickly realized I was more suited for the chemistry curriculum; what I especially like is that chemistry majors take a different sequence of courses than chemistry minors and other students, so we're in smaller, more rigorous classes with equally passionate students. Chemistry at Illinois was certainly not my plan, but I really feel like it's exactly where I belong.

Researchers at the University have designed an enzyme that helps decrease harmful chemical compounds and contaminants in the environment. The research was published on Sept. 14 and focuses on how the newly designed enzyme can transform sulfite, a chemical compound that can be harmful for the environment, into sulfide, another chemical compound that can improve the efficacy of catalysts.

Congratulations to the WCC and YCC! The East Central Illinois (ECI) chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS) received the following from the ACS:

Chemistry professor Yi Lu, left, and graduate student Evan Mirts have designed a new synthetic enzyme that reduces the compound sulfite to sulfide – a notoriously complex multistep chemical reaction that has eluded chemists for years.

Perry Lim, research intern, Serionix (undergraduate, chemistry) was a finalist for "Best Entrepreneurial Leadership in a Startup" award. While Tonisha Thacker, communication/marketing Intern, AARP (undergraduate, chemistry and sociology) won the "Most Advanced Marketing-Business Development" award.

The Women Chemists Committee (WCC) Bonding with Chemistry Day Camp is an annual event with the purpose of exposing middle school girls to various areas of chemistry.

The J. C. Jamieson award is given for outstanding achievement in the field of high pressure research. This year's award is unusual in that there was a tie and it is being awarded jointly to Will Bassett and Dominique Laniel.

The 2018 School of Chemical Sciences (SCS) Teaching Awards recipients have been announced. This year’s recipients represent just a few of the large number of highly dedicated instructors in SCS.

Name: Erin Nissen. Year: 3rd Year. Hometown: Colorado Springs. Why Illinois? I loved the people and research.

Name: Kyle Shelton. Year: Class of 2016. Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa. Why Illinois? I completed a summer rotation in the chemistry department as an undergrad, and knew it was a really great school where I would be supported as a student throughout my Ph.D.

Name: Becky Haight. Year: Junior (Class of 2019). Hometown: Wadsworth, IL. Why Illinois? One of the top schools for undergraduate chemistry in the country is only a couple hours from home.

Thirty-two University of Illinois students have won National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships including 11 students from the Department of Chemistry.

Name: Elizabeth Kathleen Neumann. Year: Third Year. Hometown: Moorpark, California. Why Illinois? The environment seemed very supportive and interdisciplinary.

Name: Ashley Lenhart. Year: Senior. Hometown: Watseka, IL. Why Illinois? I had ‘chemistry’ with the campus and opportunities immediately.