Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)

The SURF made me realize the impact and ubiquity of chemical science. As someone who chose to study chemistry simply because “I like it” and who has no close relatives who are scientists, I had no idea about the extent and impact that chemistry has. Meeting novel scientists in the field and their journey got me really excited about pursuing chemistry as a career. It got me thinking about where my path might align or differ from those individuals and how I can develop tangible goals on entering the field of chemistry. Being introduced to the young scientists in my fellow SURF awardees and the way they addressed complex chemical problems was inspiring. Indeed, their unique backgrounds and extraordinary passion for laboratory science stood out. College is a time when a lot of individuals may question their path and purpose. The SURF really helped affirm these things for me.

I learned that managing a project is hard. It takes patience and time, and what you set out to do is not always what you will end up doing. I learned about interacting in a professional environment, having deadlines, and planning ahead for future problems in my project.

After spending two years in laboratories at Berkeley, I had always wondered what the structure of companies in industry looked like. Seeing Merck and the different disciples and ways they operate was immensely helpful because I had never gotten to see it before. They are surely leaders in the field for doing novel research and having the latest technologies. The site visit was another way that got me excited about pursuing chemistry and having access to the type of research that Merck does and the beautiful network of scientists that it encapsulates.

The DOC SURF program allowed me to focus entirely on my research this summer. This allowed me to experience what research can truly be like without the distractions of another job/responsibilities. Solely focusing on research allowed me to make a large amount of progress in my summer project, something that I could not have done without the DOC SURF program. Most importantly, the DOC SURF program allowed me to have a taste of what graduate school will really be like in terms of the hours that I put into the lab. It showed me that I both enjoy treating the lab like a full time job and that I am capable of doing it. This summer allowed me to learn many new techniques in both synthetic and physical organic chemistry, but perhaps most importantly, I learned how to present my research in a concise way to those who had never seen it before. The site visit to Merck was a fantastic experience. Being able to see how chemistry was done in an industrial environment was amazing. The fact that the research and discovery process can be as streamlined as it was while also producing excellent results and a safe working environment was fantastic to see. Overall, the DOC SURF program was an amazing experience!

I was honored to have been awarded the SURF. My summer research taught me about project planning, execution of that strategy, and how to adapt to data which challenged the initial proposal. The summer also taught me how to tell the story of my group’s work and present an idea. The site visit left me in awe at the scale of the work done at Merck, in the highly sophisticated methods their researchers use to accomplish their goals, and in the sense of community between colleagues and competitors. The people I met were highly inspirational and it was a pleasure to get to know them.

SURF allowed me the chance experience what graduate school is like. Doing research all day, learning new things, it made me even more sure than ever that graduate school is where I’m headed after this year. It also gave me a chance to learn more about a career in industry. I didn’t know much about industry before the site visit to Merck, and I could not ask for a better introduction. SURF also allowed me to connect with people who are like me. People that love organic chemistry, love research, and want to use chemistry in their life beyond college.

This summer gave me a taste of what grad school life is like. I knew I want to go to graduate school after this year, but this summer truly showed me what it was like to dedicate your life to your research project. You come in to lab, you do research, you meet with your PI and lab mates, you make progress on your project. I loved every second of it. Regardless of what I actually ended up accomplishing on my project, I am very grateful for SURF for allowing me this opportunity to get even a small part of what my life will look like after this year.

Going to Merck was definitely one of my favorite things about SURF. Before the site visit, I didn’t really know much about the industry career path. I may not have learned the roles of every single person working in an industry setting such as Merck, but I got a pretty good idea and I honestly could not have asked for a better introduction. It has definitely made me seriously think about industry as a career choice after graduate school.

Through the SURF program, I was allowed to focus solely on my research full time which turned my passion for organic chemistry into a passion for research. This summer confirmed my desire to attend graduate school in support of continuing my career in drug development and discovery. Going to Merck was an incredibly insightful experience in which I was able to speak with skilled scientists and get a feel for a real-world industry setting. In addition, presenting my research matured my ability to communicate and collaborate ideas with professionals as well as my fellow awardees from across the country. The ACS DOC program ultimately motivated and inspired me to continue to pursue pharmaceutical research with the goal of helping people all around the world.

The SURF program allowed me to continue to engage in my passion for chemical research. This summer, I had the opportunity to explore the nuances and complexities of my research project, and see the bigger picture of how it fits into the field of organic electronics. My summer research also enabled me to collect enough data to present an honors project this spring semester, and taught me how to communicate clearly and concisely the results of my research, be it through a paper, presentation, or poster.

The site visit at Merck was really eye-opening, as it showed me how many of the same techniques I use in my academic research lab are also used in an industrial setting. It was amazing to see all of the state-of-the-art instrumentation that is used to improve efficiency and results. I also found it very valuable to talk with professionals during the site visit and learn more about their paths through academia and industry. These interactions provided me with a lot of insight that is helpful as I prepare for my future career in chemistry.

The SURF program gave me a wonderful opportunity to conduct graduate level research while still an undergrad which adds to my laboratory expertise. The experience gained under the SURF program makes me very marketable moving forward in my life.

The summer research opportunity thought me that nothing in research is easy. Researchers have to return to the lab day after day not knowing what this week’s experiments might produce, whether or not their results will be good, and all the while they have to be designing and approaching problems from new directions. However, research is a dynamic experience which is extremely rewarding academically, personally, intellectually, and there is nothing else quite like it.
It was impressive to see the (Merck) facilities and tools used on site for advanced pharmaceutical research.

Thanks to SURF, I had an amazing opportunity to work in an organic chemistry lab under Dr. Malachowski which was really eye-opening and intellectually stimulating. SURF program allowed me to see how research is greatly needed and significant in scientific discovery for everyone’s benefit. It really allowed me to see the big picture of the work that I was doing in lab and made me appreciate current scientists and researchers who have conducted so many reactions for us to utilize and build up on. It affirmed my passion for chemistry and showed wide range of chemical reactions that are being studied outside of the textbooks.

I learned that research takes so much patience and effort. Although I have taken a laboratory course, the procedure was all laid out for us and it was easy to follow. And it always yielded a desired product! However, behind every wonderfully carried out reaction, there are so many failed reactions and mechanisms that scientists have explored. As I conducted my own research, I realized it takes so much thinking and brainstorming behind the benchwork. Often our reaction would not work and we would have to go back to the beginning of our synthesis and rethink through the problem. There are so much intentionality and problem-solving involved in laboratory research. Through summer research I was able to greatly enhance not only my laboratory skills but also soft skills such as communication, working with team members, and organization skills.

The site visit (Merck) really allowed me to see and realize what kind of effort and work goes into designing and making a drug that people use on a daily basis. Listening to process chemist and medicinal chemist talk about their research demonstrated that what I do in the lab is translated to a pharmaceutical company. Additionally, so many scientists offered feedback and possible solutions to the problem I have with my current project and it was very encouraging to see that everyone is working towards the same goal. It was inspiring to see products of chemistry being tested and used. I’m so thankful for the mentorship and encouragement I’ve received at the site visit.