Hometown: Crystal Lake, IL
Degree: BA Chemistry (2017), Carthage College, WI
             PhD Chemistry (2022), University of Iowa, IA

What is your project? 
Modeling and performing calculations on Jellium system 

What makes you passionate about your work?
Learning anything new about chemistry 

What do you enjoy most about your work?
Programing with groupmates

Why this group? 
I had never really heard of computational chemistry before my visit to UIowa. When Shepherd talked to me about his group during visit week, I was intrigued but wary due to bad experiences with programing in previous classes. During rotations, I found that I actually had a knack for programing and actually enjoyed it. Furthermore, the thought that I could use a computer to aid me in chemistry research and model chemical systems to learn more about them fascinates me. I chose this particular computational group because their research focused on both this line between wet chemistry and theory as well as pure theoretical work. 

Role in Group:
Post Doctoral Researcher

Why UIowa? 
I did not know what to expect when I came to UIowa. What I found was a very welcoming community that was both friendly and open. Both the grad students and the professors were friendly and willing to answer any question I put to them. I really liked that during my visit and continuing into my first semester, both the professors as well as the administration worked to try to make my experience a good one and to help in anyway that was needed.

What are your future career plans? 
I want to be a Professor of Chemistry 

Why is it interesting?
The Jellium system is a model metal and used in surface chemistry calculations. I will be working with a program that calculates Jellium energies to help model systems, such as graphite electrode surfaces, and running various thermodynamic and quantum calculations on them to help me figure out what is happening on the surface of the metals.