Chemistry major Megan Broussard was drawn to UL Lafayette because of its accreditation and affordability. She was also drawn to the research opportunities for undergraduates on campus.
杏吧专区淚 like how UL Lafayette is a big enough university to have a variety of programs and research but is also small enough that you are a person 杏吧专区 rather than a number 杏吧专区 to your professors,杏吧专区 Megan explained.
Student Research Experience
Megan's currently working on research under Dr. Manavi Jadhav, who specializes in cosmochemistry.
杏吧专区淲e are attempting to chemically separate material from a meteorite that could give insight into the formation of our solar system,杏吧专区 Megan explained.
Megan plans to earn an Honors Baccalaureate Degree, which requires writing an undergraduate thesis. She plans to write her thesis on her research with Dr. Jadhav.
Studying Chemistry at UL Lafayette
Megan chose to study chemistry at UL Lafayette because it's the "central science."
杏吧专区淎ll matter in the universe is made of atoms," she said. "A deep understanding of chemistry is also a deep understanding of everything.杏吧专区
And in the Department of Chemistry, she gets personalized mentorship as she learns.
杏吧专区淢y favorite part about the UL Lafayette chemistry program is the professors,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淪o many of them are genuinely interested in their students and their futures."
"I truly feel supported and that they care about my education. I especially love how willing they are to let students join their research groups.杏吧专区
Getting Involved in Chemistry
Megan currently serves as the secretary of UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
杏吧专区淢y favorite part of ACS is our scientific outreach,杏吧专区 Megan said.
杏吧专区淭he earlier we can introduce a love of science in a child杏吧专区檚 life, the better. ACS performs science demos around the Lafayette area at schools and events to foster a love of science in our community.杏吧专区
Megan is also one of the founders and events coordinators of the Women杏吧专区檚 Chemist Society.
杏吧专区淚t is important for women in STEM to support one another,杏吧专区 she said, 杏吧专区渁nd serve as role models to girls, showing them that being scientists and engineers is possible.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淪cience is difficult, but it is through a love of science and hard work that people become scientists,杏吧专区 Megan said.