Chemistry Graduate Student Lisa Nguyen is originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania - commonly known as the heart of Amish country. While earning her undergraduate degree she attended Millersville University in Pennsylvania, a small state school close to where she grew up. Here, she majored in Chemistry and had the opportunity to work with Dr. Maria V. Schiza, studying and designing biocompatible CdSe/ZnS quantum dots for use as fluorescent probes.

Her interests in Chemistry soon gave rise to research opportunities in other states. During this time, Lisa participated in a “Research Experience for Undergrads” (REU) at the University at Buffalo in New York. Here, she worked for Dr. Frank V. Bright and studied the enhanced fluorescent sensing capabilities at interfaces made on electrochemically etched porous silicon. When looking back at her ungraduated experience, Lisa notes “My undergrad heavily focused on light interacting with materials, so it makes sense I would join a spectroscopy group in grad school!”

 After having completed her undergraduate degree, she enrolled in The Ohio State University’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Program during the summer of 2014. Coming from a relatively small college, the extent of her spectroscopic experience was a benchtop UV-Vis and Fluorimeter. Lisa stated, “Seeing open laser tables and red light frequency doubling to blue light really amazed me.” Currently, Lisa is working in Dr. Terry Gustafson’s group, but she also works collaboratively with other groups in the department. When talking about her research, she explains “I use ultra-fast time-resolved infrared spectroscopy to study the photo excited state of different semiconductor materials.” Exciting stuff! “Lisa brings an unbridled enthusiasm to everything she does. She pursues her research with passion and deep desire to get to the ‘truth’ in the problems she investigates. Lisa has a heart for teaching and cares deeply for the students she works with”, states Dr. Gustafson.

Lisa also has a busy schedule outside the lab. She has been involved in the Edward Mack Jr. Committee for the past two years. The Mack lectures take place each spring and consist of having the chemistry graduate students invite a prominent chemist to give a two-day lecture series. She describes it as a valuable experience, “The speaker always gives refreshing perspective which I try to apply to my own research.”

Lisa’s experiences at Ohio State have taught her that failure is common, and not necessarily negative – which has been crucial in her research. Nguyen states, “Things will constantly go wrong in research, but it is part of life. Learn from your mistakes, gain experience. That’s how you become a better scientist.”

At home, Lisa enjoys cooking! Nothing too serious though considering she neglects measuring - “I spend all week in lab being precise and accurate, so I like to go home and throw stuff together and see what comes of it!” We’d love to see her bake using this process – watch out oven! We do know she won’t ever let anything burn because multiple alarms are a colossal part of her life… “I admire morning people because I have to set 3 different alarm clocks in order to get up in the morning.” Where’s the coffee?

We know Lisa’s future is bright and wish her all the best luck! When the time comes, she hopes to have a job where she can continue learning and having fun. The best if yet to come for you, Lisa! Wherever your future takes you, know that you’ll always have a home here in Chemistry & Biochemistry!