Student Profiles

Olivia Lied '13

Denver, Pa. | Cocalico High School
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Healthcare Studies

Clubs/Activities: Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, Alpha Lambda Delta first-year honor society, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

Post-Graduation Plans: Medical School

Favorite class: Organic Chemistry, because the professors are wonderful! The class is run in a way that if you put in the work you are able to do well without a problem. I've learned more from the two semesters of organic chemistry than I have from any other class.

Research experience: Deciding to do research with Dr. Johnson was one of the best decisions I've made. It allowed me to make a connection with a faculty member and to improve my research skills, and it helped me gain a 10-week summer research internship!

Joseph Lafferty '14

Somerdale, N.J. | Gloucester Catholic High School
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Healthcare Studies

Clubs/Activities: Student Government Association, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Swim Team, Track Team, Chemistry Club

Post-Graduation Plans: Medical School

Meaningful faculty connection: During my first two semesters at Susquehanna University, I established a personal as well as academically inspiring connection with Dr. Basu. He has a true enthusiasm for his subject material as well as his research, and he imparts it upon his students, pushing them to achieve to their highest abilities in the classroom. He is very approachable when questions arise or even if I just stop by his office to say hello. I’m grateful to have had him as a professor and plan on conducting research under his guidance in the future.

The most exciting thing about studying chemistry at Susquehanna: Research. The Department of Chemistry at Susquehanna University offers the opportunity for students to conduct independent research as early as their freshman year. There are many different realms of research to delve into and faculty members are more than willing to share interests and mentor their students.

Keisha Neidrich '13

Woolrich, Pa. | Central Mountain High School
Major: Chemistry
Minor: Mathematics

Clubs/Activities: Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, Alpha Lambda Delta first-year honor society, University Tour Guide, Chemistry Intern

Post-Graduation Plans: I plan to go into medical research and work on new treatments for diseases.

Meaningful faculty connection: At Susquehanna University, I have met wonderful faculty members in every department. The professors here make you feel as though you're an associate and are extremely helpful with anything you might need. Two professors in particular, Dr. Manchanayakage and Dr. Pomykalski, have gone out of their way to get to know me not only as a student, but as a person. This is the only institution I know of where the professors will sit down and just have a typical conversation.

The most exciting thing about studying chemistry at Susquehanna: Studying chemistry at Susquehanna has so many benefits, but to me the most exciting is the fact that I'm able to learn, study and research in a brand new science building. All of the equipment and facilities are state of the art, and it truly feels that I'm getting the proper experiences I need to continue doing high-level research after Susquehanna.

Kylie Manning '12

Millersburg, Pa. | Millersburg Area High School
Major: Chemistry

Clubs/Activities: Chemistry Club president, American Chemical Society, University Scholar, Beta Beta Beta biological honor society, Alpha Lambda Delta first-year honor society

Post-Graduation Plans: My post-graduation plans are to attend graduate school for either organic chemistry or natural product chemistry. I hope to get involved in researching anti-aging skin care products or some other cosmetics-related field.

The most exciting thing about studying chemistry at Susquehanna: I love that we have the opportunity to partake in undergraduate research here at Susquehanna. Students have the chance to do research, and in many cases the research done at Susquehanna is comparable to graduate-level work. Students here get a lot of hands-on training with numerous instruments that many universities do not even own.

Biggest academic challenge: My biggest academic challenge to date is probably learning to deal with the fact that sometimes your best is not always an A. I have learned that if you know you have done your best, you should be content with the results.