Department of Chemistry

 Mary Nguyen, a junior in Chemistry and a University Honors student at UC Riverside, has been selected as a 2013 Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipient.  The Goldwater Scholarship provides $7500 for juniors to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering, and to foster excellence in those fields.  In interviewing Mary for campus endorsement, Vice Provost Steve Brint, found her academics, research experience, career goals, and passion for research to fit the qualities that the Goldwater Scholarship seeks in eligible candidates.  In discussing her research interest in chemical synthesis, Mary shared that it was while assisting her mother when she was undergoing treatment for colon cancer that she began to question existing cancer therapies, leading her to realize that improved methods are necessary to synthesize both new and existing therapeutic agents.

While at UC Riverside, Mary has conducted research primarily under the guidance of Prof. Catharine Larsen, herself a former Goldwater Scholar.  The focus of the research is on the development of a new catalytic system that could allow for a direct synthesis of ketone-derived propargylamines.  Alongside graduate student, Conor Pierce, their work on this project has led to a publication in Angewandte Chemie, a prestigious journal in chemistry.  She has continued her work with Prof. Larsen to expand the scope of substrates that can be used in the synthesis.

Mary’s professors recognize her achievements and her promise.  In her letter of support, Prof. Catharine Larsen wrote, “She deserves this Scholarship more than I ever did, and will graduate with twice the top-tier publications I had. Mary’s research summary shows both that she understands her previous project and knows the importance of expanding direct access to novel compounds. The development of new, more efficient reactions is of fundamental interest to chemists, and we are particularly interested in this relatively unexplored field both for the high impact of the resultant methodology and the therapeutic potential of the products.”  

In addition to research, Mary has served as a Math Academic Coach and Student Leader for the Medical Scholars Program; she is a CNAS Science Ambassador, a University Honors student, and a passionate violinist and pianist.  Additionally, Mary has taken leadership roles on and off campus, while also working part-time jobs to support her studies and to assist her family.  Mary is a driven student and researcher; she intends to pursue a career in science as a teacher and researcher.

When awarding these prestigious scholarships, the Goldwater Foundation Board of Trustees considers the nominee's field of study, career objectives, plans for graduate study, and the extent to which that individual has the commitment and potential to make a significant contribution to his or her field.  The Goldwater Scholarship site, http://www.act.org/goldwater/yybull.html, provides additional details about the scholarship opportunity.