I am writing on behalf of my application to participate in the Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of Utah in the Department of Chemistry. I am captivated by chemistry’s impact on all aspects of life. I want to participate in this program because I know that this research experience will help me develop my knowledge of chemistry and my understanding of the world. I am pursuing a career in chemistry and I believe that I can greatly contribute to this research community. I am fascinated by the ways in which chemistry interacts with our everyday lives, and its far-reaching effects on the environment and society. My goal is to gain a deeper understanding of chemical interactions and reactions and to understand how compounds can be built and manipulated to achieve a goal. I am particularly interested in why chemicals have certain properties and …show more content…
in chemistry and studio art—and my experience at a commercial analysis company, Anderson Materials Evaluation, have prepared me for this mentored research position. In organic chemistry laboratory, I have participated in adjusting the steps of synthesizing a crown ether precursor for higher purity and yield, and have written formal lab reports documenting this synthesis. In addition, during a summer internship at Anderson Materials, I aided in the analysis of an array of solid and liquid samples and learned about the capabilities and limitations of numerous methods of analysis. I gained insight into how real-world laboratories function and the process of solving chemical problems. Due to these experiences, I believe that I would perform best in the areas of organic and analytical chemistry. However, I am also extremely interested in learning about other areas of chemistry, such as how chemicals interact with the environment, what role chemistry plays within the body, and the development of sustainable