Scripps College Logo

Close

About Scripps
At a Glance
  • Assessment and Institutional Research
  • Annual Financial Reports
  • WASC Reaffirmation Process
History
  • College Timeline
  • History of the Presidency
  • Scripps College Traditions
Initiatives
  • Centennial (Strategic) Plan
  • Diversity
  • Sustainability
  • Centennial Celebration
Our Campus
  • Scripps Merchandise
Administration
  • President
  • Board of Trustees
  • Senior Leadership
Claremont Colleges
Admission & Aid
Apply
  • First-Year Applicants
  • Transfer Applicants
  • QuestBridge Applicants
  • International Applicants
  • Homeschool Applicants
  • Veteran Applicants
Dates and Deadlines
Financial Aid
Visit
Why Scripps College
  • Scripps College Facts
  • FAQs
Contact Us
Academic Experience
Faculty
Majors & Minors
Academic Resources
  • Clark Humanities Museum
  • Department of Natural Sciences
  • European Union Center
  • Humanities Institute
  • Intercollegiate Feminist Center
  • Library
  • Registrar
  • Scripps College Press
  • Williamson Gallery
Post-Bacc Program
Research
Study Abroad
Life & Community
New Students
Creating Community
Leadership Center
Residential Vibrancy
Student Services
Contact Us
CARE@SCRIPPS
Career Planning & Resources
Title IX
  • Inside Scripps
  • Alums
  • Families
  • Careers
  • Giving
  • Events
  • Directory
Scripps Logo
  • Inside Scripps
  • Alums
  • Families
  • Careers
  • |
  • Giving
  • Events
  • Directory
  • About Scripps
    • At a Glance
      • Assessment and Institutional Research
      • Annual Financial Reports
      • WASC Reaffirmation Process
    • History
      • College Timeline
      • History of the Presidency
      • Scripps College Traditions
    • Initiatives
      • Centennial (Strategic) Plan
      • Diversity
      • Sustainability
      • Centennial Celebration
    • Our Campus
      • Scripps Merchandise
    • Administration
      • President
      • Board of Trustees
      • Senior Leadership
    • Claremont Colleges
  • Admission & Aid
    • Apply
      • First-Year Applicants
      • Transfer Applicants
      • QuestBridge Applicants
      • International Applicants
      • Homeschool Applicants
      • Veteran Applicants
    • Dates and Deadlines
    • Financial Aid
    • Visit
    • Why Scripps College
      • Scripps College Facts
      • FAQs
    • Contact Us
  • Academic Experience
    • Faculty
    • Majors & Minors
    • Academic Resources
      • Clark Humanities Museum
      • Department of Natural Sciences
      • European Union Center
      • Humanities Institute
      • Intercollegiate Feminist Center
      • Library
      • Registrar
      • Scripps College Press
      • Williamson Gallery
    • Post-Bacc Program
    • Research
    • Study Abroad
  • Life & Community
    • New Students
    • Creating Community
    • Leadership Center
    • Residential Vibrancy
  • Student Services
    • Contact Us
    • CARE@SCRIPPS
    • Career Planning & Resources
    • Title IX
Close
Search Scripps College
Scripps College News Feature Stories Scripps College Alumna Awarded for Pursuit of Knowledge

Close

Section Menu

  • Home
  • Student Life
  • Faculty Scholarship
  • Alum Newsmakers
  • Scripps In the News
  • Campus Updates

April 16, 2015

Scripps College Alumna Awarded for Pursuit of Knowledge

  • Feature Stories

Alexandra Sullivan ’14 won a prestigious research grant from the National Science Foundation to continue her doctoral work on organometallic (OM) chemistry – the study of organic molecules containing metals.

“I love my work,” says Sullivan, who is pursuing a doctorate degree at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. “I find the most interesting aspect of my work is collaborating with other scientists. It’s an invigorating environment to be able to talk science with colleagues every day, and bounce ideas back and forth.

“I love learning, and my job revolves around gathering new knowledge.”

Sullivan, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Scripps College, is looking forward to advancing her research and discovering new findings.Alexandra Sullivan '14

“I will be studying metal complexes that catalyze reactions that are interesting to industry, specifically the production of refined petrochemicals from cheap organic starting materials,” explains Sullivan.

While an undergraduate student at the W.M. Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna College, Pitzer College, and Scripps College, Sullivan worked closely with Associate Professor of Chemistry Anna Wenzel and Associate Professor of Chemistry Nancy Williams. “I am inspired by both women and am so honored to have had the chance to work with them,” says Sullivan, who is from Virginia City in Nevada. “I am incredibly grateful to my mentors.”

Impressed with Sullivan’s “stellar” work in general chemistry, professor Williams encouraged Sullivan to apply for a summer grant in 2011 to work at the W.M. Keck Science Department.

“She made great progress on a project in organometallic chemistry,” Williams says. “And now she’s accepted a graduate position at UNC, which has one of the most highly regarded programs in the country for organometallic chemists.”

Based on her work in Wenzel’s organic chemistry class, Wenzel recommended her as an Amgen Scholar for Caltech Professor of Chemistry Robert H. Grubbs, the 2005 Nobel laureate in chemistry. Last summer, Sullivan conducted laboratory research at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. She says she was “surprised and honored” to have received the NSF graduate fellowship.

“I was so elated when I saw the acceptance in my inbox,” Sullivan says.

The NSF Graduate Fellowship supports students interested in pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math. NSF Fellows bolster the country’s technological infrastructure, while advancing society’s economic well-being through research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering.

Tags

  • Newsroom
About Scripps Visit Campus Request Info
Scripps college logo
1030 Columbia Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 621-8000
  • Campus Map
  • Virtual Tour
  • Diversity
  • Centennial Plan
  • Employment
  • Scripps Merchandise
  • Emergency
  • Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)
  • Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

The Claremont Colleges.

© Scripps College | Accessibility | Nondiscrimination Statement | Privacy