
Jean Yallou conducting an experiment in the lab
Author: Jean Gabin Yallou Castillo | Major: Chemical Engineering | Semester: Fall 2024
Curiosity and knowledge are two things that have motivated me throughout my four years of undergrad. I have always been moved by curiosity. I remember enjoying my science classes in high school because they helped me understand the world around me. I was especially excited by chemistry classes, because through them I got a better idea of the composition of materials and products I saw and used every day. That same curiosity is what led me to study chemical engineering.
When I started my freshman year, I was full of curiosity and hungry to learn. I was excited for my chemistry classes, labs, and just wanted to learn as much as I could. I did not really consider doing undergraduate research until the end of my sophomore year. Before that, I had this idea that research was mainly for seniors or graduate students. I did not think professors would accept freshmen or sophomores into their labs or let them work on real projects.
The first time I heard about undergraduate research opportunities was during my Thermodynamics class, which was taught by the chemical engineering advisor. One day, she told us that if we were interested in research, we should reach out to her. That stuck with me, so I decided to talk to her after class. When I did, she suggested that I take a look at the different research areas that faculty were working on, and then she would help connect me with someone in that area.
I checked out the chemical engineering department’s research page and found Dr. Nayani’s lab really interesting. His group works on soft matter research, trying to understand the properties and interactions of these materials and create sensing devices and other useful soft materials. Once I decided I wanted to join his lab, Dr. Walker (my advisor) connected me with him, and in summer 2023 I started my undergraduate research journey.
At the time, I did not have much experience with research. I had worked in labs for some classes and small projects during my freshman and sophomore years, but this was something completely new. Dr. Nayani paired me with Elizabeth Adeogun, a Ph.D. student, who became my mentor throughout my research. I am really grateful to her, she taught me everything I needed to know in the lab, helped me set up experiments, troubleshoot problems, and interpret results.
My work in the lab focused on studying liquid crystals and how they behave when mixed with biomolecules like PEG, DNA, and polyelectrolytes such as PDADMAC. Before joining the lab, I did not even know what a liquid crystal was. Now, I have a much deeper understanding of what they are, how they work, and how they can be applied in scientific and technological fields. The more I learn, the more curious I become. My experience in the lab has not only strengthened my technical and analytical skills but also shown me how much I enjoy the process of discovery. It made me realize that there’s still so much to learn about these materials, and I am excited to keep exploring their properties and potential in future research.