Academics

W&J College Student Wins Society for Applied Spectroscopy Undergraduate Research Award Chemistry major Aaron Viggiano was seeking bigger opportunities. Weeks later, he was the winner of the 2019 Society for Applied Spectroscopy’s (SAS) undergraduate research award for his work with W&J Professor of Chemistry Robbie Iuliucci, Ph.D. Encouraged by his academic advisor, Professor of Chemistry Steven Malinak, Ph.D., he connected with Dr. Iuliucci and the two began work together on the 13-week study. Under Dr. Iuliucci’s guidance, Aaron used Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to analyze the crystal structures of erlotinib, a drug used in chemotherapy under the trade name Tarceva. Using the technique of NMR, Aaron proved that only one of the five drug formulations were unique from others available in the market. The chance to do this type of research is one that Aaron is grateful to have. “I don’t think you get these kinds of research opportunities at larger schools,” he said. “I never thought that in a 13 to 14-week period, I would have a full paper ready to present. You’d be amazed at what you find out that you’re able to do just by approaching a professor and talking to them about their field of research.”

Washington & Jefferson College at the University of Vienna

As a third-year student majoring in German and International Studies, Michaela applied to be an exchange student at the University of Vienna in Austria through the W&J Office of Study Abroad. Her semester at the University of Vienna included classes in German Philology, International Development, and Political Science. Living at the University of Vienna with other exchange students, speaking German, and traveling around the region, Michaela had an incredible semester that expanded her view of the world and her academic study.

“I am thankful to be able to see and compare these cultural differences, because we can hear about them and read about them, but we don’t really know them until we’ve experienced them… I have learned so much about myself. I have become so much more independent than I ever could have imagined possible. I have improved my German immensely. I have made friends from all over the world. Going on a semester abroad has hands down been the best decision I have ever made.”

Nurturing a Passion for Economics Leads to an FDIC Internship

For Washington & Jefferson College junior Samara Wendel, keeping a full schedule is second nature. The financial economics major and Chinese and accounting minor added to that schedule with an internship with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

W&J’s Career Services resources helped Samara to find and land the internship after encouraging her to join W&J’s online job search platform, which connects students and alumni with internship and employment opportunities. At the time, she was completing a semester abroad in Ireland at University College Cork where she studied economics, Chinese, history and English, but she didn’t let the time difference stop her. As Samara became more involved with her Chinese studies, she completed a Magellan Project in China. The following summer she completed a six-week internship as part of the implementation phase of Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment (LIASE) program grant.

W&J has been full of learning opportunities for Samara. “I’ve had so many good experiences because of W&J,” Samara said. “There’s so much the College has to offer, and I want to take advantage of everything while I’m here.”