CalTech Graduate Student Visits AP Chemistry Class
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n 2018, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Frances H. Arnold, an American chemical engineer, for pioneering the use of directed evolution to engineer enzymes. Dr. Arnold currently serves as the Linus Pauling Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering and Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) in Pasadena, California. Providence’s AP/ Honors Chemistry and Nutrition teacher, Ms. Rebecca Poliner, wrote to Dr. Arnold to congratulate her on her award and in a long-shot, extend an invitation to speak to our AP Chemistry students. Dr. Arnold responded to Ms. Poliner, explaining that
Pioneer Connections
she was, understandably, quite busy with engagements but that she would be happy to send a member of her team who worked on directed evolution under her direction. On Wednesday, January 23, team member Patrick Almhjell, a Ph.D. graduate student in the Arnold Lab at CalTech, spoke to Mrs. Poliner's AP Chemistry class. Mr. Almhjell talked about his experience and journey thus far. He detailed the path he took to becoming a graduate student, the realities of pursuing a Ph.D., working in a research lab, and the actual science of what they
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