Undergraduate student presents at national chemistry symposium

At Furman University, research opportunities start in a student’s first year. A Furman student and professor showcased the impact undergraduate research has in preparing students for graduate school and beyond.

Chemistry major Skylar Delozier ’26 and chemistry professor George Shields presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring meeting. The ACS and Furman University are both celebrating their bicentennial this year, and Shields presented on how Furman advances undergraduate research through partnerships during a session titled “Supporting the next 150 years of undergraduate research.”

“If you’re going to graduate school, you come out of Furman at a much higher level than a typical undergrad” because of these research opportunities, Shields said.

Undergraduate research can make major contributions

From left: ACS President Rigoberto Hernandez, Skylar Delozier ’26 and Furman chemistry professor George Shields pose for a photo at a symposium in Atlanta, Georgia.

Delozier came to Furman from Lancaster, Pennsylvania for the chance to dive headfirst into the opportunities the chemistry department provided. Within her first year, she found her love for research with chemistry professor Mary Elizabeth Anderson.

Alongside Anderson, Delozier researched nanomaterials and their structures. Their work could have applications in sensing, capturing and storing gases, reducing carcinogens in the air. The materials they work with can also have biomedical applications creating different coatings for drug delivery.

Delozier was able to share this work with professors and professionals alike at the ACS symposium on Monday, and she said she was excited to share her enthusiasm for research. She’s previously attended a national conference in New Orleans as a sophomore, and a poster presentation during Furman Engaged, the annual on-campus celebration of engaged learning.

“Research is much more than the work you put out,” Delozier said. “The experience that comes with it is priceless.”

Research can leave a long-lasting impression

Skylar Delozier ’26 discusses research work at Furman Engaged in 2023. Photo by Owen Withycombe, Furman University.

Research like the work Delozier is involved in is at the core of innovation, Shields said, as scientists rarely know the reach and scope of their discoveries at the time they happen. His lab is within the Charles H. Townes Science Center, named in honor of Charles Townes ’35, Nobel prize-winning scientist and Greenville native who developed the laser. Furman’s faculty work to facilitate students’ curiosity, so they can be part of making their own discoveries.

“Professors here take the time to know your working style and study strategies,” Delozier said. “They’re invested in how you are learning and want you to leave the classroom or lab having learned something new.”

Delozier plans to pursue further research opportunities and has applied to several graduate schools and been accepted into most of them. While she’s touring campuses and finalizing her decision, she said the foundation of undergraduate research she gained at Furman has spurred her excitement for the future.