Meet Ashly Gasior ’27, an OUR Peer Research Ambassador majoring in Chemistry and Physics and minoring in Mathematics.

What is the focus of your research/creative activity?

The focus of both my current and previous research has been applications in radical chemistry.  Previously, I worked on using electrochemistry to create greener synthesis methods, and currently I am working on using spectroscopic techniques to access to the quantum behavior of unpaired electrons.

Why did you get involved in research/creative activity?

I got involved in research because I was curious as to how all of the theoretical science taught in our coursework is actually applied.  I was interested in doing graduate studies, so I wanted to see what it actually meant to do research!

Describe the impact your research experience/creative activity has had on you.

Research has completely opened up a new sphere of my brain.  It’s one thing to be good at math and science – it’s another to be able to creatively engage and add to your field of study.  Being able to sit down and attempt to figure something out that no one has before requires you to train your brain to think in a new way, and although it was a bit humbling in the beginning, the process was so incredibly rewarding!

What are your plans after graduation? How has involvement in research/creative activity influenced your plans and/or prepared you for the future?

My plan after graduation is to pursue a PhD in physical chemistry!  My involvement in research has prepared me in a way no other academic pursuits could have.  From laboratory training, to developing my own project proposals, to designing experiments, to presenting my work, to writing my own journal papers; I feel more than ready to start doing graduate level research.

 

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