Zachary Woydziak

Melanie Berg

Sadeea Qureshi

Stacie Suchsland

When did you graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno?
I graduated from University of Nevada, Reno in Spring 2004 with a degree in chemistry. I am a person that always enjoys a good puzzle and wants to find the challenge in life. After graduating from McQueen high school in Reno, I decided to pursue a scientific degree at UNR. As I took many of the chemistry courses I found a love for chemistry and decided to become a Chemistry Major. I feel that my decision was very wise and fortunate. I discovered that the chemistry instructors at the university are extremely talented at teaching and are able to present their courses in a way that both interested and challenged my mind.

What kind of research experiences or opportunities did you have during college?
Typically, a fair amount of time for a chemistry student is spent doing laboratory research for one of the professors. I was able to work in a lab simply by asking Dr. Lightner (one of the professors of organic chemistry) if I could join his group during my sophomore year in college. In the lab, I ran many reactions in order to build several molecules that could be used in humans to diagnose liver disorders. The research I performed was extremely fun, challenging and very rewarding. Furthermore, my research opportunities allowed me to win several fellowships by which I was paid to do the research in the lab both during the school year and through the summer. This was an excellent situation because I could essentially get a job doing the type of work that would well prepare me for a future in chemistry.

What are you currently doing?
This year I was admitted into some of the top programs in the nation for graduate studies in organic chemistry. I decided on pursuing a fellowship at the University of California at Irvine. This type of fellowship (which is common at most graduate schools) will pay for my graduate school tuition and give me an extra sum of money to pay for my costs of living in Irvine. I feel that both the courses and the research offered through UNR has well prepared me to excel at Irvine and has provided me with a solid foundation for obtaining my career goal of becoming a university professor.

It should be stated that chemistry students are not limited to graduate studies. Many of my friends in the major have graduated went onto medical school or have decided to work in an industrial setting. We have discovered that a degree in chemistry is very versatile and allows for a variety of options after graduation.

Why would you encourage prospective students to attend the University of Nevada, Reno?
The financial and academic help offered through UNR and the professors have been excellent. I would highly recommend a degree in chemistry at UNR for all those who have interest in such an area.

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Melanie Berg

When did you graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno?
I'm Melanie Berg. I just graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno this past Spring 2004, and I can't express how helpful the Biology Department has been in my journey. I entered UNR confused about the career I wanted.

What did you enjoy about studying Biology?
I began as a Geology major since I had an interest in natural disasters, but I also began taking the prerequisites for Ornithology since bird watching was a favorite hobby of mine. It took me two years to realize that Biology didn't have to be a hobby and could actually lead to a career! I switched majors and immersed myself in Ecology, Evolution, and field courses.

What kind of research experiences or opportunities did you have during college?
The Biology with Distinction program allowed me to set up my own undergraduate thesis researching the migratory patterns of warblers with the Great Basin Bird Observatory. I got the opportunity to apply what I had already learned with real field techniques.

What are you currently doing?
After graduating summa cum laude and with Distinction, I quickly snatched up a deluxe internship as an Environmental Educator where I'm going to teach others the knowledge I've gained at University of Nevada, Reno and throughout my life….and I get to be outdoors the whole time!

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Sadeea Qureshi

When did you graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno and what did you study?
I graduated in May 2004 and studied Professional Chemistry.

What kind of research experience or opportunities did you have as an undergraduate student?
I worked for Dr. Suk-Wah Tam-Chang performing organic chemistry research. Most professors are always happy to take a student worker under their wing to perform some research. The best way to open up opportunities for yourself is to just approach the professors during their office hours, and tell them you are interested in their research and would like to work in their labs. Some professors will pay you, others won't, but research is not about how much money you can make, but rather how much knowledge you can integrate, it is quite exciting.

What are your plans after college?
I applied to medical school at the University of Nevada, Reno and was accepted. However, further education was always a plan of mine, graduate school, professional school, etc. I never want to stop learning!

Why would you encourage prospective students to attend the University of Nevada, Reno?
University of Nevada, Reno has excellent faculty and staff always available to help students. The campus is not intimidating and there are always resources for help available. Also the cost of tuition is much lower than most schools, therefore students receive a quality education for a low price!

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Stacie Suchsland

When did you graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno?
I graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a degree in Mathematics in Fall 2002. I had graduated from Carson High school and decided to attend the University of Nevada, Reno because it is close to home, it has a beautiful campus, and offers many scholarships. I received scholarships from the University and from the math department, in addition to scholarships available outside the University.

What did you enjoy about studying Mathematics?
Becoming a math major was an easy decision for me because math has always been my favorite subject. The required classes for a math major introduced me to a variety of interesting areas while providing the opportunity to develop an emphasis in statistics, an area of specific interest to me. Small class sizes and a very accessible faculty promoted interactions between students and professors. The availability of math courses minimized scheduling conflicts and made it easy to complete the math program in a reasonable time.

What kinds of internship or work experiences did you have during college?
Majoring in math also gave me the opportunity to work as a math tutor at the UNR Math Center. Following graduation, my math and education classes allowed me to complete an internship as a student teacher and obtain a Nevada teaching license. My probability and statistics courses assisted me in getting a summer internship in the actuarial field.

What are you currently doing?
Most importantly, my math education led me to an interesting and enjoyable job as a mathematician at International Game Technology (IGT). For my job at IGT, probability was the most important and relevant subject I studied as a mathematics major at UNR.

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