Selena Staun

Graduate Student

UC Santa Barbara

What was your major/minor at Purdue and when did you graduate?

Chemistry / sociology; 2016

Did you pursue internships/co-ops, research experiences, volunteer, or join student organizations while you attended Purdue?

I did undergraduate research for 2.5 years in Dr. Bart’s lab, where I continued to do research over the summers. All the time I spent working in the lab prepared me well for graduate school and my hard work resulted in a published paper by the time I graduated. Working in the Bart lab was such a fun experience and made my time at Purdue unforgettable.

I was also involved in Greek life and did volunteering and leadership positions through my sorority. Living in the sorority house was my favorite experience because it allowed me to get to know the women better and make lasting friendships. Learning how to communicate with a variety of people has helped me in relationships outside of college, in and outside the workforce.

Are there any special accomplishments you've achieved after college that you might not have been able to do without your college experiences?

I was recently awarded a DOE SCGSR (Science Graduate Student Research) Fellowship that funds a research proposal I wrote at a national lab for up to a year. This fellowship is extremely competitive, and I know my research experience obtained during my undergraduate degree increased my chances.

What advice would you give to prospective or current Purdue students about how to make the best use of what Purdue offers?

Take advantage of the free help offered for every class! Never feel embarrassed about seeking that help either. I failed my freshman math course, retook it the next semester while attending every session offered through Supplemental Instruction (SI) and my professor’s office hours when needed. I passed the class and later became an SI instructor for that same class so I could help other students after me.