Christine Schertz

Ph.D. 1998
Sr. Academic Advisor, Tarpo Department of Chemistry, Purdue University

When I was a senior in college, a friend came back to visit and was working in Prof. Dor Ben-Amotz's lab at Purdue. At the time, Dor was working with Prof, Bart Kahr on a project that really inspired me to attend Purdue.

I look back at my time at graduate school at Purdue fondly; memories our group of first-years going to every convocation together, bowling in the Union before Thursday Analytical Chemistry lectures, late-night trips to Taco Bell after finishing a reaction work-up, lunch at Harry's with Dr. Dave McMillin, Prof. John Grutzner being endlessly patient with me on my lack of knowledge on half-field transitions, Mark Lipton and Jean Chmielewski's evening organic synthesis cram sessions. I still remember sitting in the basement of Wetherill with my 'boss,' Professor Bart Kahr, realizing that the spectra I just plotted had solidified the direction of my research for the next two years.

Purdue taught how to learn - not just memorizing facts, but how to deep dive into the data and theory. I also learned the importance of communicating science. It's amazing that after my experience here in grad school I ended up being here, guiding our future Boilermaker chemists in their educational and career goals!

Purdue is an amazing place to not only learn the basics of chemistry but to have a breadth of experience to really know what area of chemistry students would like to pursue.

Dr. Schertz meets with chemistry students in Purdue's Chemistry Resource Room.