Natural Sciences: Alexa Lawrie '24

Major(s) and minor(s)lawrie headshot

BS in Chemistry; Minors in Spanish and Psychology

Hometown

Audubon, PA

How long doing research?

Two and a half years

Areas of interest/focus in research

Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Labs / departments / offsite programs where research was conducted

I have been a member of the Frontier Lab since March 2021 (University of Rochester, Department of Chemistry).

About me...

Hi everyone! My name is Alexa Lawrie, and I'm a senior pursuing studies and research in chemistry. Ever since I took my very first chemistry class in high school, I found chemistry to be quite fun and something that I wanted to continue learning about in my undergraduate years. During the fall of my freshman year, I became really interested in organic chemistry specifically, and I was fortunate enough to become a member of Dr. Frontier's research group the following spring. The Frontier Lab focuses on the development of cyclization reactions that generate complex ring systems in organic molecules from simple, easily accessible starting materials. The utility of this work is for the efficient synthesis of intricate ring structures that may be present in natural products or bioactive molecules.

Over the last couple of years, I have worked on a few different projects, primarily exploring alkynyl halo-Prins reactions as a means of making unique heterocycles. Currently I am working on my senior thesis project, which involves the use of N,O acetals as a carbonyl partner for halo-Prins studies, followed by ionization to initiate halo-Nazarov cyclization (type of pericyclic reaction) that may yield interesting N-heterocycles. I am excited to continue working on this research for the remainder of my undergraduate studies. Next year, I plan to enter a PhD program to pursue a research career in synthetic organic chemistry.

How has your experience as a researcher influenced your career objectives?

Entering my first year at the University of Rochester, I knew that I wanted to study chemistry, but my overall 4-year plan was to take classes on the pre-med track and apply to medical school. This career path wasn't 100% set in stone for me, but being involved in the medical world in some way is what I wanted to do with my life. I'm not exaggerating when I say that starting with organic chemistry research entirely changed my career objectives. Shortly after I joined the Frontier Lab, I began to look at graduate schools for chemistry and was becoming more involved with the chemistry department. Looking back now, I can think of several reasons for why this research experience had such a huge role in my career plans. Firstly, I greatly enjoyed the organic chemistry theory and lab work that I was working on.

It really makes a difference to have hands-on experience in something that makes you interested and excited to come to lab every day. I also really began to like the role of "researcher" - trying out experiments or ideas that haven't been done before. There is no feeling quite like an experiment finally working out that has been causing trouble for me for weeks, and I love the problem-solving aspect of troubleshooting new ideas. Lastly, I benefitted so much from being surrounded by brilliant chemists and role models in my lab group, which I imagine is true for many fields of research and careers. It was really important for me to talk to Dr. Frontier and the graduate students in the lab about their perspectives on organic chemistry and research in general in order for me to see the full picture of pursuing a research career.

Campus organizations, programs, activities, clubs, awards/distinctions

Activities:

  • President of the Undergraduate Chemistry Society
  • Workshop Leader for several chemistry courses (CHEM 171, 172, 211, 433)
  • Peer Advisor for the Department of Chemistry 

Distinctions:

  • Catherine Block Memorial Prize, 2023 (Awarded to a junior woman for outstanding ability and achievement in science)
  • Schwartz Discover Grant, 2022
  • Modern Languages and Cultures Book Award for excellence in Spanish, 2021
  • National Merit Scholar, 2020

 

Fun Fact: when I'm not doing research you can usually find me...

Working on jigsaw puzzles or crocheting! I love to make shirts, bags, stuffed animals, and more. I'm always on the lookout for a new pattern.

Areas where I may be particularly helpful

I can help with Discover Grant application writing, researching graduate programs, and applying for fellowships.

What advice do you have for prospective or new researchers?

Don't be afraid to ask questions! Your mentors are there to help you out on your research journey. I know that it may be overwhelming to start in a new research position because there are so many new techniques, procedures, and information to learn about. That is why it is the best time to clarify anything with your mentors that you are unsure about, as they can share their years of wisdom with you! It is also really important to read the literature. The best way to be prepared for starting any project is to read about what other researchers have previously done. This allows you to see what worked, what didn't work, and what hasn't been tried yet. I've recently started using an app on my phone that lets me scroll through recent publications for journals I am interested in, which is a really easy way to introduce myself to new research.

I am happy to answer any questions, so feel free to send me an email: alawrie@u.rochester.edu