Welcome to our Student Profile series, a project designed to highlight the diverse and fascinating individuals driving innovation within the University of Chicago Department of Chemistry. This initiative aims to go beyond the lab coat, showcasing the unique stories, passions, and perspectives of our students. We've asked them to share not just their research, but also the experiences and insights that have shaped their academic journey.
In our ongoing Student Profile series, we're delighted to speak with 2024 Merck Award winner and graduate student Lauren McNamara. This isn't Lauren's first get-to-know rodeo at the University of Chicago; but this time, we go into a little more in depth, covering how the San Francisco Bay Area sparked her early interest in STEM, to her current research on metal dithiolene complexes with applications in bioimaging and quantum sensing.
Who are you, where are you from, and what was it like growing up there?
I’m a 5th year graduate student in John Anderson’s group, studying metal dithiolene complexes and their bioimaging and quantum sensing applications. I was born in Southern California in Ventura County, but I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area when I was five. Growing up in the Bay Area was great—we had hiking, beaches, skiing, wine country, and major cities all within a few hours’ drive. Silicon Valley was also a major presence and definitely impacted student’s interest in STEM fields growing up, myself included.
What's a vivid memory from your early life that you think might have subtly steered you towards a path in science?
In addition to the general presence of Silicon Valley and nearby tech companies, I also had some really great teachers that got me interested in science. In particular, my high school chemistry teacher, Dr. Rochelle Morris, was instrumental in steering me towards not only STEM, but specifically chemistry. I initially struggled in high school chemistry (now amusing given I decided to pursue a PhD in chemistry), and she was super patient with all my questions and also incredibly engaging when teaching. I even decided to join the lab she did her PhD in during my undergraduate years!
What's a concept or idea that you find endlessly fascinating, even if it's outside the realm of chemistry?
I find magnetoreception so interesting. The built-in “compasses” in birds and other organisms that allow them to navigate our world, all thanks to quantum mechanical mechanisms we don’t entirely understand yet, are so fascinating.
What's the coolest tool, gadget or technique you get to utilize or play with in your research? Are there any tools or methods you’ve learned that felt like unlocking a superpower?
The coolest tool I use is probably our lab’s SQUID magnetometer (SQUID = superconducting quantum interference device). It allows us to measure a sample’s magnetic properties from room temperature to 2 K. For my project specifically, I think the “superpower” moment was when I started collecting data at Argonne National Lab. It’s such a great resource for us to use (and really close by!), and those experiments have been instrumental to my project.
What's the best 'lab snack' that gets you through a long experiment, and what's a recreation or 'guilty pleasure' that helps you unwind after a long day in the lab?
Our desks are sadly inside our synthetic lab, so typically I won’t snack throughout the day due to safety concerns. That being said, during seminars, I always grab some of the free food! And after a long day in lab, I’m usually hanging out with my roommates or taking walks along the lakefront path.
What's the most collaborative or teamwork-based experience you've had in the lab?
I’ve been lucky to have been involved in several collaborations throughout my PhD, within our lab, the department, the university, and even outside the university. I always tell prospective students to look at our papers when they ask if our department is collaborative—a quick look at the author list really emphasizes how open our department is to collaboration with each other! One of the coolest collaborations I was a part of was actually with my student host from my recruitment weekend, Dr. Chris Melnychuk. It was a neat full-circle moment where he helped me measure my compounds and understand the underlying photophysics and together we were able to challenge a 50-year-old theory.
What's the potential impact of your research that you find most compelling?
I work in the near-infrared region, so the most compelling impact of this tissue-transparent region would be in bioimaging and other biomedical applications. Ideally, we’d be able to progress the field toward brighter, nontoxic agents, so they become preferrable for noninvasive imaging. Furthermore, since my compounds are paramagnetic, I think quantum sensing applications are also compelling given their sensitivity. Sensing small fluctuations in magnetic and electric fields in biological media would give us incredible insight into biological mechanisms.
What's a skill you've learned in the department that you think will be valuable in any career?
I’d probably say the organization of large projects, both inside and outside of the lab. In the lab, I’ve headed large collaborations for papers, organizing meetings to collect data, go over revisions, and finalize drafts. Outside of the lab, my experience organizing department recruitment weekends and outreach events have allowed me to develop this skill in a different context. Both have provided an opportunity to improve my communication and organizational skills, and to work collaboratively to achieve a larger goal.
What's a perspective shift or mindset change you've experienced that's broadened your approach to problem-solving?
I think working on collaborative projects has led to a positive shift in how I problem-solve in general. Having access to other scientists both within and outside of our department that are experts in different fields has been incredibly helpful when I’ve been faced with complex challenges. For example, being able to get additional insights from theoretical chemists after an unexpected experimental result has been instrumental towards elucidating a new mechanism or electronic structure.
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone who is nervous about starting research?
To not be afraid to ask questions in lab! Both from a safety and a knowledge standpoint, it’s always better to ask if you’re not sure about something. It is also completely normal to not be an expert when you first start in a lab, so I’d recommend talking to lab mates and even students in other labs to get their perspectives, and those conversations can even turn into future collaborations! Also, I really benefitted from finding my own niche in lab that was a bit outside our typical area. Because of that project choice, I had a lot of room to grow, the opportunity for collaborations, and the ability to really have ownership over my project.
What's a piece of advice you'd give for building strong and supportive relationships with peers and mentors in the department?
I think your cohort is a great place to start! I began during 2020, so we were all connecting over Zoom, but starting and maintaining those relationships with my cohort-mates not only led to some great friendships, but also some collaborations. It can be as simple as grabbing coffee, having lunch, or even a quick email, but the relationships will be invaluable as you navigate your PhDs together.
Looking back on your academic journey so far, what's one thing you're most grateful for?
I’d have to say the support of my lab and collaborators. The flexibility of my PI to let me start a project outside of his field as a first year was invaluable. Furthermore, I’m forever grateful for the support I received from collaborators initially in the department, and later outside of the department to help me understand this new area and collect data that would’ve been impossible given our resources at the time. Lastly, the I’m so thankful for the general support from my lab mates, both scientific and outside of lab.
To learn about Lauren's work, visit her Google Scholar page.