Time well spent in the lab
Driessen鈥檚 time at TU defined by undergraduate research opportunities.
Olivia Driessen 鈥�21 already knows where she鈥檚 headed next: Canada.
The Fairfax, Virginia, native was accepted into a doctoral chemistry program at the University of Toronto, one of the top schools in the country. There, she鈥檒l continue the work she started as an undergrad at Towson University.
Undergraduate research has defined her time at TU.
鈥淚t鈥檚 made me more confident in myself as a scientist,鈥� she says.
John Sivey, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry in whose lab Driessen works, says she produces a quality of work that he鈥檇 normally expect to see in graduate students.
鈥淥livia has had such a high level of commitment to the research group,鈥� Sivey says. 鈥淪he demonstrates a confidence that is beyond her years.鈥�
In the lab, Driessen studies 鈥渢he chemistry and consequences of chlorinating drinking water,鈥� Sivey explains. Chlorine is a common disinfectant to make sure drinking water is safe.
But that chlorine can react with other chemicals in the water; it鈥檚 the reactions between those chemicals and chlorine that Sivey鈥檚 lab is researching.
Earning a spot in a doctoral program is not the first recognition Driessen has received for her work.
She won an award from the Maryland section of the American Chemical Society in 2021, recognizing outstanding achievement in a student鈥檚 early career. And in 2018, she worked at the University of Iowa鈥檚 Summer Research Opportunities Program, an eight-week, immersive program to give undergraduate students research experience.
Most recently, Driessen won a prestigious fellowship from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF鈥檚 Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports students pursuing research-based master鈥檚 or doctoral programs.
鈥� Towson University has given me the experience I need to take the next step. 鈥�
Driessen ultimately turned it down, she says, because she鈥檚 not attending a university in the United States, so she was not eligible.
鈥淚 submitted the application back in the fall, and it was late in March when I got the offer,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o it was still super exciting. It鈥檚 still a great achievement.鈥�
She was active in other parts of campus life, too. Driessen thinks back fondly on performing with her friends in the a cappella group Original Blend. She鈥檚 also, since her freshman year, been a part of the Honors College.
One benefit of the Honors College, she says, is the priority registration that Honors students have. That helped her stay on top of her studies, which, in addition to chemistry, included a minor in molecular biology, biochemistry & bioinformatics (MB3).
And the other Honors College requirements 鈥� like seminars in special topics 鈥� helped Driessen expand her horizons.
鈥淭hose classes built up my writing and discussion chops. No matter what you鈥檙e going to do, you have to be able to write,鈥� she says. 鈥淭oo many STEM people are like, 鈥極h, I鈥檓 not in an English class, I don鈥檛 want to write.鈥� But communication is one of the biggest parts of science.鈥�
Her Honors research thesis will also be submitted to a scientific journal, Driessen says, but that is still a work in progress.
Sivey鈥擠riessen鈥檚 mentor鈥攕ays she carries herself with poise in the lab and adapts well to new research challenges.
鈥淧erserverance is pretty important for research students,鈥� Sivey says with a laugh. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not 鈥榠f鈥� things go wrong in the lab, it鈥檚, 鈥榃hen things go wrong in the lab, how do you deal with that?鈥欌��
As she looks toward the future, Driessen feels prepared for what comes next.
鈥淭owson University has given me the experience I need to take the next step,鈥� she says.