02/09/2022
John is one of our Undergraduate Student Researchers who is funded through the Welch Foundation grant. Way to go, John!
ETBU Senior John Brann plans to pursue a career in Forensics after he graduates. He shared with us about his time as a chemistry major and some of the experiences that have impacted him most.
“I’ll take the generalist exam and then get a job as a lab technician. I’ll do things like process drug samples or fingerprints. I’ll be doing a lot of the behind-the-scenes work before I venture out into the field.
My time conducting undergraduate research is one thing that has impacted me most. It’s scary and you have to work through things and learn from your mistakes. The independence of it is both challenging and rewarding. We all have our normal coursework and assignments we have to complete but when you’re doing research you really have to think it through on your own. It’s a unique experience. I’ve also been taught lab discipline and keeping a good lab notebook. Most of the career requirements you’ll see within the field of chemistry are already being taught to us here and now.
Overall, I’ve learned to not be afraid to ask questions. It doesn’t make you stupid just because you don’t understanding something. Sometimes when you approach something it just won’t make sense at first. It’s okay to take a step back and break it down into pieces. Dr. Smith, Dr. Morris, Dr. Spencer – everyone here has taught me how to not panic when I get hung up on something.”
