Time well spent in the lab

By Cody Boteler on May 18, 2021

Olivia Driessen ’21 already knows where she’s 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’ll continue the work she started as an undergrad at Towson University.

Undergraduate research has defined her time at TU.

“It’s made me more confident in myself as a scientist,” 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’d normally expect to see in graduate students.

“Olivia has had such a high level of commitment to the research group,” Sivey says. “She demonstrates a confidence that is beyond her years.” 

In the lab, Driessen studies “the chemistry and consequences of chlorinating drinking water,” 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’s the reactions between those chemicals and chlorine that Sivey’s 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’s early career. And in 2018, she worked at the University of Iowa’s 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’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports students pursuing research-based master’s or doctoral programs.

Driessen ultimately turned it down, she says, because she’s not attending a university in the United States, so she was not eligible.

“I submitted the application back in the fall, and it was late in March when I got the offer,” she says. “So it was still super exciting. It’s still a great achievement.”

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’s 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—like seminars in special topics—helped Driessen expand her horizons.

“Those classes built up my writing and discussion chops. No matter what you’re going to do, you have to be able to write,” she says. “Too many STEM people are like, ‘Oh, I’m not in an English class, I don’t want to write.’ But communication is one of the biggest parts of science.”

Her Honors research thesis will also be submitted to a scientific journal, Driessen says, but that is still a work in progress.

Sivey—Driessen’s mentor—says she carries herself with poise in the lab and adapts well to new research challenges.

“Perserverance is pretty important for research students,” Sivey says with a laugh. “It’s not ‘if’ things go wrong in the lab, it’s, ‘When things go wrong in the lab, how do you deal with that?’”

As she looks toward the future, Driessen feels prepared for what comes next.

“Towson University has given me the experience I need to take the next step,” she says.

Get to know more TU grads

Towson University continues its week of Commencement celebrations on Wednesday, May 19, with ceremonies honoring the 2021 graduates from the Fisher College of Science & Mathematics (FCSM) and the College of Fine Arts & Communication.

Ashish Singh ‘21

Fisher College of Science & Mathematics

A not-so-lucky break in high school is what brought Ashish Singh ’21 to Towson University’s MB3 program.

He was playing goalie during a pick-up game of soccer when, trying to block a shot, he smashed his hand into a post. The ensuing visit with an orthopedist opened his eyes to the importance of science in human health and daily life.

“I was amazed and started to pay more attention to science,” Singh says.

He was awarded a grant from the FCSM in 2019 and presented preliminary findings at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition that same year. His research, which could help understand how colon cancer develops, was also presented at TU’s research symposium.

Lindsay Murray ‘21

College of Fine Arts & Communication

Lindsay Murray ’21 has worked with TU’s Division of University Marketing & Communication for years. The mass communication major has helped with day-to-day social media work for TU as a social media assistant, but she’s done even more, helping TU market to prospective students.

Working with another student employee, Murray helped launch “Talk TU Us,” a YouTube series that looks at different aspects of college life through the eyes of Towson University students.

Murray felt empowered to talk to others and hear their stories. She worked with professionals in marketing and social media—fields that she’s interested in pursuing.

“I feel like the thing about college is that it’s what you make it,” Murray says. “And Towson University really gives you the opportunity to do what you want to do. It helps make your dreams a reality.”

#TUproud

We’re proud of all our graduates and we’re eager to celebrate their achievements, together.

A live stream of the ceremonies will be broadcast on www.towson.edu and live updates will be shared all week on TU’s Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Alumni Instagram accounts.

You can join in on the celebrations too. Use #TUproud when sharing photos on Instagram or Twitter, and we might share them from our pages.

For more information, social media graphics, profile picture frames and more, visit Commencement.