Getting a jump on discovery

Lauren Genova discovered something life-changing while working in the lab of Professor Catherine Leimkuhler Grimes at the University of Delaware.

She was an undergraduate student at the time, majoring in chemistry education and planning to teach high school chemistry after graduation. Her work in Grimes' research lab produced an important finding: Genova wanted to do research of her own.

Undergraduate research, a UD hallmark for many years, has had that kind of effect on thousands of students. Working with an expert mentor and learning how to ask good questions, design experiments and solve real problems offers students new windows on what the future can hold.

Now on UD's faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Genova teaches general chemistry to students majoring in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines and conducts education research in the chemical sciences. She has welcomed undergraduate students into her own research projects, which explore the effectiveness of game-based instruction.