Student: Greta Bublitz

• Alondra Martinez

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For East Carolina University junior Greta Bublitz, curiosity has always been at the center of everything she does. Whether she is in a lab working through chemical reactions or in a classroom unpacking German poetry, that same sense of wonder continues to guide her path.

A double major in chemistry and German studies in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences, Bublitz has built an academic experience that reflects both her analytical mindset and her love for creativity.

She knew ECU was the right place for her the moment she arrived on campus for Selection Sunday as a prospective Brinkley-Lane Scholar.

"Even though ECU is a large university, it felt personal," she said. "Students and faculty took the time to connect with me, and that sense of community made a lasting impression."

That feeling has stayed with her. Now, as a programming assistant in the Honors College, Bublitz helps create that same experience for the students who come after her.

The role keeps her busy. She plans flagship events like Selection Sunday and Celebrating Excellence, supports prospective student visits, and works alongside Honors College staff on everything from graphic design to leadership development.

"So much hard work and love from the staff go into each of the events the Honors College sponsors, big or small," Bublitz said. "I find that my professional and personal perspective is constantly changing for the better."

It is a role she does not take lightly. When she is stationed at the Selection Sunday check-in table or welcoming new scholars at the Holloman Retreat, she often sees herself just a few years earlier.

"I came in unsure of where I belonged," she said. "Now, I get to help shape their journeys and support them as they find their own place at ECU."

Her interest in chemistry started long before college, in a place many would not expect: the kitchen. As she experimented with baking, she became fascinated by how small changes in ingredients could completely transform the final product.

"I'd do research into the effects of increasing or substituting certain ingredients, such as how the ingredients of a cookie directly impacted both the chemical makeup and quality of the final product," she said. "That's one of the many reasons I knew I wanted to be a chemistry major."

That curiosity followed her into the classroom, where her organic chemistry courses ultimately changed the direction of her career. Originally planning to pursue pre-med, Bublitz found herself drawn instead to pharmacy after learning about drug synthesis and the creative component of drug development.

"I loved the idea of compounding drugs and understanding how the attachment points of certain functional groups altered the overall effects of drugs manufactured today," she said.

Her decision to study German adds another layer to that vision. With strong family ties to German culture and an interest in the country's growing pharmaceutical industry, she quickly realized the language became more than just a second major.

"Learning a language, like German, exercises a part of my brain that doesn't get used often in my chemistry classes, and vice versa for my chemistry courses," she said. "I get to enjoy the best of both worlds."

Outside the classroom, Bublitz conducts research in the Beltran-Huarac Lab at the Brody School of Medicine, where her work focuses on a noninvasive approach to treating brain cancer using magnetic nanoparticles.

"Research, though grounded in careful procedure, is often unpredictable," she said. "This experience has taught me how to be flexible, adjust my approach when needed and critically analyze my own methods to achieve better outcomes."

She also serves as president of the Chemistry Club and vice president of the Pre-Pharmacy Club, roles that have given her a platform to share her passion with others.

"I've loved talking to undecided pre-health students and encouraging them to pursue a career in pharmacy," she said. "Using my passion to foster passion in others is so rewarding."

She credits the Honors College and the Brinkley-Lane Scholars program for giving her both a strong support system and the confidence to take risks.

Looking ahead, Bublitz plans to study abroad in Freiburg, Germany, where she hopes to immerse herself in the language while exploring international pharmaceutical studies.

"When I go abroad, I hope to gain exposure to the international pharmaceutical world, and German will definitely be an asset in that endeavor," Bublitz said.

She has also been accepted into the early assurance program at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, bringing her one step closer to her goal of becoming a pharmacist.