#GivingTuesdayGU: Ethan Clements ’20, Biology and Chemistry

Published: April 13, 2021

Biology and chemistry major Ethan Clements 20 braced himself for hard work and disciplined study when he began the long journey toward a doctorate in synthetic inorganic chemistry. That journey came with a critical lynchpin, though: undergraduate research.

Postgraduate STEM programs look for research above all else on applications, Ethan explains. Some programs dont even want a personal statement [in your application]; they want research experience, he says.

Ethan wanted the atmosphere a small school affords, but could a small school offer the preparation he needed?

Yes, thanks especially to donors like you who fund GU scholarships. Donors made it possible for Ethan to

• gain experience as a paid researcher in GUs summer science research program,
• present his research findings at GUs student research showcase during Homecoming, and
• prepare a paper to submit to academic journals.

Donors also opened the door for him to work with advanced instruments like an inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICPE), an unheard of experience for undergraduates at most other schools.

Ethans demanding field requires hours of work and concentration. By funding scholarships, donors give him that time.

Scholarships allow me to focus more on my studies, Ethan says. Without them, he would be forced to log far more hours at part-time jobs, to the point of drastically affecting my grades. I would not be nearly as competitive for graduate school.

In a world of increasing demands, you give STEM students like Ethan the competitive edge they need. Thank you for supporting GU scholarships.