Interview with Delaan Nedd Class of '25 – No Prior Experience Needed
Delaan Nedd '25 spent the summer of 2022 immersed in the world of chemical research as a participant in the Princeton Department of Chemistry's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Chemistry (SURF-C) program.
The SURF-C program, which typically requires applicants to be currently enrolled undergraduate students with a strong interest in chemical research, provided Delaan with the opportunity to work closely with third-year graduate student Kailyn Cohen in Dr. Andrew Bocarsly's Lab.
Despite having no prior research experience, Delaan was able to contribute significantly to a paper on his findings. His research focused on a mechanism that reduced CO to carbon monoxide using manganese complexes. The research was published in the prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry's Dalton Transactions journal.
Delaan's daily schedule during the SURF-C program involved working at the Frick Chemistry Laboratory and discussing progress and goals with Kailyn Cohen. Living on campus during the summer, in Spelman, one of the upperclassmen independent housing apartments, allowed him to fully dedicate himself to the program.
The SURF-C program also offered Delaan the chance to attend the International Conference for Carbon Dioxide Utilization. This experience broadened his perspective, helping him understand the larger implications of his research in the field of climate action.
Delaan's academic perspective shifted during the SURF-C program, realizing he's more interested in working on larger systems rather than focusing on chemistry in the lab. He believes that Chemistry and Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE) can work on similar things, but CBE is a scaled-up version of chemistry.
Delaan advises students interested in research to talk to people and discuss their interests with professors. Alexis Wu, Engineering Correspondent, also recommends students to visit the Office of Undergraduate Research's list of summer opportunities for more information.
If you're an undergraduate student with a passion for chemical research, the SURF-C program could be a great opportunity for you. Eligible applicants are undergraduates (often preferably rising juniors or seniors) in chemistry or related fields. Application materials usually include a completed application form, academic transcripts, at least one or two letters of recommendation from faculty or previous research mentors, and a personal statement or research proposal explaining the candidate’s interests and why they want to participate in SURF-C.
For the latest SURF-C program details and application instructions, visit the Princeton Department of Chemistry’s official website or the undergraduate research office's pages at Princeton University.
- Delaan Nedd, an undergraduate student, spent the summer of 2022 focusing on science through the Princeton Department of Chemistry's SURF-C program, where he worked on a junior paper related to a mechanism that reduced CO to carbon monoxide using manganese complexes.
- Not only did Delaan's research contribute significantly to an education-and-self-development experience, but it was also published in the prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry's Dalton Transactions journal.
- For those interested in pursuing undergraduate research in chemistry, the SURF-C program offers valuable opportunities, and interested students should explore online-education resources, such as Princeton University's undergraduate research office's pages or the official SURF-C program details on the Princeton Department of Chemistry’s website.
