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Keira Cornwell | Student Spotlight

B.S. Candidate in Chemical Engineering
Keira Cornwell

Keira Cornwell

BS Candidate
Chemical Engineering

"When I arrived at Stanford, I looked into chemical engineering as a major because I loved chemistry and math in high school. I wanted to choose a major that taught me how to leverage scientific principles to build solutions to real-world problems. When I took my first chemical engineering class during the winter quarter of my freshman year, CHEMENG 20 with Professor Tarpeh, I knew that chemical engineering was the perfect amalgamation of my interests. Professor Tarpeh taught us about the far-reaching influence of chemical engineering research, including energy, the environment and biology, and the breadth and potential impact of the degree is what interested me most. 

As I progressed further into my ChemE, I developed a passion for the applications of chemical engineering in drug discovery and development. Through hands-on experiences working on research in Professor DeSimone's lab through the Chemical Engineering REU program the summer after my freshman year, and now Professor Fuller's lab since last winter, I have been able to learn about how chemical engineering can be leveraged to contribute to meaningful and necessary therapeutic research. Now, I have been able to explore my interests cultivated in Stanford's Chemical Engineering department in the world by interning for a pharmaceutical company. 

In the future, I aim to combine my passion for innovative chemical engineering research in therapeutic applications with the entrepreneurial mindset fostered by a ChemE degree due to its broad applicability by pursuing a PhD in chemical engineering and an MBA. In taking classes like CHEMENG 177, Machine Learning Applications in Chemical Engineering, I have also become extremely interested in the applications of AI in chemical engineering, inspiring my ultimate career goal of working at the intersection of AI, biotechnology and chemical engineering. 

However, Stanford chemical engineering has not only had a profound impact on my academic interests and career goals, but it has also created an amazing community for me on campus. I began coming to Stanford's AIChE events my freshman year, which allowed me to receive mentorship, and friendship, from upperclassmen in the majors. Now as Co-President of the chapter, as I reflect on the community I have built through AIChE boba nights and firepit events, I hope to continue to cultivate a welcoming ChemE community for other prospective future ChemEs!"

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