Seven students from the California Baptist University College of Engineering attended the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) conference in Boston, Massachusetts on Nov. 3. One of those students, Priscilla Lee, senior chemical engineering major, won second place in the “Fuels, Petrochemicals, and Energy II” division.
Lee said a biology and chemistry teacher in high school sparked her interest in the field and encouraged her to pursue chemical engineering.
“He saw that I was doing well and he encouraged me to pursue either chemistry or something called chemical engineering… it kind of just seemed like a good fit,” Lee said.
For her poster project at the conference, Lee focused on an advanced area of nuclear research. Over the summer, she conducted research in the University of Wisconsin’s nuclear engineering department. She said the experience helped her feel confident heading into the conference, especially after she presented her lab’s work in Wisconsin.
That preparation paid off when judges announced the winners and Lee earned second place in her division. She said the award validated the work she put in over the summer and the confidence she gained while representing her lab’s research.
“I had hoped something would come out of it, but I was very surprised and it was very gratifying. I was blessed to go with the team from CBU, so it was super sweet to see them there and have them be part of that too,” Lee said.
Lee said the conference also strengthened her confidence as a researcher. She said her summer experience showed her she could pivot and explore other fields if she chose.
Looking ahead, Lee said she hoped to continue research if the Lord willed. With renewed confidence and a clearer sense of direction, she said she felt ready for the next steps in her journey.
