Ph.D. student represents MSU at prestigious chemistry program

STARKVILLE, Miss.— Mississippi State University chemistry Ph.D. student Chibuike Onyeogulu recently represented MSU on the international stage as one of only 60 students selected from a global pool to attend the American Chemical Society’s Green and Sustainable Chemistry Summer School—a competitive and fully funded program held July 27–August 1 at the University of Vermont in Burlington.

Sponsored by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute, the annual summer school brings together top graduate students and postdoctoral scholars from across North and South America for a rigorous week of lectures, hands-on projects, poster presentations and networking with global leaders in green chemistry and sustainability.

Onyeogulu described the experience as transformative.

“It felt like stepping into a vivid ecosystem of exhilarating ideals,” he said. “It was a week of an invigorating blend of intensive learning and informal idea exchanges. Whether it was dissecting the 12 principles of green chemistry or exploring the ethics behind system thinking with regards to green chemistry, the program offered both theoretical and practical insights into the application of maintaining a sustainable world.”

Through the summer school, Onyeogulu deepened his knowledge of sustainability practices, particularly how life cycle assessments are essential to evaluating whether a product or synthetic route is truly “green.”

“It increased my understanding of what life cycle assessment of a product is,” he said. “For you to conclude that a product or synthetic route is ‘green,’ you must assess the whole life cycle which includes its environmental impact during manufacturing, application/use and disposal/after use.”

He emphasized how the program’s collaborative environment helped sharpen his teamwork abilities and build valuable professional relationships.

“That kind of scholarly community is a treasure in doctoral work,” Onyeogulu said.

His advisor, Amanda Patrick––an associate professor of chemistry––said the experience offered a valuable opportunity to apply green chemistry concepts in real-world contexts. 

“This program provides an unmatched opportunity to gain skills relevant toward his future career, to network with established and emerging leaders from across the world and to reflect on how sustainability can be applied to his own doctoral research project,” Patrick said. “External opportunities like this greatly enrich the educational experience of our students.”

Organized by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute, the summer school aims to develop future leaders in sustainable science through intensive learning and professional engagement.

For more information about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Chemistry, visit www.cas.msstate.edu and www.chemistry.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.