Beyond the Beaker: MSU Ph.D. student takes a bigger view of green chemistry

Mississippi State University chemistry Ph.D. student Azeezat Abdulraheem recently was selected to attend the 2026 ACS Green and Sustainable Chemistry Summer School, an intensive program that brings together emerging scientists committed to developing more sustainable approaches to chemistry. For Abdulraheem, the opportunity represented more than recognition of her academic strengths—it was a chance to put into action the bigger questions her scientific training has prepared her to ask.

Held July 11-18 at the University of Vermont in Burlington and hosted by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute, the weeklong program brought together approximately 75 graduate students and postdoctoral scholars from across the Americas and the Caribbean to learn from leading experts, share research and explore how chemistry can contribute to a more sustainable future.

“I applied to this program because I genuinely wanted to deepen my understanding of green chemistry beyond what I had learned in the classroom and through my research,” Abdulraheem said. “Being selected was both exciting and humbling.”

“Mississippi State University has given me a strong foundation in both research and scientific communication,” said Abdulraheem, a Ph.D. student from Lagos, Nigeria. “The rigorous training I have received prepared me to actively engage in discussions with leading scientists and fellow researchers.”

Before attending, Abdulraheem was familiar with the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and understood them from a theoretical perspective. The summer program helped her see those principles as a practical framework for addressing real-world challenges.

“I could explain the principles, but I had not fully appreciated how they could be applied to real-world scientific challenges,” she said. “The summer school helped me move beyond memorization by showing how those principles guide decision-making in research, industry and policy.”

Abdulraheem’s own research focuses on engineered biochar materials for environmental remediation, including the removal of heavy metals from wastewater and soil. The experience encouraged her to think beyond whether a material simply performs well.

Sessions on systems thinking and life-cycle assessment were particularly influential, challenging participants to consider the entire life cycle of a product or process—from raw material sourcing and manufacturing to use and end-of-life.

“Those perspectives fundamentally changed how I evaluate scientific research and have already influenced how I think about my own work in environmental remediation,” Abdulraheem said.

Now, she asks broader questions: “Where do the raw materials come from? What energy is required? What happens at the end of the product’s life? Who is affected throughout the process?”

The program challenged Abdulraheem to consider the broader responsibilities of scientists.

“The summer school taught me that being a scientist is not only about discovering new knowledge,” she said. “It is about designing solutions that are sustainable, advocating for environmental justice and inspiring others to embrace green chemistry. That is the kind of scientist I aspire to become.”

Representing Mississippi State in Burlington was “both an honor and a responsibility,” Abdulraheem said.

“The experience reminded me that the research being conducted at Mississippi State contributes to global conversations about sustainability,” she said. “I was grateful for the opportunity to share my work, learn from internationally recognized experts and bring new ideas back to my department and research group.”

Her research adviser, MSU Professor Todd Mlsna, has encouraged her to think critically about scientific problems while maintaining high standards in her work.

“His mentorship has strengthened my ability to communicate science, evaluate research critically and continually improve my work,” Abdulraheem said.

After completing her Ph.D., Abdulraheem hopes to help drive the transition toward a circular and sustainable economy.

“Green chemistry will serve as the foundation of my career,” she said.

Looking back, the most important lesson may have been the simplest: stay curious.

“I was curious before going to the summer school and now I am left more curious,” Abdulraheem said. “Meaningful scientific progress begins with curiosity.”

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

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Contact: Sarah Nicholas