CU Denver Chemistry Club
Chemistry is a multifaceted field, ranging from medicine, research, education, and beyond. The objective of the University of Colorado Denver Chemistry Club is to build a community at the University that appreciates Chemistry and would like the opportunity to wholly experience this field. Through volunteer opportunities, research exposure, and lecture series, the club strives to not only achieve this goal, but to build a better connection between the students and faculty of the Department of Chemistry.
Advisor- Dr. Kyoung Kim
Instructions for Joining
- Go to https://ucdenver.presence.io/
- Log in with your CU Denver Username and Password
- Click “Organizations” and search "CU Denver Chemistry Club”
- Press “Join”
- Huzzah! You are now a member!
President
Moriah Morris
My name is Moriah Morris, I am an undergraduate Pre-Medicine student majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry at the University of Colorado in Denver. I graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science. I hope to become a surgical ophthalmologist one day, I find the eye to be incredibly fascinating and have worked in eyecare for six years. I am a research assistant (RA), teaching assistant (TA), and Learning Assistant (LA) for the Department of Chemistry. Due to my love of both teaching and healthcare, I intend to pursue a MD/PhD program specializing in ophthalmic health. In my free time, I enjoy international travel and snowboarding, one of my personal goals is to travel to the mountain of Zermatt, shared by both Switzerland and Italy, visiting both countries on the same day. I have always known that Chemistry was a challenging subject for many students, so when I took my first ever Chemistry course early in college, I took care to focus on the subject and put time into studying Chemistry. I quickly found that Chemistry was integral to understanding Biology. By progressing my Chemistry knowledge, subjects such as Biology, Physiology, and Medicine began to appear much clearer. My favorite aspect about Chemistry is understanding how variations in pH can stabilize many organic molecules and biological functions, I often use this method in my lab, but also on myself using various foods when I'm feeling curious. I hope to share these revelations and experiences with many other students at CU Denver, Chemistry truly is a wonderfully expansive field.
Treasurer
Emily Irlbeck
Hi, my name is Emily Irlbeck, I'm majoring in Biochemistry, and am currently a junior. My favorite hobbies are rock climbing and gardening. Something that I enjoy about Chemistry is being able to learn more about how the world works from the microscopic to the macroscopic (IMFs impact how liquids behave). In addition, becoming and working as an EMT-IV has helped greatly with my personal growth. It has made me a more prepared and organized person in all aspects of my life. Before going into the building to see a patient, I must plan what additional equipment I need. Inside, I keep my questions I should ask organized and the order of medical interventions that should be administered. Throughout patient contact, I communicate constantly with the other EMT to provide the best patient care. Through these experiences, I have learned how to prepare myself most effectively for a task, such as planning an event; I have also learned how to make events run smoothly. In the CU Denver Chemistry Club, communication throughout a meeting or event is vital for productivity and success. I want to continue spreading interest in Chemistry throughout the campus. By increasing awareness about the impact of Chemistry, I believe we can generate more curiosity about the world that we live in. I hope that the people who come to events will learn that Chemistry is part of our everyday lives and can help explain the world around us. My desire to transform students' perspective of Chemistry is what makes me passionate and motivated to be an officer of this club.
Vice President
Alexandra Poland
Hello! My name is Ally Poland and I am a junior majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry. In my free time, I enjoy running, rock climbing, and swimming. I love the objectiveness and clearly defined expectations in the sciences, and my favorite thing about Chemistry is how it explains the behavior of and molecular interactions behind almost every object/thing in the universe! I have recently been active in the club activities, and I would love to play a role in the furthering the club's progress as an officer. My goal is to collaborate with more members, expand student opportunities, and get the club ACS recognized. I also want to establish mentor/networking dinners and events so students can be closer with faculty on campus and at Anschutz; this will help them better navigate their degree paths and research/job opportunities. I believe that serving as Vice President will enable me to accomplish these things and play a more active role in the guiding the club. If you are ever down to hike or rock climb with me, or you have any show recommendations, please reach out!
Secretary/PR
Communications
Breanna Ahrens
Hello! My name is Bre Ahrens, and this is my third year at CU Denver. I am a going for a BS in Chemistry, a Biology Minor, and am on the Pre-Medicine track. As a Chemistry major, I have always enjoyed learning and teaching Chemistry as it is a subject that is as interesting as it is challenging, which is why it provides me with a good balance in my studies. One of my favorite things to do is baking, not only do I like the chemical principals behind it, but also there is nothing better (in my mind) that having a warm cup of tea and a homemade pastry in the morning as it just makes my whole morning better :). Not only has baking increased my scientific knowledge and curiosity, but it has also enabled me to give back to my community. It is amazing how much a baked good can brighten some one’s day. Being able to have something that not only make be better mentally by expanding my knowledge of how the items are made, but also exposes how I can change my habits and techniques to become more fluent in the baking language. I truly believe that I have become a better person because of it and will continue to bake for those around me and for myself. Chemistry can be a pain sometimes. But that’s what makes it so amazing and beautiful. After three years now of studying chemistry there are topics now that I feel comfortable with, and there are others that continue to elude me. With this being said, balance is an essential part of interacting with Chemistry. Which is why I enjoy teaching and learning about Chemistry because it allows me to not only introduce students to the joys of Chemistry, but also to show them that although learning it might be challenging at times, it can be learned and mastered.
