calihan

Jason Callihan: The Application of a Lifetime of Learning

By Emily Warpool,
Dean's Office, College of Arts & Sciences

Junior Jason Callihan felt more than comfortable approaching Dr. Keith Walters about his work on polymeric systems. Having grown up around the development and application of several such systems, when Jason heard his professor Dr. Walters talk about his recent research developments with his Freshman class, Jason was immediately interested.

For the past two and a half years, Jason has been researching ways to combine transition metals and fullerenes into both single molecules and larger polymers for the purpose of creating a longer-range and more efficient solar-cell technology.

Jason has been grateful for the lab experience that has allowed him to apply his classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios. Because of this, Jason says that his experience has allowed him to understand some of the core concepts and practices required to become a serious chemist. Jason also claims that his research path has allowed him to become more independent and confident in his own ideas. As a result, Jason has assisted other students along their research paths as a teaching assistant, and plans to continue his education with a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry.