Caroline (Chow ’12) Warner

Chemistry

Biography

My interest in chemistry began in high school but it wasn't until I took organic chemistry with Dr. Kroll that I began to really appreciate the science and God's amazing design. I knew I wanted to continue working in the field but was not sure which path I wanted to go. After being a TA for Dr. Kroll for most of my years at Taylor, Dr. Stan encouraged me to look into teaching. I got my Master's in Secondary Education at Ball State University through the (formally called) Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship and taught high school chemistry for three years in Osgood, Indiana, which I absolutely loved. I loved the connection I made with the students there and helping them find subjects they wanted to pursue, like my high school teacher did. However, I often felt that I was coasting in my growth and not challenging myself so I went to graduate school at Iowa State University and got my PhD in organic chemistry. I'm currently working as a post-doctoral research fellow at Arizona State University making non-canonical amino acids for a protein design group.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

Being a TA for Organic Chemistry definitely helped me find my love of teaching. I also did a semester working on a research project for Dr. King which I found enlightening and introduced me to the world of research and critical thinking.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

Organic chemistry with Dr. Kroll was definitely the most challenging class but Dr. Kroll made it enjoyable and fun for me. I really enjoyed the semester-long project and it, along with Dr. King's research, taught me to think critically and work on "non-recipe" experiments. Mentorship with Dr. Kroll, Dr. King, and Dr. Stan all was critical for my path into both teaching and research.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

Most careers are not just one subject, but a combination of 2-3 different fields. Use your time at Taylor to explore multiple areas and find your interests. Chemistry has several branches and your only choices are not just "teaching" or "grad school" or "industry." While those are the most obvious, there are other careers that you can go into if those do not appeal to you that can pull from your non-major classes.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

Make relationships with your professors. They're all really amazing and are wonderful sources of knowledge and connections.