Priyanka Poplai '29, Cell Biology/Biochemistry

"It's exciting to feel like what I'm doing matters. I'm learning so much — not just about chemistry, but about problem-solving, teamwork and communication."

When most incoming first-year students were enjoying their final summer before college — traveling, relaxing and saying goodbye to home — Priyanka Poplai '29 was already in a Bucknell lab, working full-time alongside upperclass student researchers.

Instead of vacationing with her family, as she had originally planned, Poplai accepted an invitation to join Bucknell's STEM Scholars Program, which allows select incoming students to live on campus over the summer, gain research experience and build early connections before the fall semester begins.

"It was kind of a fluke," she says. "I got an email about the program, decided to apply just to see what would happen, and then I found out I was matched with Professor Jude Okolie's chemical engineering lab. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made."

Over the course of those five weeks, Poplai immersed herself in research on lithium-ion batteries and activated carbon. She is studying how waste materials could be converted and used to remove pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater. It was her first hands-on lab experience, and she admits she was nervous at first.

"I was the only incoming first-year student in the lab, and I had zero lab experience," she says. "But everyone was incredibly welcoming. I had a great peer mentor, and Professor Okoli guided me every step of the way. It helped me see that research is something I can really do."

Priyanka Poplai '29 is studying lithium-ion batteries and how activated carbon made from waste materials could help remove pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater. Photo by James T. Giffen, Marketing & Communications

The lab's environment, she says, struck the perfect balance between serious science and community.

"It's definitely productive and fast-paced, but also fun and lighthearted," she says. "We laugh a lot and help each other out." 

That sense of belonging made Priyanka's transition to college life smoother. When the fall semester began, she already had friends, mentors and a place on campus that felt like home. 

"It took away a lot of the nerves," she says. "I already had people I knew, people I could go to for help. It made everything less intimidating."

A cell biology/biochemistry major from Bridgewater, N.J., Poplai was drawn to Bucknell for its blend of STEM opportunities and a strong liberal arts foundation. "I've always loved science, especially learning about the human body," she says. "But I also love reading, writing and philosophy. Bucknell lets me study all of those things. I'm planning to minor in philosophy and health humanities, so I can explore how science connects with the human experience."

Though she's only in her first year, Poplai already has her sights set on graduate school and a research career, possibly in pharmaceuticals or cosmetic chemistry.

For now, she's continuing her work in Okolie's lab through the academic year and hopes to stay involved throughout her time at Bucknell.

"It's exciting to feel like what I'm doing matters," she says. "I'm learning so much — not just about chemistry, but about problem-solving, teamwork and communication."