Bio: Serena Zuyun Qiu (she/her) is a new graduate student in the Polymers and Materials Chemistry program. She completed her BSc in Chemistry at the University of Toronto, where she developed an interest in materials chemistry. Serena chose to continue her graduate studies at UofT because of the supportive community and the great opportunities within the chemistry department. Her current research with Professor Helen Tran focuses on developing a self-driving lab for polymer chemistry. Outside the lab, Serena enjoys hiking, traveling, working out, and exploring new restaurants.
Home campus: St. George
Area of Chemistry: Polymer and Materials
Research group: Team Tran
Which area of chemistry do you focus on, whose lab are you currently working in, and what inspired you to pursue this particular field?
I specialize in polymer and materials chemistry and recently joined Professor Helen Tran’s group, where I have been working on self-driving labs for polymer research. I became interested in materials and self-driving labs because I want to work on something I am familiar with (chemistry) and also challenge myself with something new (self-driving labs)!
What are you looking forward to most as you begin your graduate studies at U of T?
I’m excited to work on cool projects and collaborate with people.
Tell us about the road not travelled... if you weren’t studying chemistry, what is the most likely thing you’d be doing instead? And why or how did Chemistry win out?
If I weren’t studying chemistry, I’d probably be studying anthropology/social science, since I’ve always been fascinated by how geography has shaped civilizations. I chose chemistry because I love the problem-solving aspect and often found myself spending extra time studying it (voluntarily!).
During my undergraduate studies, I enjoyed finding and watching documentaries about the theories and phenomena in chemistry that I learned in class.