Four UofT students are among the first Department of Chemistry Students to receive a pair of prestigious undergraduate awards from the American Chemical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry.
Jelena Golijanin and Olivia Allen are the first recipients of the ACS Organic Division Undergraduate Award for 2024/25. Sara Ziadat and Chloe Taylor, meanwhile, are the department's second recipients of the Certificate of Undergraduate Excellence Award from the RSC. Students are nominated for these awards by the department, in recognition of their academic achievement, community leadership, and other attributes.
Chemistry Stories was excited to speak with three of these recipients about how the awards have affected their current and next steps on the academic journey.
Certificate of Undergraduate Excellence Award
The RSC honors students who have shown significant achievement in the chemical sciences, people selected by their departments for demonstrating exceptional dedication, performance, and engagement in coursework and research. Recipients have also taken on leadership roles in their department and community and may have persevered in the program despite significant challenges.
Chloe Taylor:
I am truly honored to be chosen as this year’s recipient of the RSC Undergraduate Excellence Award. This recognition is particularly meaningful to me, as it acknowledges my achievements in light of the significant challenges I faced during my undergraduate years.
At the start of my third year, I suffered an injury while working in the lab, which led to Post Concussion Syndrome—a condition where concussion symptoms persist far longer than usual. Managing this injury alongside my academic responsibilities was incredibly difficult. However, rather than giving up, I relearned how to succeed as a student and adapt to a new way of living in the face of these challenges.
This award, for me, proves that excellence is still achievable, even when life takes an unexpected turn. When I was first injured, I couldn’t read for more than a couple of minutes without experiencing severe dizziness and migraines. I was terrified I might not be able to complete my degree. But now, two years later, I’m back in the lab full-time and preparing to start my Master's in Biomedical Engineering in the Wheeler Lab, focusing on Point of Care Heart Failure diagnostics.
My recovery would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my amazing partner, as well as the patience and understanding of the professors, postdocs, and grad students I worked with throughout my journey.
Living with Post Concussion Syndrome has instilled in me a profound appreciation for the importance of accessible learning environments and the need for systemic changes that foster inclusivity. As I move forward in my graduate studies and career, I hope to raise awareness around these issues and possibly create a program to help students transition back to school after an injury.
Sara Ziadat:
“I am very grateful to be recognized with the RSC Undergraduate Excellence award! This recognition motivates me to continue working hard and to build on the skills and knowledge I have gained through my time at the Department of Chemistry and the University of Toronto. I am especially thankful to everyone in the department who has supported, encouraged, and inspired me throughout my journey.”
I have just graduated, and I will be starting my PhD in Biophysics at Harvard University in September.
ACS Organic Division Undergraduate Award
The Organic Division Undergraduate Award from the ACS is intended to recognize senior students who display a significant aptitude for organic chemistry and to encourage further interest in the field.
Jelena Golijanin:
I am very grateful for this award, for my efforts, academic achievements and contributions to the Chemistry community to be recognized, and I am looking forward to pursuing organic chemistry further in graduate school and beyond.
The Department of Chemistry extends heartfelt congratulations to these recipients, all of whom are now graduates, and looks forward to cheering them on as they take steps into their future endeavors
Related links
Read our Elements of Success profile of Sara Ziadat