Trine student Gawron learns challenges of research at summer program

By Taylor Peel
English/Communication ’27

Henry Gawron, a Trine University chemistry major, spent his summer gaining hands-on research experience through the University of Nebraska’s Summer Research Program (SRP).

The 10-week program gave the senior from Oak Lawn, Illinois, the chance to work in a university research laboratory and explore an area of chemistry beyond what he typically encounters in the classroom.

How compounds behave

Working under Andrej Rajca, Ph.D., and Ph.D. candidate Manish Bhandari, Henry researched thermally ultra-robust tetrazolinyl radicals.

While the topic is highly specialized, Henry’s work centered on learning more about how certain chemical compounds behave and how researchers can develop compounds that remain stable under high temperatures. The experience gave him a chance to work directly with chemical research while learning more about the day-to-day process of conducting experiments.

Research also gave Henry a better understanding of something that textbooks cannot always demonstrate: Experiments do not always produce the expected results.

“One of the biggest takeaways I experienced is that research in chemistry doesn’t always go smoothly,” Henry said. “What mattered most was moving forward and hoping for new, favorable results.”

For Henry, learning how to respond when an experiment did not go as planned became an important part of the experience. Research often requires patience and persistence, and unexpected results can lead researchers to change their approach and try again.

At the end of the program, Henry presented his work through a research poster. The presentation gave him an opportunity to explain what he had worked on during the summer and share his findings with others in the program.

Working, playing together

Outside of the laboratory, Henry also enjoyed getting to know other students participating in the SRP. The students came from a variety of research backgrounds, including nanotechnology and sustainability. Although they worked on different projects, they had plenty of opportunities to spend time together outside the lab.

Henry and the other students played sports and participated in activities together throughout the summer. Getting to know students with different academic interests gave Henry the opportunity to hear about other areas of research and learn about experiences that differed from his own.

The combination of laboratory work and time with other students made the summer a memorable part of Henry’s college experience. He returned to Trine with a better understanding of what research looks like outside the classroom and a greater appreciation for the persistence that scientific work requires.

For Henry, the summer also provided an opportunity to put his chemistry education into practice. Instead of simply learning about chemical concepts, he spent 10 weeks working through the challenges that come with conducting research and communicating scientific findings.