CBC Student Spotlight: Momoko Cronin

Chemistry Major, UA KEYS Mentor, W. A. Franke Honors student

KEYS has been a life-changing experience, both as an intern and as a peer mentor. As an intern, I loved being able to participate in research before I started college. Even as a current undergraduate, I am still doing research in the lab that I was placed in during KEYS! I love being able to connect concepts I learned in class to the work I do in my lab and being introduced to chemistry concepts I wouldn’t otherwise see in class until much later.

This year, I have continued my involvement in the program as a near-peer mentor. It’s extremely fun to see the other side of the program. Now, I support high school students navigating research, help them develop science literacy skills, and assist them in learning how to communicate complicated scientific concepts to audiences without a scientific background. Seeing how much the interns have grown over the past 2 months is extremely rewarding, and I am so excited to see them present their research very soon!

I am so happy to be able to pay back the program that was integral to my first foray into research and help high school students start their own path in science. Thank you, KEYS!