Emma Green '23 recipient of prestigious International Space Station Fellowship
On January 12, 2024, the International Space Station National Laboratory announced that Illinois College alumna Emma Green ’23 was selected for the prestigious James A. Abrahamson Space Leader Fellowship. She is the sole recipient in the country.
Emma has taken full advantage of every opportunity available to her at Illinois College, including working closely with faculty mentors who provided meaningful guidance to her as a talented scholar with tremendous potential. Being selected for this prestigious fellowship is a great honor. Emma’s achievements are inspiring and underscore the value of a high-quality liberal arts education.
Throughout Green’s year-long fellowship, she will work closely with members of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) team.
Green credits her post-graduation success to her time at Illinois College, especially the opportunities for research with faculty members. “The most valuable part of my IC education was getting hands-on experience,” she explains, “My current employer said that my experiences at IC were comparable to that of some graduate students.”
Green double majored in Chemistry and Physics and was an AERO-STEM scholar. This program is funded by the National Science Foundation and provides a full-tuition scholarship, research opportunities, academic coaching, and more.
“AERO-STEM, which stands for Access to Early Research Opportunities in STEM, is designed to equip students with the resources and opportunities essential for excelling in their chosen STEM fields, including a foundational experience in research,” Dr. Jocelyn Lanorio, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Green’s advisor and research supervisor explains. “Emma engaged in research activities from her first year onwards, demonstrating commendable enthusiasm for scientific inquiry.”
During her time on campus, Green worked closely with Dr. Lanorio. “The very first summer I was at IC, I worked with Dr. Lanorio on copper catalyzed click chemistry. I did so well that Dr. Lanorio brought me back the following summer and I was able to publish a manuscript about my research,” Green states, “Publishing is something a lot of undergraduates cannot say that they’ve done.”
Though her time on campus was focused primarily on science, Green branched out to make the most of her undergraduate career. She served as the College’s art club president, which gave her valuable experience for her fellowship proposal. Her work plan includes “creating infographics for the public to better understand the science behind the recycling that will be happening on the space station. The team I’m working with is most excited about the infographics, because they feel that the social presence of NASA and the ISS is lacking. Their hope for me is to bridge the gap between science and the general public.”
Green also was fortunate enough to study abroad twice during her time at IC, first through a Breakaway trip to New Zealand then to Germany through the DAAD-RISE scholarship program. “Through the DAAD-RISE program, I was able to do a research internship at the Technical University of Braunschweig,” Green explains, “During my time there, I studied spectral electrochemistry. It was a great experience, because I was able to study a different type of science.”
Along with the fellowship, Green is waiting to hear back on her applications to PhD programs. She also recently accepted a position at the Midwest Compliance Laboratories testing the stability of products from various pharmaceutical companies.
Dr. Lanorio hopes that Green’s achievements will encourage and inspire future students at Illinois College. “In a broader context, Emma's success contributes significantly to advancing STEM education and research, aligning seamlessly with the goals of the NSF S-STEM grant that supports the AERO-STEM program. Her achievements are not only personal triumphs but also serve as inspiration for future students aspiring to make impactful contributions to the scientific community.”
For more information, read the official press release from the ISS here.