When it comes to working in a lab, there is something about the mystery, the rigor, and the relentless possibility of discovery that can be instantly captivating.
Taylor Jeffrey ’26 was introduced to research through her high school’s partnership with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. For the lab portion of the program, Jeffrey was initially assigned to a medical robotics team. But it was the work her peers were doing that really stoked her interest, and when she successfully lobbied to join them, the move changed the course of her academic trajectory.
“As soon as I saw people running experiments and doing research on cells, I knew that was what I wanted to do,” says Jeffrey, who is now a junior chemical engineering major.
That certainty of purpose turned into a level of dedication and drive that last spring landed Jeffrey a prestigious Clare Boothe Luce Research Scholar award. The award recognizes high-achieving undergraduate women engineers and supports them for two years as they conduct advanced-level research with a faculty mentor.
The scholars participate in a full-time, 10-week research commitment over two summers, assist with the Rossin College’s CHOICES camp—an engineering and science outreach program for middle-school-age girls—conduct 6-10 hours of research work per week during the academic year, and participate in the college’s David and Lorraine Freed Undergraduate Research Symposium.
The fellowships, which are made possible through an award granted by the Henry Luce Foundation and administered by the Rossin College’s Dean’s Office, enable students to work directly with faculty, research scientists, and graduate students, and engage in networking events—all of which enriches their academic and professional development.
An early passion for research
Jeffrey first considered Lehigh at the suggestion of her high school guidance counselor, who encouraged her to channel her many interests into chemical engineering.
“I liked science and chemistry, and I was pretty good at math,” she says. “So he talked to me about chemical engineering, and suggested I look into Lehigh. I started researching it, and I really liked what I saw and the opportunities the university offered.”
As soon as she got to campus, she started strategizing how she might get back into a lab. She joined the Lehigh Women Engineers preLUsion, a three-day program for incoming students that includes hands-on activities in various engineering fields and opportunities to connect with fellow students and faculty members. It’s where Jeffrey first met Angela Brown, who is an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering.
“I asked her about opportunities to work in the lab, and when I came back the following year to work as a mentor for preLUsion, I met up with her again,” says Jeffrey. “This time, I had more experience as a chemical engineer, and she told me that as soon as a spot opened in her lab, she’d let me know.”
By the end of her first semester as a sophomore, Jeffrey was working in the Brown Lab doing research on the viability of cultured meat alongside Brown and a team of interdisciplinary researchers. The group was trying to essentially cultivate meat from live cells—a nascent technique that could one day supplant the need for breeding and slaughtering animals to provide protein to an ever-growing population.
It was Brown who first encouraged Jeffrey to apply for the Clare Boothe Luce scholarship last February.
“She told me how it could help fund my work in the lab,” says Jeffrey. “At the time, I was really worried about finding an internship for that summer after my sophomore year.”
Jeffrey got the acceptance in April—after, she says, “stalking” her email. “I was really excited, and so relieved. The scholarship totally set up my summer. I would be continuing the work I was already doing in the lab on cultured meat, working with people I really liked, and getting paid for it. Everything just fell into place.”
“Taylor’s academic success and passion for research made her the perfect candidate for the scholarship,” says Brown. “She has already made a great impact on the research in my lab, and we are thrilled to continue to work with her over the course of the program.”
Learning from leaders in the field
As a junior, Jeffrey’s research focus has shifted and she’s now assisting the Brown Lab’s work toward the development of new therapeutic targets and strategies to counter antibiotic resistance.
The scholarship continues to fund her work throughout the academic year with a total grant of $2000. She also receives a stipend for lab fees and supplies, as well as a travel budget to attend conferences and seminars.
While she’s still unsure of her path after graduation, such extensive lab experience coupled with her recent award has Jeffrey increasingly thinking about graduate school. It’s a tough decision, and she weighs it against the value of time spent in industry to gain real-world perspective that could inform her future research interests.
But as she works through such profound decisions, she is fortunate in having perhaps the greatest asset of being a Clare Boothe Luce Research Scholar—consistent access to experienced, caring, and connected mentors.
“Professor Brown is always there for me,” Jeffrey says. “Whatever it is I’m struggling with, maybe something in the lab or in a class, or what to focus on for a PhD, or the kind of programs I should apply to, or where in industry I could go, I know I can walk into her office and talk about it. She listens and shares her advice and opinions. She’s the best person to talk to, and she’s been a total help to me.”
