UCA awarded senior and chemistry major Ariellis Rodriguez-Gutierrez intern of the year after her summer in California researching the carbon cycle landed her a publication.
At just 22 years old, Rodriguez-Gutierrez, originally from Pottsville, Arkansas, traveled to California after encouragement and support from her family and mentor.
“I’m a very big family person so having a support system that’s always encouraging me and pushing me forward is important. Also, when I met my mentor Dr. Massey, she really took me in and said, ‘Ariel you need to go out and explore,’ and if it wasn’t for that support I don’t think I would’ve gone as far as I have. And when I ended up going to California it was a beautiful experience that I’m very grateful for,” Rodriguez-Gutierrez said.
With this push of encouragement and support, Rodriguez-Gutierrez was able to step out of her comfort zone and do research resulting in her work getting published — an often rare accomplishment for an undergraduate.
“I didn’t actually know I was going to get published until I got the award and I read the letter from my employer. It’s taken a while to realize it’s real, I’m getting published this is real. It’s so exciting. I just can’t find the words to say,” Rodriguez-Gutierrez said.
Amongst the research done on catalysts, carbon dioxide and alternate fuel sources, Rodriguez-Gutierrez was able to infuse multiple of her own passions together.
Rodriguez-Gutierrez said she is a natural observer and lover of nature.
“I ended up just loving nature itself and watching National Geographic with him [Rodriguez- Gutierrez’s older brother]. But there’s always been something about science that just pulls on my heartstrings. It’s just so interesting, so unique and you never stop learning,” Rodriguez-Gutierrez said.
As she discussed her internship in California, she said, “It made me realize how much I truly loved working with my hands and that I really want to do this with my life. I was able to see that I do love the research, but if I can teach this to somebody else and show them how much fun it is, it would bring me even more joy.”
While interning, Rodriguez-Gutierrez was able to do studies that help the environment and the community, as well as find out more about herself along the way and her passion for teaching.
The opportunity to intern appeared while Rodriguez-Gutierrez was looking for research opportunities for the summer and she found that Marsha Massey had openings.
“That’s how I ended up doing research with her but then slowly as I understood we’re working toward helping our environment I realized I was working towards something to save our environment and that was such a fulfilling experience,” Rodriguez-Gutierrez said.
She continued by saying, “We have a lot of carbon dioxide emissions from consuming fossil fuels and if we can find a way to help our environment and community at the same time, why not try and experiment to get the answers.”
Rodriguez-Gutierrez is already working to help create methods to solve some of the environment’s biggest issues right now.
Rodriguez-Gutierrez’s dedication to, not only to science but also people, grew with time as she worked on her internship.
“It was an experience of growth and development,” she said.
