As a senior in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Paige Wlodkowski successfully applied knowledge and skills from her laboratory classes to an on-site internship experience within her field of study.
Wlodkowski is pursuing a bachelor of science degree in chemistry to help fulfill her goal of working within the fields of analytical and inorganic chemistry.
Paige Wlodkowski, a senior studying chemistry who will graduate in May, works in the Green Microextraction Analytical Solutions Laboratory with her partner, Mary Eby, a junior studying chemistry.
“Being a student at UToledo has truly allowed me to flourish academically, personally and professionally,” she said. “I have been provided with some of the best educational experiences here such as learning under amazing and intelligent instructors, working with a wide variety of instrumentation and even being able to conduct undergraduate research.”
Wlodkowski, who will graduate in May, thanked all of her University professors for their hard work and dedication to the success of their students, especially Dr. Gionfriddo, an assistant professor of analytical chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
“Paige is a fantastic student,” Gionfriddo said. “She’s knowledgeable, intellectually curious and driven to succeed. She is a leader in and out of the classroom. She will do great things in her career and in her life, and I cannot wait to watch where her path takes her.”
It was through Gionfriddo’s Green Microextraction Analytical Solutions Laboratory that Wlodkowski conducted her undergraduate research and developed the skills needed to be successful during her internship with the BASF Corp., the largest chemical producer in the world.
“As a site facilities/utilities intern at BASF, I was excited to obtain on the job experience, as well as to learn new things about the world of chemistry and the chemical industry,” Wlodkowski said. “I carried plenty of knowledge into the internship and felt confident in my abilities when I went to work. II also carried lots of new knowledge back to Toledo with me from the internship.”
In addition to Wlodkowski’s undergraduate research and internship opportunities, she also has made several lifelong connections through various student organizations on campus. She has been a dedicated member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and the Student Chapter of the American Chemical Society since her first year at UToledo.
“UToledo has given me the tools I needed to achieve many things I am proud of, such as the BASF internship, undergraduate research, several scholarships and lots of involvement within student life,” she said.
