PhD Chemistry grad explores materials of the future, inspires students to 'find your passion’
Rose Snyder, PhD chemistry graduate with a focus in inorganic chemistry from ASU’s School of Molecular Sciences. Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2024 graduates.
Rose Snyder loves puzzles. She enjoys solving the small challenges Sudokus and crosswords offer her and the spaces where logic and creativity coexist.
So nearly a decade ago, after switching majors once, taking a year off school and then earning three associate degrees, at a crossroad of deciding where to take her educational journey, she leaned into what came most naturally.
“It's hard to describe the way that things just click in your brain where you can see the way a molecule is set up,” said Snyder, who went on to earn a bachelor's degree in chemistry and now is a PhD chemistry graduate with a focus in inorganic chemistry from ASU's School of Molecular Sciences. “In chemistry, you have your toolbox, and you use those tools to figure out how the world works.”
During her time at ASU, Snyder conducted chemistry research to create new materials called MXenes, which could revolutionize batteries, electronics, water purification and radiation shielding by being lightweight, customizable and incredibly versatile.
“Rose maneuvered an extremely steep materials synthesis learning curve at the beginning of her PhD journey, becoming an expert in MXene nanosheet synthesis — one of the best I have ever seen,” said Christina Birkel, associate professor in the School of Molecular Sciences and Snyder’s graduate faculty advisor. “She not only pushed the boundaries of science but has been an absolutely delightful group member who never hesitates to help and train others and will be missed.”
Snyder’s advice to other students is to stay true to themselves, no matter how long things may take.
“Everyone's very individual, your paths are your own,” Snyder said. “I graduated with my associate degree very late, graduated with my bachelor's degree even later, now here I am in my mid-30s graduating with my PhD.
“Whether you go to grad school or go to college for chemistry or marketing or accounting or art or theater or whatever, it can be done at your own pace, and it should be done to make you happy.”
ASU News spoke to Snyder about her time at ASU.
Note: The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Question: Why did you choose ASU?
Answer: I chose Arizona, or at least I chose the West. I grew up in New Jersey and I was living in Philadelphia at the time, and it's cold and grad school applications are due in December. There was a deep desire to get out of the cold and go out West. When it came to ASU specifically, the school had professors that I was interested in and research that I wanted to do, but the community was what really drew me in.
Coming to Phoenix, the people that picked me up for the visitation and then the people that I met during the brief time that I was here were so friendly and welcoming that it felt very supportive. I liked that interconnectivity, that we are scientists, we are friends and we can share knowledge.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?
A: How much work a graduate program really is. I think there was a great surprise in how much independence I would have to develop to become a fully-fledged researcher. It certainly was a big learning curve, especially during a pandemic when you're trapped in the house and stressed about everything and trying to solve a (research) problem that you had to make up on your own.
Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: There are two that are equally important to me. Dr. Christina Birkel and Dr. Anne Jones. They're both female professors, women in STEM who are headstrong and incredibly smart. As a woman in a STEM field, I think it takes a big push to be heard sometimes. The way that both Christina and Anne approach the sciences as a whole and who they are in the sciences, headstrong, inspire me a lot. They both have taught me a lot about standing up for myself, which is very helpful in a (graduate) defense when everyone is asking you questions and you must be like, “You're wrong, actually, I know my subject better than you.”
Q: What's the best piece of advice you'd give to those still in school?
A: Find your passion. A lot of students want to be doctors, want to be engineers, want to have a high paying job. Desiring a high paying job is great; I understand we live in a society in which you need money. But I think there are students that aren't passionate about what goes into it. My advice is to find the thing that you're passionate about and find the thing you want to do, because college is such a good opportunity to pursue that passion. There's also no grand timeline for it either.
Q: What's your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying or meeting friends or thinking about life?
A: There’s a big atrium with a lot of plants in it. I don’t know what it’s called — (it's in the Social Sciences Building) — but the building has a hole carved out in it and the building surrounds an open-air plant garden with a little pool and benches.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: Find a job. I'm looking into some postdoc opportunities. I was also looking at some national laboratory jobs, and I hope something works out.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A: There are so many grand issues all over the world and a lot of things that I care about so deeply. I think what I care about most in any grand scheme is the larger community. I want to make sure people are not living in poverty. I think there's a lot of struggle to access things. And then the second thing is climate change.
If I had money to solve problems, and if someone just handed me a lot of cash and said, “Fix stuff,” I would say, “Alright, first, I want everyone in a safe location and to be fed, clothed and housed." And then once they're fed, clothed and housed, my second thing I'd want is that people can survive on Earth for a few more years.
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