Graduate Student Spotlight: Jorge Perez-Aguilar

I attended the University of Nevada, Reno, and got my bachelor's in Chemical Engineering. I am currently trying to study silicaluminaphophates to see if they can by used a catalyst support material by starting with SAPO-37. Loading different metal such as iridium, rhodium, and platinum and using different spectroscopic techniques, I can study the interaction the metal has with the support material.

When I'm not in the lab, I like to go out with friends and doing random things such as hiking, trivia night, going out to dance in Davis or Sacramento, or boating in Lake Tahoe. Also playing for the intramural volleyball team was a lot of fun. We lost every game in the fall but this next fall will be our year to make a comeback. 

I have not thought about graduation just yet but the two routes would be to either become a full adult and apply for jobs or apply for a post-doc but somewhere in Europe. 

If I could go back in time, the advice I would give my undergrad self would be to not worry about homework and grades too much, and also in my Pchem lab, to not get solvent into the vacuum pump you almost ruined the pump.

If you are thinking of applying to grad school, the best advice I could give would be find a place that you could see yourself living for four to five years and enjoying your time, and working in a research group that is very helpful and inclusive so you can learn new topics and techniques while also being able to somehow find the time to go out and do something you like that gets or mind off of research: hiking, dancing, going out to a bar with your friends, etc.