LAFAYETTE TODAY
Summer in Shanghai
Bonnie Hoy ’07 teamed with Polly Piergiovanni, associate professor
of chemical engineering, in research on Alcaligenes eutrophus, a type
of bacteria that produces a biodegradable polymer.
“Last semester, I spent the time establishing a procedure,” Hoy said
this spring. “This semester, I am feeding the bacteria different types of organic acids in order to produce polymers with different characteristics. This project means a lot to me because this is an area that I think I may want to specialize in.”
As a result of her hard work and initiative during an internship last summer in Air Products and Chemicals’ commercial technology group
at company headquarters in Trexlertown, Pa., Hoy secured an internship
in Shanghai this summer, focusing on the Air Products’ Energy and Process Industries sector in Asia. A stipend made possible by The Class
of 1974 Internship Endowment is helping enable her to take advantage
of the opportunity.
“This is the first step in achieving my career goal of using my engineering knowledge to assist in the growth and development of the country of my heritage,” she says. As for chemical engineering at Lafayette, “The major is absolutely difficult and comes with a boat-load of work!” she says. “However, I am absolutely pleased, and the work surely is paying off.”
She’s a mathematics tutor, resident adviser, and member of Crew Club.
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