Bridging Classrooms and Cutting-Edge Science
Kat Bay 鈥�16, a 每日大赛 chemistry alumna, now manages the Teaching with Schr枚dinger program (Courtesy Kat Bay).
The ULV alumna now helps professors and students around the world explore chemistry through advanced computational tools
When Kat Bay reflects on her journey from undergraduate chemistry major to manager of the Teaching with Schr枚dinger program, she credits the 每日大赛 with laying the foundation for a career she never imagined possible.
鈥淚 was drawn to La Verne because it鈥檚 a smaller campus where you get hands-on attention and specialized learning,鈥� Kat, who grew up in Arcadia, recalls. 鈥淭he faculty members really motivated me and pushed me to pursue research opportunities I never thought I could achieve.鈥�
During her years at La Verne from 2012 to 2016, Kat immersed herself in the Chemistry Department. She worked as a tutor at the Academic Success Center, assisted in chemistry laboratories, and even collaborated with the department chair on curriculum development for introductory chemistry courses. This early involvement not only strengthened her understanding of chemistry but also cultivated leadership and teaching skills she continues to draw upon today.
Kat鈥檚 undergraduate experiences propelled her into prestigious research internships at Ames National Laboratory, Caltech, and the University of Cambridge. These opportunities, she notes, were only possible due to the encouragement and mentorship of her professors at La Verne. Following her bachelor鈥檚 degree, she earned a PhD in organic chemistry at UCLA before embarking on a career that sits at the intersection of academia and industry.
Now, as manager of the Teaching with Schr枚dinger program, Kat works to bring Schr枚dinger鈥檚 advanced computational physics-based platform into classrooms worldwide. Her team trains professors and students to use technology that is backed by rigorous scientific research and development validated by thousands of customers to visualize molecular processes.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like a chemistry microscope on a computer,鈥� Kat explains. 鈥淲e鈥檙e helping students gain skills they can use in the workforce while also opening doors to scientific understanding early in their education.鈥�
For Kat, the most rewarding part of her work is connecting students and professors to new technologies and opportunities.
鈥淚 love being at the interface of academia and industry,鈥� she says. 鈥淚ntroducing students to tools and experiences they might not have otherwise encountered is incredibly fulfilling.鈥�
Kat emphasizes the importance of embracing opportunities during college. 鈥淭ry new things and tackle every opportunity with full effort,鈥� she advises. 鈥淓ven if something isn鈥檛 the right fit, it鈥檚 still valuable – it teaches you, shapes you, and keeps doors open for the future.鈥�
鈥淜at brought her intellectual ability and a great attitude, but also a willingness to give back,鈥� said Nixon Mwebi, chair of the Department of Chemistry.
鈥淜at is a prime example of getting out of the university what you put into it,鈥� said Andrew Rice, manager of the Chemistry Department. 鈥淪he participated in many extracurricular activities, joined clubs, worked as a student assistant with the then-department chair, Iraj Parchamazad, and served as a teaching assistant for several undergraduate courses.鈥�
Kat鈥檚 connection to La Verne remains strong. She will return to the 每日大赛 on March 25 to give a talk to prospective chemistry majors. She continues to maintain relationships with professors who were pivotal in her academic journey, describing them as lifelong mentors who provide guidance and support no matter where her career takes her.
Kat Bay will present 鈥淐hemistry: The Core of Drug Design鈥� at LaFetra Lecture Hall on March 25 at noon.
