Chemistry Major Selected to Attend Dow-MIT Access Program in October

Quick Facts

Johnson was selected to participate in the DOW-MIT ACCESS program, which was designed to increase the diversity of qualified applicants to Ph.D. programs in chemistry, chemical engineering and materials science throughout the United States.

During each of the past two summers, Johnson has conducted full-time research in chemistry faculty member Nick Grossoehme's laboratory investigating protein regulation mechanisms of intracellular copper concentrations.

Destinee Johnson

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Winthrop chemistry major Destinee Johnson will spend an October weekend at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) learning about graduate school opportunities in science.

The senior was selected to participate in the DOW-MIT ACCESS program, which was initiated by Dow Chemical Company in 2009, and is designed to increase the diversity of qualified applicants to Ph.D. programs in chemistry, chemical engineering and materials science throughout the United States. In 2011, 40 undergraduates attended the DOW-MIT ACCESS program.

ACCESS introduces talented juniors and seniors to the benefits of a graduate education through seminars and interactive sessions with MIT faculty and students. It does not prepare participants for graduate school at MIT specifically, but rather introduces them to the advantages of choosing a graduate career path at an institution that best meets each participant's individual needs.

An Anderson, S.C., resident, Johnson is a Winthrop McNair Scholar and an honors student. During each of the past two summers, she has conducted full-time research in chemistry faculty member Nick Grossoehme's laboratory investigating protein regulation mechanisms of intracellular copper concentrations.

"I'm very proud of Destinee. Her hard work and dedication to excellence makes her deserving of this amazing opportunity,” said Grossoehme. “Among other benefits, this experience certainly has the potential to catalyze her transition to a top tier graduate school. The future indeed looks bright for this talented young lady."

Johnson plans to either teach, go into the research field or go into the intellectual property law business after graduate school. “To get this just helped me realize I am on the right track,” she said, adding that she plans to work even harder on her studies and lab work.

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