Cheyenne Hayes, a rising junior and Rice Advanced Materials Institute (RAMI) Research Fellow at Rice University, is spending her summer diving deep into research. Growing up in Houston in a STEM-focused household with two engineers as parents, a passion for science came naturally to Cheyenne. However, her specific path into material science came about almost by chance. She happened across a post on the Rice Chemistry Undergraduate page, connected with PI Lea Nienhaus, and was immediately drawn in by the fascinating "glowy things" they get to study.
Her current focus is understanding advanced materials that could make technologies like solar panels much more efficient by accessing a broader spectrum of light. As Cheyenne explains, "light is a spectrum, from lower energy red light to higher energy blue light. If you can have a material system that can also access the red light, which is lower energy, then you're basically getting more out of sunlight." By comparing molecular variations, she is helping expand the library of materials available for green energy.
One of the most rewarding parts of her summer has been working with photon up-conversion and seeing the direct, physical impact of her work. "It's really cool when you can look in the setup and see your sample up-converting, which is a really good feeling," she says.
Of course, high-level research comes with plenty of trial and error, which Cheyenne has learned to embrace alongside her lab mentors, Postdoctoral Researcher Jussi Isokuortti and PhD Student Clare Rider. She notes that there are always exciting moments when a sample works, even if it turns out to be a fluke on the repeat trial. "That part's fun too, it's like figuring out what could have gone wrong," she says. When things don't pan out, the team backtracks together to troubleshoot, showing her just how supportive and collaborative a lab group can be.
Stepping into this specialized field required Cheyenne to step out of her comfort zone, but the experience has paid off. Though she had no prior experience in this specific area of chemistry, learning entirely new concepts as she goes has been incredibly rewarding. For other students hesitant to apply for similar opportunities, her advice is simple:
"Just apply. You don't need experience yet. You just have to show interest, ask questions, be inquisitive, and be engaged. You'll learn as you go. The most important part is being present."
The dedicated time provided by the RAMI fellowship has given her a more clear sense of direction for life after undergrad. Having the opportunity to focus entirely on research without the distraction of classes has shown her how fulfilling full-time laboratory work can be.
"It's definitely been positive in saying that I do like research," she reflects. "I could see myself doing this after this experience, and it has made getting a PhD feel more like a possibility.”
With the rest of her undergraduate journey ahead, Cheyenne’s summer in the lab is a strong reminder that the best way to find your path is simply to dive in and start asking questions.