Scholar Spotlight: Morgan Schroeder

Morgan Schroeder is a recent graduate from the University of Cincinnati with her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She has a strong interest in biochemistry and understanding the mechanisms of metabolism. In her undergraduate studies, Morgan conducted research in the Grillo Lab studying mitochondrial micronutrient metabolism and inborn errors of metabolism, specifically Maple Syrup Urine Disease. Her work focuses on understanding the mechanisms of branched chain amino acid and branched chain ketoacid metabolism. She independently designed derivatization techniques and developed HPLC methods to allow for quantification of these metabolites.

She has a passion for scientific communication, and she has attended multiple scientific symposiums during her undergraduate study. She presented her research project at the NOBCChE Undergraduate Research Symposium, the Oesper Symposium, and the Undergraduate Scholarly Showcase, where she received the Cross Disciplinary Communication in Research Award. She wants to continue further investigating the role branched chain amino acids play in metabolism and how these pathways change in aging.

Outside of research, Morgan is passionate about mentorship and promoting research as a career. She worked as a teaching assistant in General Chemistry laboratories throughout her undergraduate studies, earning her the M. Brayton Graff Award for excellence through her efforts in teaching. In addition, Morgan also plans to pursue mentorship by working with ACS SEED and guiding undergraduate students. Morgan has been accepted to the Ph.D. program in Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati and will begin in the Fall of 2026.