Former arts student finds passion for chemical engineering research at UC

Rising second-year University of Cincinnati student Deborah Cole-Taylor (Chemical Engineering ’24) spent her summer researching efficient energy sources and eliminating waste in the environment through the Protégé program in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science.

The Protégé program connects outstanding first-year students with research faculty during the summer after the student’s first year.

Cole-Taylor is spending the summer with accomplished chemical engineering researcher Anastasios Angelopoulos. Hydrogen cells are one of the possible solutions she is exploring to solve the efficient energy-low waste puzzle.

The Protégé program and Cole-Taylor’s accomplishments demonstrate UC’s commitment to innovative academic and professional development efforts as part of the Academic Excellence platform in its strategic direction Next Lives Here.

Cole-Taylor’s path to chemical engineering was not common. She attended performing arts high school in Dayton. However, nudging from a teacher about her accomplishments in chemistry and math and talking with her mother, a UC alumna, eventually led her to CEAS.

She was identified as a high-achieving student after the fall semester and landed her research position after two interviews.

According to Cole-Taylor, UC and CEAS have allowed her to maximize her first year on campus through connecting with peer students, faculty, and her research work. The freedom she experienced allowed her to learn more about herself, discovering a love for community engagement. She joined the National Society of Black Engineering and the Black Arts Collaborative.

Learn more about at the Protégé Undergraduate Research Program website.