Kate Seymour
Double Major
Chemical Engineering (BS) and Chemistry (BA)
CEAS Award
Research Award
Future Plans
Pursuing a Materials Science and Engineering PhD at the Â鶹ӰԺ
Why were you were selected for this award?
In the Bowman Research Group, I develop computer models that predict how light-activated plastics, called photopolymers, form and harden during manufacturing. My work addresses a critical gap in existing models, a chemical reaction unique to a major class of these materials, that has long forced researchers to rely on costly trial and error. By filling this gap, my models will enable scientists to design better photopolymers from the outset, rather than relying on guesswork.
Photopolymers are widely used in everyday applications from dental fillings and crowns, to 3D-printed medical devices, contact lenses and protective coatings. Improving predictive modeling can lead to more durable dental restorations (reducing repeat procedures, especially valuable for communities with limited access to dental care), while accelerating the development of customized medical implants and reducing material waste in manufacturing. Ultimately, my work helps researchers and engineers design these essential materials more efficiently, lowering costs and bringing new healthcare technologies to patients sooner.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Finishing a dual degree in chemical engineering and chemistry while staying genuinely connected to the people around me. The GPA matters to me, but what I am most proud of is that I did not disappear into the work. I stayed present with my classmates. I kept showing up for the people in my life. I found my faith. I tried to honor the professors and coworkers who invested in me through my hard work and commitment. I stayed curious about things beyond my engineering and chemistry coursework.
At times, it would have been easier to avoid the harder, messier parts of being a person: relationships, faith, vulnerability, and showing up for others when it was inconvenient. I did not always get it right, but I learned more from trying to hold both things together than I ever could have from the coursework alone. Looking back, I did not have to sacrifice the things that made me feel human to succeed academically, and that is what I am most proud of.
What is your favorite CU Â鶹ӰԺ memory?
Growing up, Saturday mornings meant watching College GameDay with my parents and cheering for our respective programs. So getting swept up in that experience at my own alma mater during Coach Prime's first season was pure joy. I traveled to Fort Worth for the opener and waved a giant CU flag on Big Noon Kickoff as Colorado shocked Texas Christian University. The following week, I was back at Folsom Field for the Nebraska game, where I won best sign on Big Noon. Then came the Rocky Mountain Showdown, and College GameDay's first visit to Â鶹ӰԺ since 1996, where I got a photo with Desmond Howard, a former professional football player and current sports analyst. It's a fall I'll never forget.
What is your best piece of advice for other students?
Say "yes" to the opportunity you feel underqualified for. Email the professor whose research sounds intimidating. Apply for the internship you assume you won't get. Volunteer for the project that pushes you outside your comfort zone. Most of the meaningful opportunities I've had at CU started with me deciding to try. The worst thing that happens is someone says "no," which is exactly where you started. The people who seem to have it all figured out aren't more qualified than you; they just took the first step and asked.