Asia Loney came to Mercer University with an interest in the sciences but unsure of her career direction. With her professors’ encouragement, she took advantage of opportunities that helped her uncover passions for research and pharmacy.
Loney, a junior chemistry major and Mercer Honors student, had just moved from Indiana to Savannah with her family when she started considering college options, so she wasn’t familiar with most Georgia schools. However, Mercer stood out during her research of biochemistry programs and set itself apart again when it came to the admissions process.
“I felt the admissions team was very invested in me as a student. My admissions counselor made me and my mom feel very informed about the whole process,” she said.
Loney started her Mercer studies as a biochemistry and molecular biology major on the pre-med track, but she hadn’t put much thought into her future profession. A semester in, she dropped the pre-med aspect to focus solely on biochemistry. Through additional classes, she realized her interests were more in line with being a chemistry major and biology minor, with cosmetic chemistry — which involves developing formulas for cosmetic products — in the back of her mind as a potential career.
Loney applied to the Mercer Undergraduate Research Scholar summer program at the encouragement of chemistry associate professor Dr. Emilianne Limbrick.
“I didn’t want to apply at first. I was kind of doing that thing where you count yourself out before you give yourself a chance,” she said.
She was accepted to the program and spent the summer doing research related to transdermal drug delivery, in which medicines are applied to and absorbed by the skin, in the lab of pharmaceutical sciences professor Dr. Ajay Banga in the College of Pharmacy on the Atlanta campus. Loney said she lucked out that her first research project aligned with her interest in cosmetic chemistry, and it was a fun but challenging experience.
Wanting to broaden her knowledge, Loney applied to national Research Experiences for Undergraduates for the following summer and secured one at University of California-San Diego through the National Science Foundation. She was introduced to materials chemistry, which involves designing novel materials, as she worked with compounds called metal-organic frameworks.
“It did open my eyes to the possibility of materials chemistry. Now I’m really interested in how we can overlap material chemistry and drug delivery,” Loney said.
Loney has applied for some national research programs for the upcoming summer with the hopes of building on what she has learned and getting involved in projects that use materials to create drug delivery systems.
During the school year, Loney has been conducting research on semiconducting nanoparticle systems with chemistry professor Dr. Dale Moore.
Amid her studies, Loney also works full time as a certified pharmacy technician at a Kroger pharmacy in Macon. She’s also working toward her immunization certification, so she can administer vaccines. In addition, she is an executive board member for the Mercer Association of Pre-Pharmacy Students.
With interests in both pharmacy and research, Loney is considering going to either pharmacy school or graduate school for pharmaceutical sciences after she completes her bachelor’s degree.
“It’s been cool to work in pharmacy and see the direct results of research,” she said. “You’re seeing one-on-one how these things are helping people and making people more comfortable. I enjoy interacting with my patients, but I also enjoy the research side of things. If I can bridge the two, that would be super great.”
Loney said her relationships with her professors is one of her favorite parts of her Mercer experience. They have encouraged her to take steps that will advance her career. In addition, the chemistry department took action to secure a scholarship for her when her family was experiencing some financial hardships last year.
“They have been the ones to kind of push me toward those (research) opportunities,” Loney said. “They know their students, they’re very involved, and they make sure they do everything they can to make sure their students succeed.”
