MACON, Ga. — Mercer University rising senior Abby Williamson was recently named a 2025 Snyder Scholar for Excellence in Chemistry and will spend 10 weeks at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) working with their chemistry department.
The Snyder Scholar program, established by Harold R. Snyder, recognizes undergraduate students from across the country who have an interest in organic chemistry. The fellowship provides a $5,000 award for the ten-week stay and includes funds for research expenses, travel and housing.
From Newnan, Williamson is a chemistry major with a minor in mathematics. While at UIUC, she will be participating in organic synthesis research with Professor of Chemistry Dr. Paul Hergenrother, the Kenneth L. Rinehart Jr. Endowed Chair in Natural Products Chemistry. The team will be synthesizing compounds that target cell death for cancerous tumors, in hopes of advancing personalized medicine in health care.
“I am very excited to work with Dr. Hergenrother this upcoming summer at UIUC and to learn new things with the organic chemistry team,” Williamson said.
Dr. David Goode, professor of chemistry and director of biochemistry and molecular biology, is Williamson’s undergraduate research professor and he described her as “an excellent student and a very hard worker.”
“She has already developed strong organic chemistry research techniques while working in my lab, and her time this summer as a Snyder Scholar will allow her to excel at this even more,” said Dr. Goode. “Abby is well deserving of this honor.”
At Mercer, Williamson is a member of Phi Eta Sigma honor society, Gamma Sigma Epsilon chemistry honor society, the Mercer Chapter of the American Chemical Society and Pi Mu Epsilon math honor society, and she has been named to the President’s List and Dean’s List every semester. This summer, prior to the fellowship, Williamson will be participating in the Mercer On Mission trip to Belize.
After graduation, Williamson plans to attend graduate school and pursue her Ph.D. in organic chemistry with a focus on medicinal chemistry. She hopes to eventually work in drug synthesis research.
