Andre Weaver ’27 presents during STEM Scholars Conference, wins undergraduate research award

Andre Weaver ’27 presents during the American Association for the Advancement of Science S-STEM Scholars Conference in San Diego, where he was awarded the Chance to Change Lives Undergraduate Research Award.

When Andre Weaver ’27 went to work at Western Washington University, he had very little hands-on lab experience. 

“The project required rapid growth from beginner to independent researcher,” said Weaver, a chemistry major who participated in a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates, or REU, there. 

Ten weeks later, he had not only developed a new way to measure complex bio-derived chemicals called alkenones, but he had also created a faster synthesis method. 

In October, Weaver presented about the research during the American Association for the Advancement of Science S-STEM Scholars Conference in San Diego, where he was awarded the Chance to Change Lives Undergraduate Research Award. The College’s SUPER (Step Up to Physical Science and Engineering at Randolph) program nominated Weaver to attend the conference and covered his expenses.

“I was basically diving into a new field of study, and it was really interesting,” Weaver said. “Alkenones are very valuable, with promising sustainability applications in cosmetics, biofuels, and paleo-climate modeling. You can use trends from that data over long periods of time to run new calculations and create predictions.” 

Alkenones are extracted from algae, and result in mixtures of very similar compounds that can be hard to tell apart. Part of Weaver’s work focused on finding a reliable method to quantify how much of each compound was in a sample. 

“I set out to design a cleaner and more precise way to measure alkenones while also exploring faster and greener synthetic routes for analysis,” Weaver wrote in his reflection essay. “I created a quantification method that avoids contamination entirely, demonstrated a faster route toward synthesizing alkenones, and left behind new methods that others in the lab can continue improving.” 

Along the way, he learned how to use new techniques and equipment while troubleshooting failures, adjusting procedures on the fly, and keeping the project moving within the 10-week timeline. 

“This is really just a foundation,” Weaver said. “Being able to do research and have my own independence helped me realize I’m a lot more capable than I thought. It was a confidence booster but also showed my abilities. I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to stop doubting myself.’” 

There is no doubt that the work has shaped his future. 

“It showed me the importance of designing chemistry that is innovative, sustainable, and aligned with the needs of the planet,” he wrote in his essay. “This planet is the foundation we stand on, and without it, we have nothing. My work with alkenones was the beginning of that vision and laid the groundwork for my path in green and sustainable chemistry.”