Curious by nature. Driven by purpose. Always in the middle of something.
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Hi, I'm Lizzy! I'm a Chemistry B.S. and Korean double-major at UNC Chapel Hill, and I genuinely believe that everybody is a scientist. We're all curious. We're all making observations, testing ideas, and figuring out the world around us. That's science. That's being human.
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I believe everybody is multifaceted, and I am no exception :) Right now my cup is being filled by leading my Nobel Faces initiative, getting lost in audiobooks, moving my body through running, creating through crochet, and building community everywhere I go. Music is always in the background of all of it!
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I believe everybody is a scientist. I believe your path does not have to be linear to be valid. I believe the best lessons come from people, not textbooks. And I believe that showing up fully, as a researcher, a traveler, a community builder, a whole person, is not a distraction from the work. It is the work.
Who I Am
Meet Lizzy :)
Hi, I'm Lizzy! I'm a Chemistry B.S. and Korean double-major at UNC Chapel Hill, and I genuinely believe that everybody is a scientist. We're all curious. We're all making observations, testing ideas, and figuring out the world around us. That's science. That's being human.
I spend my time in the lab researching electrochemical CO2 reduction, building community for underrepresented scientists through NOBCChE, and supporting student parents on campus through Students Who Sit. I also teach chemistry because sharing knowledge is one of my favorite things in the world.
One day I want to be in a classroom for real… whether that's teaching English in Korea through EPIK or eventually becoming the most thermodynamically favorable chemistry professor EVER! Either way, education is where my heart is.
When I'm not doing all of that, I'm probably crocheting, teaching some kiddos the periodic table, gardening, or planning my next trip. This is where all of it lives. Glad you're here.
What I’m Up To
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There has never been a Black chemist awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. That fact sat with me and would not let go.
Nobel Faces started from that frustration. If the most celebrated stage in science has never recognized a Black chemist, then I wanted to build something that would. A space that spotlights the scientists who changed the world whether or not the world chose to recognize them.
Through Nobel Faces I tell the stories of scientists from all backgrounds, with a special focus on Black scientists and underrepresented voices in STEM. The history you were never taught in class. The people who deserved way more than a footnote.
It lives on Instagram for now but the vision is much bigger than that. Follow along.
And if you want to see the less curated, more human side of things, I have been showing up more on my personal Instagram, too. Life lessons, day-to-day moments, and who I am outside of the lab. It is where I get to just be creative and be myself. Come hang out.
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Here are some podcasts that pique my interest (my ears have been busy!):
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+Right now I have been listening to RAYE on repeat! Her sophomore album This Music May Contain Hope is exactly what it sounds like. An album that can resonate with the truest feelings and emotions. Jazz, big band, soul, blues, orchestral pop all woven together by a voice that does not quit. If you need a starting point, I will link some favorites below.
Click Clack Symphony (ft. Hans Zimmer)
+I have also been getting into pansori, traditional Korean vocal music. It is intense and beautiful and completely unlike anything else. My Korean studies opened that door and I am glad it did!
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I love to run! Here you can see what races I have ran, and what races I am currently training for!
Recent Races
Fleet Feet 4 Miler, Chapel Hill, NC
Training For
Bull City Run, Durham, NC
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+When I am not in the lab or the classroom, I am probably crocheting something I will restart three times before I get it right.
Below is the account I am using to learn currently! Highly recommend! My abilities are not a reflection of their amazing videos! :)
Wool & the Gang Crochet Content
+I also spend a lot of time with children through my mom's daycare and Students Who Sit (learn more here). I also hope to gain my DONA certification to become a Doula in the near future! I believe that every child deserves a village of people who care for them, and I hope to contribute to as many villages as I can!
+Traveling is the other thing that fills me up completely. I have been to Morocco, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Paris, Sevilla, and more. I think Korea or Iceland will be next… stay tuned and check out my exploration page to learn more!
Honestly though? Most days off the clock still somehow involve chemistry. Lots of baking and gardening, too… but that’s just chemistry at its roots (no pun intended). I think that is just who I am now. A chemist at heart. :)
What I Believe
I believe everybody is a scientist. I believe your path does not have to be linear to be valid. I believe the best lessons come from people, not textbooks. And I believe that showing up fully, as a researcher, a traveler, a community builder, a whole person, is not a distraction from the work. It is the work.
My Why?
I became a scientist because I wanted to understand the world. I stayed because I realized science is never just about the molecules. It is about the people who do it, the ones who were told they could not, and the ones still waiting to see themselves in it. I research, I teach, I travel, and I build because I believe representation is not a bonus; it is the whole point. This site is my way of living that out loud.
The science of life is difficult, but not difficult enough to quit!