Hernan Osorio, a senior chemistry major, is the recipient of a Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarship. The $7,400 award is a 2019-20 TMCF Department of Energy scholarship with funds going toward tuition and fees, on-campus room and board and books or other class-related teaching materials.
“Hernan Osorio, a first generation Mexican American who, for lack of funds and familia commitment, almost gave up his college dream, has become an outstanding success in chemistry,” said Dr. Deborah Sauder, chair of UMES’ Department of Natural Sciences. “His undergraduate research accomplishments are significant. He credits his experiences in the Henson Honors Program with supporting him in developing the leadership skills his faculty observe every day. We cannot think of a more deserving student and offer him our heartfelt congratulations.”
Osorio is an aspiring physician. He currently holds a 3.9 GPA while taking on such activities as being a Center for Access and Academic Success Hawk Mentor, a Richard A. Henson Honors scholar, an events manager for the UMES Pre-Professional Society, and a Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation affiliate/student researcher.
For his research, he is working under Dr. Victoria Volkis and Dr. Udeochu Uche, both associate professors of chemistry in the Department of Natural Sciences. With Volkis, Osorio is working on extraction of essential oils from medical plants and their applications as organic pesticides and in medical textile. With Uche, he is working on interactions between DNA and Emetine, an anti-cancer agent.
“Hernan is a very curious student, hard worker, and goal-oriented individual. He is passionate about science and excited about each and every discovery he makes in the lab. It is a pleasure to work with him,” said Volkis.
