Weinberg College Senior Spotlight: Meet Alex Solivan ’23

Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences celebrates the class of 2023! To commemorate their upcoming graduation, we’ve connected with a few seniors about their time at Weinberg College and future plans. Alex Solivan will be graduating in June with honors with a major in Biological Sciences and a minor in Chemistry. 

What did you study at Weinberg College and why? If applicable, please explain if your interests transformed or evolved during your time here.

I have changed academic interests a bunch of times during my time in Weinberg College. I came to Northwestern with the general goal of attending medical school but I was also open to the sciences and humanities in general due to some great teachers I had in high school. I ultimately ended up bouncing around, trying classes in different fields and swapping majors a few times while working through my distros. I didn’t really feel like I found a great fit in any of my coursework and I didn’t feel like I had the same passion for my biomedical and healthcare-focused coursework like my peers. I did, however, excel in my lab-based chemistry classes, and at around the same time, I was lucky enough to get involved in a program called Arch Scholars, aimed toward supporting underrepresented students in Weinberg College.

Through a program called NUBioscientists, I was connected with an undergraduate research group and was given mentors who helped me be introspective about my goals and interests. I liked the idea of helping people with science, reading and engaging in discussions about ideas in my humanities coursework, and mentoring and advocating for underrepresented students like myself. Through this mentorship and the opportunities provided by the Arch Scholars and Weinberg College, I realized that I really wanted to be a professor, which is a job I had never really considered or even knew about coming into college. It took me a while to follow the twists and turns but it ultimately made me happier about the direction I plan to head post-graduation, which I cannot be more thankful for.

Tell us a little bit about your interdisciplinary experience at Weinberg College. How did it prepare you for the future?

As I reflect on my time at NU, I am blown away how the courses that I took in seemingly disparate fields while following my interests and finishing my distros, from Sociology to graduate level Organic Chemistry courses to Japanese, have provided me the background to engage in some cool opportunities that I never would have expected. For example, I had initially only intended to take Japanese to complete my two-year foreign language requirement but through opportunities offered at Northwestern, I was able to spend time abroad in Japan fully funded, learning more about the language and culture. Through this experience and my coursework in both Japanese and chemistry, I have been exposed to some great opportunities and will likely try to spend time doing organic chemistry research in Japan during my graduate studies. Likewise, as I turn my interests toward a career in research and academia, I have found my coursework in departments like History, Sociology, and Science in Human Culture have really provided me with an understanding of the technological, scientific, and academic context that I will be engaging in as I continue through my career.

Do you have a favorite or transformative Weinberg College course you took? Or a professor that taught you?

My favorite professor in Weinberg College has to be Dr. Luke Flores. I learned a lot
about research methods and science education but also I learned a lot about the “hidden curriculum” of academia and setting expectations for myself. His mentorship and the lessons he taught me have really stuck with me, and I hope I can pass that to others when they need the support.

What advice would you give to your freshman self?

Focus on the next 4 hours, 4 days, and 4 weeks. If you can get through those, the 4 months and 4 years will work themselves out.

What advice would you give to future students?

Ask questions and keep track of topics and opportunities you find interesting but don’t get too caught up in “staying on track” or “following your 4 year plan.” 18-year-old me didn’t know what 22-year-old me wanted, so be open to change and trying new things.

What are your plans after you graduate?

I am headed to UC Berkeley to get my PhD in Chemistry with a focus on chemical biology and synthetic chemistry. My goal is to become a professor in the future where I can do research, teach, and spend time mentoring students, especially those underrepresented in and historically excluded from science.