Heather Barnett

Undergraduate student
Chemistry and Cognitive Sciences major
Brown College
Graduation Date: May 2008

Relationships and learning are paramount motivators for Heather Barnett. It was Rice University that met her criteria for a small school with outstanding academics. She credits the college system and campus life as ultimately clinching her decision to leave her hometown of Austin and begin her bachelor studies in chemistry and cognitive sciences at Rice.

Barnett explains the most surprising thing she has found on campus is the “variety and uniqueness of people here—in a place where everyone is motivated, works hard and knows a lot. I am always amazed by all the different and wonderful things everyone is doing.”

Nobel laureate Robert Curl is included in her list of distinguished professors and mentors at Rice. Barnett’s current research projects include construction and testing of a four-channel wide-field fluorescence imager for biological applications. She also enjoys extracurricular clubs and activities such as the Owlchemy, Best Buddies and Brown Fellows.

When this undergraduate is not in the classroom or lab, you will find her with friends having lunch at the park, or at their favorite sandwich shop, or visiting the Houston Zoo nearby. Her coolest summer job has been teaching English in a rural village in Guatemala. But no matter where she is, Barnett finds that the people around her are her greatest source of inspiration.

Who knew that she was on the debate team in high school? That might help explain why www.wikipedia.com is her favorite website.

As she approaches her May graduation, Barnett is anticipating medical school and dreams of being a world traveler.