Chemistry Ph.D. Candidate Mayra Vazquez-Nunez Selected for Prestigious National X-ray School at Argonne”

Chemistry Ph.D. candidate Mayra Vazquez-Nunez was selected as one of only 60 graduate students across North America to attend the 2025 National X-ray School at Argonne National Laboratory, a prestigious and fully funded program hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy. Representing MSU Chemistry at this elite training, she gained advanced experience in synchrotron-based X-ray techniques at Argonne’s world-renowned Advanced Photon Source, which expanded her expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication within the context of green chemistry. Her advisor, Dr. Vicky Montiel-Palma, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, praised her outstanding academic performance and collaborative spirit, noting that this accomplishment both strengthened MSU Chemistry’s NSF-funded research efforts and enhanced Vazquez-Nunez’s preparation for competitive postdoctoral opportunities.