Carolyn Telfer Receives Peter Gold Award

The Department of Chemistry is pleased to announce that Carolyn Telfer has been named the 2021 recipient of the department’s Peter Gold Award.

Students who transfer to the University Park campus from Commonwealth Campuses are an important part of the chemistry community. The Peter Gold Award was created to recognize the important contributions these students make to the department and to celebrate their academic success. Established in the memory of the late Dr. L. Peter Gold—a beloved long-time member of the chemistry faculty—the award is presented to transfer students with records of outstanding academic success who have also provided outstanding service to the chemistry community.

Telfer, who is a junior chemistry major, transferred to University Park from Penn State’s Altoona campus. While studying at Penn State Altoona, she conducted research with Associate Professor Corien Bakermans. Under her direction, Telfer presented a pilot study at three conferences and earned a third place award in poster presentations at the University Research and Creative Activities Fair. 

After transferring to University Park, Telfer began conducting research with the Bollinger group—led by Professor of Chemistry and of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Martin Bollinger. For her work in the Bollinger group, she was awarded the Erickson Discovery Grant for a hypothesis on discovering a brand new biochemical mechanism. 

Outside of the lab, she plans to serve as a Learning Assistant for CHEM 227 and PSU 016 in fall 2021. She was also elected as the secretary of the Nittany Chemical Society for the 2021-2022 academic year.  

Please join the Department of Chemistry in celebrating the contributions transfer students bring to University Park.