Cecilia Hernandez
Inorganic Chemist / Public Speaker
PhD Candidate at University of Central Florida (Fall 2025) Student Researcher at Rollins College (2021-2025) Guest speaker (Rollins College Celebration of Scholarship, University of Central Florida Knights Write Showcase, SACNAS NDiSTEM 2025 for Navigating Disabilities in STEM panel)
As an Inorganic Chemist, I spent a lot of time in the lab "putting the puzzle pieces" together. This means I try multiple different methods to get more information (or "clues") on what I'm researching. After looking at these "clues," I can learn what to do next to create the final product. An important part of being a chemist is sharing what I know with others. Strong public speaking skills are needed. Thanks to these skills, I am able to travel and give speeches on what I know in STEM and in my research.
I love seeing everything come together in the lab! From the first step to the last, everything in chemistry is a journey. Just like painting a picture, I get to put these little details together until I can fully describe it.
Every day as a chemist is different! Some days I am in the lab, testing samples and gathering information. Other days, I look at all the data I collected and "paint a picture" on what it means. This involves a lot of writing, where I need to explain what I know to others while making it easy to understand.
I went to Rollins College and earned a Bachelor's of Science degree with a Chemistry major and English minor. During this time, I performed research with my advisor to get hands-on experience in the lab. I also interned at the University of Central Florida to get more research experience in Inorganic Chemistry. During this time, I became an American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholar, ACS Leader, and earned other certifications. Now, I am working toward my PhD at the University of Central Florida. This means doing more research in the lab while also learning more about inorganic chemistry overall.
In the future, I want to continue speaking about my experiences and research. It brings me joy to connect with others while doing what I love.
Outside of work, I like painting and writing stories to share with others.
"Science isn't about why; it's about why not." ~ Dr. Stone, Season 1, Episode 1 Japanese Manga series