Patented success

Rebecca L. Harker '07 plans to balance her interest in law and chemistry.

August 29, 2006

Rebecca Harker ’07 discusses her research during a poster session at the 231st national meeting of the American Chemical Society in March in Atlanta.

As a chemist, an athlete and a student, Rebecca L. Harker '07 works hard to balance her schedule, which will serve her well as she moves toward her goal of becoming a patent attorney for a pharmaceutical company.

By the time she graduates in May, this chemistry major will have spent two summers and two spring semesters working with Associate Professor of Chemistry R. David Crouch studying the Suzuki-Miyaura reactions of potassium phenyltrifluoroborate. Her work is a small part of a larger study that Crouch is researching on redesign of a known molecule that aids in bladder control.

"I've been putting data together. Hopefully, it'll get published," Harker says.

A policy-studies class during her sophomore year sparked Harker's interest in law and, ever since, she has wanted to merge law and chemistry.

While the two areas may seem disparate, Harker sees the connections. As a patent attorney, she will review a lot of research in the chemical literature. For example, she will check whether a new drug infringes on another company's patent. She also may go to court on science-related issues-"at the right firm, you can do both."

This fall Harker will move forward with her law plans by interning at the Dauphin County Courthouse with Common Pleas Judge John Cherry, who also is an adjunct faculty member in policy studies.

In addition, she is taking the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) this fall with plans to get an advanced degree in chemistry.

This commitment to science and excellence has been recognized beyond Dickinson. This spring she was chosen from a pool of 1,000 mathematics, science and engineering undergraduates, many from larger research universities, to receive one of 323 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation scholarships, which will cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to $7,500.

As with her career plans, Harker has worked to create balance in her college life. She has been active as a member of the field hockey team—a challenge, since she tore her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 2005, was injured in a pedestrian accident in May and most recently injured her right ACL during a pick-up field hockey game.

Still she hopes to stay involved-during her last ACL injury, the hockey standout worked as a student coach. "Everyone on the team has been supportive," she adds.

Despite these disappointments, Harker remains upbeat, which Crouch says is a good attitude to have as a chemist.

He explains that "a lot of failure is involved" in chemistry, pointing out that scientists often set up and complete numerous experiments before they find the one that works.

Harker also is a member of Delta Nu sorority, which has given her the opportunity to meet a lot of women with varied interests. Just as important, she has had the chance to be a part of the sorority's service work, from babysitting at the Safe Harbor shelter to helping at the Project SHARE food bank.

With this full plate, the senior still finds time for Gamma Sigma Epsilon, the chemistry honor society. And with her trademark enthusiasm and her need to be busy, Harker is working with others to make that society "cool."