ChemE Student Taylor Daniels Receives AIChE Donald F. & Mildred Topp Othmer Scholarship

PITTSBURGH (Nov. 9, 2020) — Taylor Daniels, a senior studying chemical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, has received the prestigious 2019-2020 Donald F. & Mildred Topp Othmer Scholarship.

The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to 15 AIChE student members annually based on their academic achievement and involvement in student chapter activities.

“I am so honored to have received the 2020 Donald F. & Mildred Topp Othmer Scholarship from AIChE and am excited to attend my first AIChE Annual Student Conference this month to virtually receive my award,” said Daniels. “I hope to continue my involvement in AIChE as I begin my career by continuing to attend conferences, building my professional network through AIChE, and also taking advantage of training and continuing education credits.”

Daniels joined Pitt AIChE in her sophomore year and became the chapter’s Vice President of Internal Affairs in 2019.

“My involvement in Pitt AIChE has allowed me to build my network among undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty and staff within the Chemical Engineering Department,” noted Daniels. “Being VP of Internal Affairs last year, I was able to grow my leadership skills and also utilize my knowledge and experience from other leadership positions on Pitt’s campus to help AIChE succeed throughout the year.”

In addition to her work with Pitt AIChE, Daniels was involved in several other student organizations, including the Society of Women Engineers, Omega Chi Epsilon Chemical Engineering Honor Society, and the Sigma Tau Delta sorority.

In the summer 2019 semester, Daniels worked in the Lubrizol Process Intensification Lab with Goetz Veser, professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at Pitt. She completed a co-op rotation with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. and an internship with Williams, a midstream natural gas company in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

After she graduates this semester, Daniels will start her career with Williams in their Engineering Development Program, where she will rotate through three year-long positions, beginning with a facility engineering role within the Ohio River Supply Hub Technical Services Organization.

“I’m so impressed and proud of Taylor’s accomplishments in her time at Pitt and know she is headed for great success in her career,” said Taryn Bayles, vice chair of undergraduate education and professor of chemical and petroleum engineering and Pitt AIChE faculty advisor. “She continues to be an excellent representative for the Swanson School, and this recognition is well-deserved.”

The award will be presented virtually at the AIChE Annual Student Conference on Sunday, Nov. 15.