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Robert Wandell
By FSU Student Spotlights
Robert Wandell has always had an interest in science.
Growing up, he would take apart anything mechanical that
his parents threw away to find out how it worked.
At Florida State University, Wandell — a chemical engineering
major — has been able to realize the depth of his scientific
curiosity by conducting undergraduate research under the
direction of two Florida State professors.
Originally, Wandell declared his major to be exercise science.
However, he began to rethink this choice while taking a class
in organic chemistry.
Robert Wandell , B.S, Chemical Engineering
“Organic chemistry taught me how the fundamental
building blocks of life are organized and interact,” Wandell
said. “I realized for the first time that chemistry could be a career path in which I could both excel and enjoy.”
Wandell took another step toward chemical engineering with his first research opportunity studying organic chemistry in the
laboratory of Lei Zhu, an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry.
“Dr. Zhu gave me the incredible o