Student News
Sean Tacey
By Monika Amar
Sean Tacey has dreamed of the boundless knowledge that
awaits him in the world of science since he first set eyes on
a Bunsen burner in his high school chemistry class. Some
may describe the Florida State University senior as a prodigy.
He has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average as a
chemical engineering major — with minors in chemistry
and mathematics — and belongs to the university’s Honors
Program.
Tacey most enjoys problem-solving classes that force
him to think outside the box. At FSU, he favored organic
chemistry, taught by Mark L. Kearley, an honors lecturer
in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and
thermodynamics taught by John C. Telotte, an associate
professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical
Engineering.
Sean Tacey, B.S., Chemical Engineering
“There is no question that Sean is an impressive student,” Kearley said. “I have taught college chemistry for 20 years and I
would say that Sean is among the top 10 students that I have ever taught. Sean is a uniquely talented young man and I fully
expect him to excel as a researcher.”
Tacey has received recognition for his record of academic achievement, earning the Undergraduate Research and Creative
Activities Award scholarship to pursue research over the summer 2013 semester. With the aid of the scholarship, Tacey is
conducting research into the continuous enzymatic process for biomass conversion to energy.
“My role involves breaking cellulose into glucose to ferment it and produce biofuels,” Tacey said. “I’m studying the miniscule
reactions of enzymatic hydrolysis on cellulose to learn what promotes reactions and what demotes reactions.”
Tacey works alongside Subramanian Ramakrishnan, the head of the Complex Fluids and Nanomaterials Research Group at
the Florida A&M University-FSU College of Engineering. Ramakrishnan is associate professor in the Department of Chemical
and Biomedical Engineering.
“Tacey is intelligent, hardworking and, most importantly, shows the curiosity and interest to learn new things,” Ramakrishnan
said. “He was clearly the best student in the two classes I have taught and has the potential to become a good scientist and
engineer. I look forward to working with him on the project.”
Tacey hopes continue this research until graduation and plans to present his findings for the Honors in the Major Program.
In addition to being an exemplary scholar and researcher, Tacey is an accomplished musician. During his first two years at
Florida State, he devoted hundreds of hours to rehearsing and performing tuba with the world-renowned Marching Chiefs,
the marching band at FSU. His junior year, Tacey transitioned to Seminole Sound, the Athletics pep band.
“I’m most proud of my time in the Marching Chiefs,” Tacey said. “It