University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Mason Bayles was recently selected to become the American Chemical Society’s undergraduate liaison after attending the 2024 Leadership Institute.
The 19-year-old Jacksonville, Alabama, native, double majoring in chemistry and immunology, serves as the president of the UAB Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society. Selected from a pool of applicants, Bayles was first chosen to attend the 2024 ACS Leadership Institute, an annual conference hosted at the end of January where ACS leaders are invited to come together to learn both management and leadership skills to enable them to be successful leaders within the ACS and scientific community.
“It was a fantastic experience,” the honors college member said. “I was able to network with many chemistry professionals and was exposed to many different possibilities for my future after graduation in this field relating to specific jobs, universities and other unique opportunities.”
“The UAB faculty in Chemistry have truly helped me flourish this far in my collegiate career,” Bayles said. “Dr. Velu, Dr. Nikles, Dr. March and Dr. Tucker have all been very influential to me as an undergraduate student, and I wouldn’t have this opportunity without them.”
While at the conference, Bayles was selected to become the 2024 ACS undergraduate liaison, a prestigious position awarded to only one undergraduate student affiliate annually. Bayles says he looks forward to serving the undergraduate students at UAB as well as improving the experience and opportunities of the student affiliates in Alabama and across the nation.
“UAB has helped develop me into a successful student leader through the lessons I’ve learned as an undergraduate researcher and in my courses,” Bayles said. “My UAB experience thus far has been very beneficial to my time management skills, something that will greatly help me in this role as undergraduate liaison as well as with any role or opportunity I receive in the future.”
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit scientific organization committed to the development of chemistry professionals through the fostering of an academic community.