“I am very excited and honored to be the first female engineering PhD graduate, and I hope there are many more female students to follow.”  – Elyse Baroncini

Elyse Baroncini has become the first woman (and first chemical engineering major) to successfully defend a PhD dissertation at the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. (She’s also the 4th graduate in this PhD program.) Her research on polymer electrolytes has the potential to improve materials used in lithium-ion batteries.

When asked what advice she would give to girls interested in pursuing careers in science, Baroncini says: “My advice to young women is to reach out and take advantage of any and all opportunities that present themselves. Even if you have doubts about being the ‘perfect’ candidate for a job position, internship or college application, it never hurts to reach out and apply.”

In 2017, Baroncini was awarded a Department of Defense SMART scholarship, which provides her employment with the U.S. Army in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland upon graduation.

“I’m very excited to begin work with the U.S. Army to help engineer solutions for problems facing our world today,” says Baroncini.