GSU chemistry student accepted into top Doctoral program

Ravikiran Yerabolu came to the United States from India to study analytical chemistry at Governors State University.  As a result of his hard work and the academic excellence he displayed while at GSU, Yerabolu has been admitted to one of the most highly ranked Analytical Chemistry programs in the world.

Beginning in the fall of 2013, Yerabolu will pursue his Doctorate in Analytical Chemistry at Purdue University.  According to US News and World Reports 2010 rankings, Purdue's Analytical Chemistry program was ranked the second-best school for Analytical Chemistry, behind the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. 

As part of his acceptance into the Analytical Chemistry program, Yerabolu will be the recipient of a substantial financial award from Purdue.  Yerabolu has been awarded a position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, which will pay him an approximately $23,000 stipend, as well as provide him with health insurance.  Furthermore, Yerabolu will receive $37,748 in tuition assistance. 

Acceptance into the Purdue Analytical Chemistry program is highly competitive.  According to Dr. Walter Henne, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at GSU, the program accepts only about 55-60 student per year.  Most of those students are from Illinois and Indiana, making it incredibly difficult for international students to be accepted into the program.  Graduate teaching assistant positions are even more difficult to come by.

"Due to competitive funding, some students attend programs that do not offer complete tuition waivers or are awarded stipends that do not completely cover living expenses," said Dr. Henne. "In Ravi's case, he will be receiving $23,000 per year as a stipend with excellent health/student wellness benefits and $37,000 in tuition costs ($60,000 per year for 5 years or $300,000 in overall benefits). Many students do not realize the tuition/stipend benefits that accompany acceptance into a top doctoral program. One can easily graduate debt free from these programs with a wage that allows the pursuit of personal interests, travel, etc."

Yerabolu's acceptance into Purdue's Analytical Program will allow him to pursue his life's passion. Upon receiving his Doctorate from Purdue, Yerabolu wants to begin a career working as a research scientist, in the area of mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis. Even as a child, Yerabolu always knew what he wanted to do with his life.

"When I was a child and someone asked me what I wanted to be, I always said I wanted to be a scientist," said Yerabolu.

Prior to coming to GSU to obtain his Masters in Analytical Chemistry, Yerabolu received his Bachelors in Pharmacy from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.  Yerabolu chose GSU because the university was one of the few American schools he found that specifically offered a program in analytical chemistry.  He also cited GSU's affordability as a factor in his decision to attend GSU.

"To be frank, most colleges have general chemistry, but only a few schools have Analytical Chemistry exclusively in their curriculum," said Yerabolu.

During his time at GSU, Yerabolu created a website for the school's Analytical Chemistry department.  The website, analyticalchemistrygsu.com, served as a valuable resource for other students in GSU's Analytical Chemistry department, as well as for Yerabolu himself.

"I was always interested in knowing the current updates in my field," said Yerabolu.  "I also wanted to generate the same kind of interest among the students of my department in GSU too. I also wanted to provide a handy access to many of the reference materials, articles and videos, all at one place."

Yerabolu is incredibly grateful that he was given the opportunity to study analytical chemistry at GSU.  He is especially appreciative for all that his professors have done for him over the years.

"Firstly, I would like to give my special thanks to Dr. Henne. Secondly, I would like to thank Dr. Addison, Dr. Fugiles, Dr. Darcy, and Dr. Piotr for supporting me and writing me letters of recommendation," said Yerabolu.

Dr. Henne, who formed a close relationship with Yerabolu during his time at GSU, thinks Yerabolu was an exceptional student whose passion for science was evident.

"Ravi was an exceptional student in the classroom," said Dr. Henne. "He really cared for his fellow classmates in the program and he was so happy that GSU had given him the opportunity to study in the US."