ASU grad is celebrated as the School of Molecular Sciences' first online Dean’s Medalist

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2024 graduates.

Laura Berzinas is by all accounts a true Renaissance woman. She was an English major at Columbia College with a double concentration in literature and creative writing — and, now, she is about to graduate from Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences with a BSc in biochemistry and the Dean’s Medal.

Berzinas joined the online program in biochemistry at ASU through the Starbucks-ASU partnership, which provides Starbucks employees with opportunities to obtain a degree.

As Berzinas explains, “After taking some time off from pursuing an English degree, I started working in brewpubs and breweries. Talking to brewmasters about their methods sparked an interest in chemistry.”

One particular brewmaster she encountered was really passionate about making his production more sustainable. After many conversations about regenerative farming, recycling gray water and other sustainability measures, Berzinas decided that she wanted to be able to understand everything happening on the molecular scale in order to pursue innovations that could drive sustainability on a macro level.

“As I pursued biochem, my interests rooted deeper in biochem and environmental chemistry rather than fermentation,” explains Berzinas.

“Laura took my BCH 341 course, Physical Chemistry with a Biological Focus,” explains Judith Klein-Seetharaman, professor in both the School of Molecular Sciences and the College of Health Solutions.

“This is an online course with approximately 100 students. Laura stood out from the beginning; she has taken every opportunity to demonstrate her enthusiasm and participation in the course, even for activities that are voluntary, such as participation in office hours, posting in discussion forums and a map where students could explore each other’s locations.”

“I have found her to be a hard-working, enthusiastic, conscientious and intelligent student. My course involves asynchronous coursework with homework, exams, required discussion posts and optional weekly meetings through Zoom. A large fraction of the course work is not required, called 'challenges' and 'quizzes.' Again, Laura completed all of those activities although they were not required.”

In the below Q&A, Berzinas elaborates on her ASU journey and what she has learned along the way.

Note: Answers have been edited lightly for length and/or clarity.

Question: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?

Answer: Learning biochemistry itself has changed my perspective. Breaking everything down into such small pieces and processes shifted the way I view many things in life. I’ve found it grounding to know that when most things are brought down to their smallest parts, they’re actually quite simple, and anything that appears more complex is just yet to be fully understood. It helps to know that even when life feels chaotic, chemistry carries on — pragmatic and unrelenting.

Q: Why did you choose ASU?

A: I started with ASU through the Starbucks program. I eventually left Starbucks to pursue other jobs, but I decided to stay at ASU because of the extensive online program.

I’ve been through many online programs with a number of different universities, and I can honestly say ASU has been the best experience. ASU found a way to build amazing programs online that foster community, provide a plethora of opportunities for internships and research, and offer truly engaging coursework. Staying with ASU gave me the opportunity to benefit from everything the university has to offer while still being able to work to support myself.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: I have been so lucky to have encountered a number of amazing educators throughout my life. I’ve found that the best educators I know are those who truly and openly care about their students’ success, whether that is accepting feedback about coursework, making accommodations for struggling students or merely providing a supportive environment. I believe that success and excellence are fostered, not innate.

The educators who have taught me the most, both within the structure of coursework as well as about individual potential, have been those who cultivated greatness in their students. At ASU, Judith Klein-Seetharaman is this exact kind of professor. When I took Physical Chemistry with her, she noticed when her students struggled and adjusted curriculum to ensure we all succeeded. She was not only welcoming but encouraging when students approached her about letters of recommendation and internship opportunities. She represents an important mindset in both science and academia: that fostering greatness among learners cultivates prowess in experts.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: Persevere! There are so many graduates who didn’t have a typical or traditional path to graduation. Center yourself and your well-being in the decisions you make, and remember that no one will view your degree differently whether it took you four years or 14 years to get it done. Avoid burning out before you even have a chance to pursue opportunities after graduation. As someone who has needed to hear this advice as much as I now give it, reveling in the process instead of focusing on the future has helped me. I constantly re-centered myself in my current coursework and found small moments of wonder or gratitude where I could.

Follow the obscure rabbit holes you find while studying and researching. Take a moment to recognize yourself for how far you've come; take stock in all those who have helped you achieve everything you have so far. Take moments to recognize your now, even while you work towards your then. Billy Joel put it perfectly: "You can't be everything you want to be before your time." It is so important to continue the pursuit of your goals; it is equally as important to enjoy your present and appreciate your past. Your ambitions are admirable, but so are your accomplishments.

Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?

A: Throughout all the years it has taken me to complete my studies at ASU, there has been one constant: Naysayer Coffee Roasters in Napa, California. Their time and place were once ever-changing, but recently they graduated from pop-up shops to well-established brick-and-mortar. It has been so fun to watch such a wonderful couple grow their business while I selfishly enjoy the benefits of all their marvelous settings. From boutique winery greenhouses to upbeat taproom-deli-grocer, each space has offered consistently outstanding coffee, exceptional Wi-Fi, and obviously the best humans from whom one could hope to receive caffeine.

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: The culmination of my graduation has been a bit of whirlwind. After interning in a QA laboratory for a historic Napa winery, owned by an international wine conglomerate, I was offered a full-time position as their wine chemist. Shortly after accepting the offer, I received an email from ASU with a personalized graduate admissions offer. So, I will be working as a wine chemist until August 2025, when I will return to ASU to pursue a MSc in biochemistry.  

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: This has admittedly been the most difficult question to answer. $40 million is a lot of money, but to solve a planetary problem, it is a tight budget. I am passionate about so many sustainability projects and environmental initiatives. I crave a world that centers efficiency and environment, divests from petroleum, and invests in biodiversity. The two seemingly separate projects that come to mind are investing in public transportation, like high-speed railways (specifically in the U.S.), and building wildlife corridors. I say seemingly because $40 million invested in shifting the United States from multilane highways to high-speed railways would free up land from both roads and parking lots that could then be used to invest in wildlife corridors.

While $40 million is not nearly enough to fully solve a single planetary problem, it can begin a single project from which a multitude of resources can be freed from something that is environmentally and infrastructurally detrimental. Nationally, I would begin with efficient public transportation; globally, I would concentrate on wildlife corridors to protect the biodiversity we have remaining. That’s just the land. Don’t get me started on the oceans, because $40 million is but a mere drop.