Nehemiah Antoine was the recipient of the Outstanding Senior Award and the Service Award at the Department of Chemistry and Physics awards banquet. Photo by Angela Foster.
Nehemiah Antoine’s four-page resume is filled top to bottom with his chemistry-related endeavors.
As he graduates from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Saturday, May 4, with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Antoine—also a member of the Innovations in Honors program in the Honors College—reflects on his UTC experience.
A Ringgold, Georgia, native, Antoine chose UTC because of his love for the city, he said.
His original plan was biology and eventually medical school.
“I’m not saying I don’t like talking to people, don’t get me wrong,” Antoine said. “After doing research and taking more chemistry courses here, I found I actually have a very strong passion for chemistry more than anything else.”
Still wanting to incorporate his interest in medicine, Antoine focused much of his research on medicinal chemistry.
“I was always fascinated by the human body and ways to improve it,” he said, “so I wanted to tailor my love for medicine along with my love for chemistry.
“I’m interested in the chemistry of drugs. I want to improve the drugs that are out there in the market and make them better and maybe even cure some diseases.”
As the resume proves, Antoine’s experience in academia is extensive.
On top of his work as a research student, which involved performing organic synthesis, analyzing data using techniques such as X-ray crystallography and using chemistry software, Antoine worked as a work-study student and lab assistant in the Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Science.
“It was a nice balance between working, as the name implies, and studying and doing what I need to be doing to go forward in my major,” he said.
Antoine is also a twice-published researcher, which is something Dr. Keenan Dungey, head of the UTC Department of Chemistry and Physics and professor of chemistry, called “very impressive” for an undergraduate student.
Antoine’s undergraduate departmental honors thesis is included in those publications, which he finished as a junior—another exemplary feat, according to Dungey.
“I didn’t think I was going to get publications as an undergrad,” Antoine said. “I thought that was more expected for graduate students. But really, it’s because of my professor. My research professor pushed me to work hard and accomplish a lot.”
“I was always fascinated by the human body and ways to improve it,” Nehemiah Antoine said, “so I wanted to tailor my love for medicine along with my love for chemistry.
Part of Antoine’s research process is presenting his findings at various conferences, including the 2023 Posters at the Capitol in Nashville, the Southeastern Regional American Chemical Society Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and most recently—the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Long Beach, California.
“People presented their research from all across the nation and I got to be a part of that,” he said. “It was really nice.”
In Dungey’s chemistry seminar class, researchers from all areas of chemistry came to speak with his students. He said Antoine had no problem interacting with the speakers and always asked thoughtful questions.
“I mean, no undergrad can usually do that,” Dungey said. “It’s even a challenge for us faculty with our specializations. ‘Can I understand it enough to ask an intelligent question?’ I personally challenge myself and I try to do that.
“Nehemiah does that. He will ask an intelligent question; it doesn’t matter what the field is.”
During the summer of 2022, Antoine received the UC Foundation’s Tom Rybolt and Richard X. Zhang Endowed Undergraduate Research in Chemistry Scholarship. Coincidentally, Richard Zhang, who earned bachelor’s degrees in accounting, chemistry and economics from UTC in 1992, will give the graduation charge to Antoine’s graduating class.
According to Dungey, Antoine was the first Rybolt/Zhang scholar.
On top of all the research, Antoine also worked as a teacher’s assistant for labs such as organic chemistry and quantitative analysis.
He is also the president of the chemistry club, which involves orchestrating meetings, events and activities for the organization.
Nehemiah Antoine
At first, Antoine worried that he would be overwhelmed with club responsibilities, but he quickly came to love the position.
“I decided to take the challenge and accept the position anyway,” he said. “At first, I struggled a bit with just trying to get my point across, but then I started to get a bit more confident with talking with people. Being the president gives me an opportunity to come out of my shell.”
Dungey said that Antoine has pushed the chemistry club to do more than it has in recent years. As part of his club president responsibilities, he had to present a speech at the lab coat ceremony for sophomore chemistry majors.
“He said, ‘Our mission is to share the love of chemistry with the community,’ and I was like, ‘I couldn’t have written a better speech,’” Dungey said. “He’s authentic; he really believes that.”
Though Antoine is humble about his achievements, Dungey didn’t hesitate to brag.
“He gets straight A’s in class with hard curriculum,” Dungey said, “and yet he’s still positive, friendly, giving and works well with others. He almost swept all of our senior awards at our awards banquet.”
One was the Outstanding Senior Award, which Antoine said he is most proud of.
“I thought that one was probably the best I’ve ever received,” he said. “Not only do you need to make really good grades in chemistry, but you also have to be very involved in the department.
“I believe this award really does represent the fact that grades are only half the battle. There are also many other things you could do with your major and to show your love for it.”
Antoine also received the Service Award, which he said he does not take lightly.
“I love making connections with the students I work with in the lab. I just love seeing them succeed and going to do whatever it is they want to do,” he said.
Next in his academic adventures, Antoine will take his hard work to the University of Alabama, where he will work towards a doctoral degree in inorganic medicinal chemistry.
The message he would give his freshman self is simple: Be open.
“I did not even know I was going to probably become a medicinal chemist when I was coming into college,” he said. “It goes to show that there are so many things out there and I would like to encourage my past self to just ask questions and try new things. You will never know unless you try.”
On top of academic diligence, Dungey said Antoine’s kindness helped him stand out.
“That’s who he is,” Dungey said. “He’s always the most positive person. If I ever need a boost to feel good, I just say ‘Hi’ to Nehemiah.”
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