Amy Semratedu--The Semratedu Undergraduate Research Fund

“I was a steward of the environment before it was cool,” said the Dalton, Ga., native and 1992 geology and anthropology graduate. “Even though this career was not where the money was, I chose to stick with it, because it was interesting to me. Most people during that time were going into academics. Now, however, the department has grown and companies need more undergraduates in these fields,” she said.

Her life-changing experiences during undergraduate field trips were the building blocks that led to her successful career in the industrial minerals and chemicals industry, and she was motivated to launch the Semratedu Undergraduate Research Fund in memory of her late husband Ahmet.

“I wanted to do something that would have the fastest impact for students,” she said, remembering that her own professors often paid for students’ gas money to travel to sites. “This fund is a vehicle for the undergrad to go on field trips and complete thesis work – it will help them afford to travel. It is necessary to get hands-on experience while you are working toward a degree,” she said.

Through the establishment of this fund, the future of undergraduate research in this department has been impacted for years to come, and the first recipients will be announced this fall. Semratedu’s employer, BASF Functional Polymers Carpet Business in Dalton, generously matched her $5,000 donation to establish the fund.

Semratedu’s position at BASF includes researching and formulating latex adhesives for carpet backing, improving the sustainability and recyclability of carpet backing systems as well as researching renewable energy trends – focusing on recycling and reusing mineral materials such as kaolin, glass, ash or other minerals to increase post-consumer content in carpet. “At BASF, sustainability is part of my job. Our company has strategic guidelines to ensure we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. We recognize that sustainability is vital to our long-term success,” said Semratedu.

“Amy is an excellent ambassador for green technology,” said Kelly Vance, one of Semratedu’s former professors. “People like Amy are vital in securing and utilizing the essential raw materials that are a major part of your home, car, cell phones and computers and even the paper you write on. She arranged to have our GeoClub students work with mining industry personnel at a National Science Teachers Association meeting in Atlanta distributing free samples of minerals and rocks to science teachers as well as literature and VCR tapes on the use of industrial minerals,” he said. The University’s geology students have also benefitted from field trips arranged by Semratedu to Thiele’s kaolin mines, labs and processing facilities.

“If it wasn’t for the field trips arranged by Dr. Vance, I wouldn’t have known about some of these companies,” she said.
The University continues to put Semratedu’s expertise to work as a member of the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology Advisory Board. The primary goal of the board is to improve campus sustainability with the future construction of the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building and Semratedu’s involvement will also extend to the development of science curricula for a possible class on the topic of green chemistry.

Semratedu has no plans to slow down on ways to assist students at the University. She encourages them to take advantage of field trips, lectures and other opportunities, because they will be able to graduate with applicable experience that companies are searching for.

“You have to manage your own career and be diversified and adaptable. I’m a jack of all trades,” she said.