Gardner-Webb Department of Natural Sciences’ Faculty Inspired Alumnus to Pursue Research and Teach

Dr. David Podgorski, ’07, Provides Educational Opportunities for Fellow GWU Alumni and Students

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Students in the Gardner-Webb Department of Natural Sciences benefit from an alumni network that enriches their education by giving them an insider’s view to graduate school and various careers. On a regular basis, alumni return to the GWU campus to share about their academic journey and profession. Among them is Dr. David Podgorski, ’07 chemistry, who teaches at the University of New Orleans in Louisiana (UNO). Not only does he talk about his own work, Podgorski readily accepts Gardner-Webb students for undergraduate research experiences and has mentored alumni who are pursuing doctoral degrees.

Podgorski offers guidance to younger students to show his appreciation to GWU chemistry professors, Drs. Ben Brooks, Stefka Eddins and Venita Totten. “I owe them a debt that I could never pay,” Podgorski affirmed. “I would not be where I am without them, and I do not mean that figuratively either. They encouraged me to switch my major to chemistry, guided me to graduate school, and had me prepared for graduate school from day one. I was so well prepared that I was the first Ph.D. graduate from my cohort. I feel like I can give back right now by providing GWU students with opportunities and guidance.”

After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Gardner-Webb University, he completed his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry in 2011 at Florida State University (FSU) under William T. Cooper. Podgorski said the practical lessons Gardner-Webb professors taught him about graduate study—how to handle the workload, how to choose an advisor, how to conduct long-term research projects—were the secret not only to his getting accepted, but to his finishing his doctorate in just four years.

Because of his own experience, Podgorski knows the students from Gardner-Webb will be prepared for research and graduate school. He noted, “We see a lot of incoming students who are not prepared and drop out of the program. I can be confident that the student they recommend will be strong.”

One of those students, senior chemistry major Hunter Lee, is working with Podgorski this summer in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at UNO. The competitive program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, and Lee is working at the Advanced Materials Research Institute. His study included traveling with Podgorski and his graduate student to conduct field work in Minnesota.  

“Dr. Podgorski is easy to get along with, always willing to help with issues in the lab, and open to conversation or questions I’ve had about the research or graduate school, and so has the director of The Advanced Materials Research Institute, Dr. John Wiley,” Lee acknowledged. “This has been a very welcoming and informative experience.”

Lee said the team examined light crude oil and its pathways in water. “In Bemidji, Minnesota, there was a spill some years ago and the oil degraded and found its way into the groundwater,” he related. “The oil’s degradation made it readily mix with the water and carry harmful pollutants through the water table. We’re looking at that degradation over time and collected samples from the groundwater location in Bemidji.”

Podgorski challenges interns and students to pursue excellence. “I want students to know that, if they’re willing to work hard, they can accomplish something tremendous,” he asserted.

In addition to Lee, Ginny Merrill, ’23 GWU chemistry alumna, is a graduate assistant under the supervision of Podgorski pursuing her doctorate in chemistry at UNO, and Yuri Kurerov, a ’19 GWU biology alumnus, received his Ph.D. in chemistry from UNO in December 2024 and is now employed as a senior chemist at Ellipse Analytics in Denver, Colo. Previously, Dr. Jacob Walley, a ’17 Gardner-Webb chemistry alumnus, was an intern with Podgorski when he worked at FSU in the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. They conducted experiments on Deepwater Horizon, the largest marine oil spill in history.

Walley’s undergraduate experience prepared him for the Ph.D. program in chemistry at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. While working with Professor Robert Gilliard, Walley’s research focused on using novel synthetic methods to access highly reactive organometallic molecules featuring main-group elements. During his time as a graduate student, he co-authored more than 14 scientific publications including an independently written article for the Encyclopedia of Inorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry. He was awarded the American Chemical Society’s prestigious Division of Inorganic Chemistry Young Investigator’s Award.

Now, Walley is a patent agent with Fox Rothschild LLP in Washington, D.C. He assists in the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications as well as assists in patentability, validity, infringement, freedom-to-operate analyses, and in the preparation of invalidity/non-infringement opinions.

Merrill, the most recent GWU alumna at UNO, chose to join Podgorski’s research group because his work aligned with her interests. “The best part was that I could research under a fellow GWU graduate!” she noted. “With encouragement from my undergraduate professors and the chance to be mentored by someone from GWU, the decision to attend UNO was both exciting and natural.”

She expects to complete her Ph.D. in three years and appreciates Podgorski’s knowledge and teaching abilities. “He offers a great balance of mentorship and independence, allowing me to grow as a researcher,” Merrill described. “His approach is reminiscent of my professors at GWU—encouraging critical thinking, independent problem-solving, and maintaining high standards. Like them, he is deeply invested in student success. The parallels between his mentorship style and the support I received at GWU have made my graduate experience even more meaningful.”

And, like Podgorski, Merrill credits the professors at Gardner-Webb with equipping her for graduate school by providing a strong foundation of hands-on experiences and academic expectations. “I participated in the Summer Scholars Program in 2021, conducting interdisciplinary research and working closely with faculty,” she related. “These opportunities enhanced my leadership skills and provided early exposure to advanced instrumentation—something I now realize is uncommon at the undergraduate level. The rigorous training and mentorship at GWU helped me transition smoothly into graduate-level research, teaching, and mentoring roles. I am especially grateful for the support and guidance I received from the (GWU) chemistry department.”

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