When Julia Chen, a junior Schreyer Scholar studying materials science and engineering, first joined the Penn State glass research group, she thought she’d have the opportunity to learn a bit about the industry, receive mentorship from experts in the field and learn the art of glassblowing. Little did she know that she’d end up helping to lead research that could make a global impact. 

Through the College of Engineering’s Multi-campus Research Experience for Undergraduates program this past summer, Chen was hired by world-renowned expert John Mauro, the Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State. On her first day in Mauro’s lab at the University Park campus, Chen was assigned to work with LionGlass, a new phosphate-based material that is 10 times more damage resistant than the traditional soda lime silicate glass used in everyday household items. It also requires significantly less energy to produce, with the potential to cut the carbon footprint of glass manufacturing in half. 

“I’ll admit that I went into this internship because I saw that you could blow glass and I was interested in getting to know that skill,” Chen said. “And then, all of the sudden, I was dropped into this project that was at the cutting edge of innovation.” 

With little experience working with non-organic materials, Chen jumped headfirst into her new role. 

“I came in the first day for training, and we were already pouring glass, she said. “I had never done that in my life. But I suited up, put on my mask and gloves and began the hands-on learning of pouring.”  

Soon, Chen was on the forefront of testing the limits of LionGlass to see how it could be used in the real world. With approximately 30 companies interested in the product, she was tasked with leading experiments to test the material’s mechanical properties, such as hardness and crack resistance, and conducting chemical durability tests to observe how it dissolves in water over time. 

“For example, if I were trying to sell you a wine glass, would you be interested if I said ‘the viscosity is 3.72’? Or would you be more interested if I could tell you that the glass is at least 10 times more crack resistant than traditional glass?” Chen said. “My summer project was to find out the mechanical properties of LionGlass to set a good precedence and to have some data for additional companies who might become interested in the project.” 

Thanks in part to Chen’s work, the research team has advanced its discovery and taken the first steps to bring the product to market. Chen also recently joined her team to showcase their research to the University’s Board of Trustees; was accepted to Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College and will write her thesis on LionGlass; and is actively giving presentations on sustainability in industry at a variety of conferences this year.  

“Beyond her work in the lab, Julia also does an outstanding job communicating her research, which is every bit as important as the research itself,” Mauro said. “Penn State does an exceptional job giving undergraduate students the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research as part of our diverse and vibrant research community. Julia confidently jumped headfirst into that opportunity and has become a highly valued member of our glass research group.” 

Aside from honing skills and gaining prestige through her involvement with LionGlass, Chen said she recognizes the full scope of benefits she has obtained through her research experience. 

“At the very basic level, research helps you understand what you want to do in the future and to be able to explore different aspects of your major. But there are unspoken benefits as well, such as building networks and connections, and having a social aspect in talking with other undergraduates interested in your subject area,” she said. 

Failing forward 

Chen developed a love for science in her early years of high school, coincidentally after failing a chemistry exam. Her teacher offered her the chance to retake the test, and, through a second round of studying, Chen developed a deeper understanding of the material. She completed the second test with a passing grade and a newfound drive toward her future career. 

“That’s what really started my trajectory toward chemistry and science,” Chen said. 

When she began exploring colleges, she knew that she wanted a change of pace and a life experience away from the hustle and bustle of her hometown near Los Angeles. She chose Penn State, primarily for its science and engineering programs and its location across the country. Her first two years were spent at Penn State Berks, which was a complete change in environment from what she was used to. 

“In California, everything is always so hectic and you never see more than one tree at a time,” Chen said. “The Berks campus is very rural and almost like a forest … I wasn’t used to the calm and tranquility it offered. So, I started really involving myself and becoming as busy as possible.” 

At Berks, Chen got involved with several outreach programs, including Futures in Engineering Role-models Can Empower, or FiERCE, and the Penn State Educational Partnership Program. Through these experiences, she immersed herself in helping local middle and high school students learn about opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and assisting students with their college applications. 

“I think STEM education is such a powerful tool to be able to improve social mobility and to improve your life,” Chen said. “For me personally, when I was younger I never thought I could work in STEM because I didn’t see that representation. And for young people, especially women, to get involved is setting a precedent not only for equality of genders but for improvement of society as a whole. If we have more engineers, scientists and thinkers, there is an overall benefit. And I feel having a purpose through higher education can improve one’s quality of life.” 

Chen said she finds joy in mentoring the next generation of young scientists, something she wishes she would have experienced for herself when she was in high school.  

“I never had any kind of guidance in terms of STEM or higher education, or even someone older to talk to who is like a friend,” she said. “So, for me, becoming that friend, becoming the mentor, becoming someone that can help guide a young mind into something higher is very rewarding.” 

Finding life’s purpose 

Before transitioning to the University Park campus as part of Penn State’s 2+2 program, Chen studied chemistry and chemical engineering, and conducted research in various scientific fields. She ultimately landed in her current major, materials science and engineering.  

“There are so many different fields I can possibly work in,” Chen said. “Everything is a material — glass, fabric, polymers, metals, ceramics. I got involved in research early because I thought I might as well start somewhere to figure out what industry, or which material field, I might want to go into.” 

Following the completion of her summer internship program, Chen continues to work with LionGlass this fall thanks to support from a Student Engagement Network grant. She is currently leading experiments to add small amounts of iron to the various compositions that are under patent to test its effect on the material’s hardness, chemical durability and crack resistance. She is also being trained on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy -- a technique used to study a wide range of substances — to further test the properties of LionGlass.  

“Say an automotive company was interested in working with us to use LionGlass as their window shields, they will probably want to know how much light is reflected or refracted off the window,” Chen said. “The techniques I am learning now will help me to find the answer to that.” 

Chen also recently began a new paid internship at the Applied Research Laboratory’s Center for Innovative Materials Processing Through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D), where she is getting hands-on experience with a new material: metal.  

“I’m continuing to work on LionGlass, which I’m very passionate about, but I also need to pay my bills,” Chen said. “Dr. Mauro recommended me for the position at ARL, and I’m now getting the best of both worlds. I’m earning money to pay my tuition and I’m exploring a new branch of material science that I didn’t think I’d get into.” 

After graduation, Chen has her professional sights set on attending graduate school and one day working as a professor, aiming to begin her own outreach programs through her work. She also said she hopes to build on the connections she’s made through her research to help strengthen the glass industry. 

“There’s no glory working in glass, and I want to help change that,” she said. 

In addition to her research and academics, Chen is passionate about volunteering. She is involved with Penn State’s Circle K, is in the process of joining the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and serves as an undergraduate research ambassador. She also finds time to pursue other interests, including dance. Having been a dancer for nearly nine years, Chen and a friend started a Korean pop (K-pop) music dance club at Berks. She joined a similar K-pop group at University Park, and teaches dance classes on the side. 

“When I was younger I wanted to be a dancer, so I started learning it and it was a big passion of mine,” Chen said. “But now I think I like science a little bit more.” 

Chen’s overall Penn State experience, enriched by educational, research and extracurricular opportunities, has helped her to become a well-rounded student positioned for a strong future. 

“Receiving a higher education is worth it, because it’s not just the curriculum that you’re learning,” she said. “You’re also learning personal skills, you’re learning how to interact with people and build connections that will get you places in life, and you might make lifelong friends. And not to mention, college is a place for you to learn about and really start understanding yourself. That’s what happened to me — I found my identity; I realized what I wanted to do by engaging with the community that I was in. And to me, finding out my life’s purpose has been the biggest benefit.” 

Editor's note: Julia’s story is part of a new recurring feature celebrating student success by highlighting their achievements and accomplishments; illustrating how their Penn State experience helped prepare for future success; and demonstrating the University’s mission of teaching, research and outreach in action.