SOUTHFIELD, MI — Most college students spend their first year figuring out where they belong.
Alyssa Redge, 20, spent her time in a research lab.
As a freshman chemistry major at Lawrence Technological University two years ago, Redge wasn’t waiting for permission, prerequisites, or perfect timing. She was already conducting hands-on research, presenting her work, and discovering opportunity doesn’t come with fine print at LTU. It comes with an invitation. For a Pell Grant-eligible student with big ambitions, and an even bigger commitment to helping others, that support made all the difference.
“My scholarships made Lawrence Tech possible for me,” said Redge, now a junior at LTU. “Without that support, attending a private university simply wouldn’t have been an option. LTU gave me access to a prestigious education, faculty who truly mentor, actual small classes where my voice matters, and a close-knit community that pushes me to grow every day. This combination changed my life.”
Redge’s most significant research experience has been her long-term collaboration with Shannon Timmons, PhD, which is the most extensive project of her undergraduate career.
Redge will present her research with lab partner Aiden Bowyer, senior student Joseph Kosakowski, and Timmons at the American Chemical Society Conference, the organization’s largest national conference, in Atlanta in Spring 2026, highlighting the real-world impact of early undergraduate research at LTU. The event brings together students, researchers, and industry professionals from around the world, providing an exceptional platform for early-career scientists to share research, build networks, and engage with the broader chemistry community.
The team’s research focuses on synthesizing tetramethyl bisphenol F (TMBPF) analogs to identify safer alternatives to plastic precursors used in everyday consumer products, addressing growing concerns around Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used chemical known for its endocrine-disrupting effects. After synthesis, the compounds are evaluated for toxicity using Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism commonly used in biological research, via a collaboration with LTU biology professor, Aleksandra Kuzmanov, PhD.
“At other schools, they told me I’d need to wait until my junior or senior year to conduct research,” she said. “At LTU, they want you conducting meaningful research right away.”
Redge chose LTU for practical reasons at first.
The campus was close to her hometown in Livonia, allowing her to stay connected to family while pursuing a demanding STEM degree. But what truly set LTU apart became clear almost immediately.
“I was allowed to conduct research from day one,” she said. “This is not something most college students can say in my major.”
That early start is intentional.
At LTU, undergraduate students are encouraged to focus on theory and practice, and Redge seized that opportunity. Since her first year, she has worked as a student researcher synthesizing and analyzing chemical compounds, studying sustainable materials derived from greenhouse gas CO₂, and conducting cancer cell research involving pancreatic and colon cancer lines. She created and presented scientific posters, analyzed data using advanced instrumentation, and shared her work at LTU Research Day and the University of Michigan.
Redge’s academic success is inseparable from her financial support.
She entered Lawrence Tech with a significant STEM scholarship and later earned multiple private donor awards, support that allowed her to focus on learning, research, and leadership rather than financial stress.
Redge understands firsthand how transformative access to higher education can be. Students like her embody the mission behind LTU’s I-CAAN (Fostering Confidence, Academic Achievement, and Networking to Strengthen the STEM Workforce) Scholars Program, which is designed to support Pell Grant-eligible students pursuing biology, chemistry, physics, math, and computer science degrees. By pairing financial assistance with early research opportunities, faculty mentorship, supportive programming, and leadership development, I-CAAN helps ensure talented students fully engage in the kind of high-impact experiences that define a LTU education.
“I wouldn’t be here without my scholarships,” she said. “They didn’t just help me financially. They made everything possible.”
Redge’s passion for science is matched by her commitment to caring for others.
Off campus, she works as a medical assistant at the Clark Center for Comprehensive Medicine, where she assists with procedures, performs diagnostic testing, and supports patient care, bringing her academic training into direct contact with real lives and real needs.
On campus, her energy is equally evident. Redge serves as Vice President of Public Relations for Student Government, president of the American Chemical Society and the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and president of Delta Tau Sigma. She joined early, joined often, and built a network that now defines her college experience.
“I joined everything I possibly could,” she said. “It helped me build connections, study groups, and friendships. These are the people I’ll be working with in the future.”
What surprised Redge most about LTU wasn’t the academic rigor. It was the relationships.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to build such close connections with my professors before coming to LTU,” she said. “The faculty mentorship here is real and valuable.”
With 11:1 student-faculty small class sizes and a collaborative culture, LTU offers an environment where students are known, supported, and challenged. Faculty mentorship and peer relationships work together to create momentum: academic, professional, and personal.
Redge’s message to prospective college students is simple: Be confident.
“Don’t be scared to put yourself out there,” she said. “There’s so much you can accomplish in such a short amount of time if you take advantage of what is offered and engage in activities.”
Lawrence Technological University is one of only 13 independent, technological, comprehensive doctoral universities in the United States. Located in Southfield, Mich., LTU was founded in 1932, and offers more than 100 programs through its Colleges of Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business and Information Technology, Engineering, and Health Sciences, as well as Specs@LTU, which offers communication training programs of the former Specs Howard School, and LTU’s growing Center for Professional Development. PayScale lists Lawrence Tech among the nation’s top 11 percent of universities for alumni salaries. Forbes and The Wall Street Journal rank LTU among the nation’s top 10 percent. U.S. News and World Report lists it in the top tier of best in the Midwest colleges. Students benefit from small class sizes and a real-world, hands-on, “theory and practice” education with an emphasis on leadership. Activities on Lawrence Tech’s 107-acre campus include more than 60 student organizations and NAIA varsity sports.
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