Robby Gourdie ’24

Robby Gourdie's interest in William & Mary began with visiting his sister, an alumna, and seeing the campus foliage in the fall. Initially unsure of where he wanted to attend college, Robby felt certain about W&M after meeting the current scholars and fellow finalists for the 1693 Scholars program, calling it the most convincing part of his college decision process. "Talking to the scholars made it clear. William & Mary is a place that nurtures a communal love for learning, not unhealthy competition," he says.

In addition to becoming a merit-based 1693 Scholar, Robby joined the Young Lab before his first semester and has continued participating since. His research focuses on bioconjugation reactions, which have several applications and fields, including targeting drugs to specific locations in the body. Robby's work led to him co-authoring a paper in ChemBioChem, a top science journal, and selection for the elite Goldwater Scholars program. According to Professor Young, Robby will likely author three to five more publications as he continues other projects.

A chemistry major determined to pursue a Ph.D., Robby became a founding member of the chemistry department's mentorship program and has already coached and advised others. Alongside his rigorous courseload and work in the lab, his roles as a TutorZone tutor, organic chemistry mentor, and confidential peer advocate support his aim of researching, teaching and mentoring others as a professor one day.

Learn more about Robby

• Read about him earning W&M's Thomas Jefferson Prize in Natural Philosophy.
• Read his 1693 Scholar profile.