Boasting Bengal: Matt Thorum

We all remember Matt as one who enjoyed the sciences, and today he's still pursuing that interest. After serving in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission (Spanish-speaking) for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Matt graduated from the University of Utah in 2005 with honors and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. Now he is in his fourth year studying at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign working on a Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry. His research is focused on developing new oxygen reduction catalysts to improve the cost and efficiency of fuel cells.

When Matt isn't submerged in research or textbooks, his favorite hobby is climbing. (Climbing? But Illinois doesn't have mountains!) Matt proves us all wrong--not only is there great rock climbing, but there is great ice climbing too. Matt shares his love of climbing as a part-time climbing clinic instructor for the Adventure Recreation program on campus and is the vice-president of the UIUC Climbing Club.

[Check out Matt's bio and his fellow climbing instructors on UIUC's website here.]