Arielis (Ariel) Rodriguez-Gutierrez
Arielis (Ariel) Rodriguez-Gutierrez was named the University of Central Arkansas Internships and Cooperative Education 2024-25 Intern of the Year.
She has also been awarded the national Intern of the Year distinction by the Cooperative Education and Internships Association (CEIA) and was honored at the national conference in Tucson this month.
Rodriguez-Gutierrez is a senior chemistry major and will graduate in May 2025. She distinguished herself through academic achievement and research innovation. Originally unsure of her potential in STEM, her transformative summer internship at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), dramatically reshaped her academic and professional trajectory.
“I’m incredibly grateful to receive these awards, and I hope it serves as a reminder to women of color in STEM that our voices and contributions truly matter. I want to thank my mentors, who gave me the push I needed to take on new challenges. Research is a journey of discovery that extends beyond the lab. It is an amazing opportunity to grow professionally and learn how to communicate science to others. Likewise, I encourage others to take a chance, put themselves out there, and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Rodriguez-Gutierrez.
The internship was a pivotal moment in Rodriguez-Gutierrez’s academic journey. What began as a hesitant opportunity evolved into a profound personal and professional transformation. She said that she discovered her passion for research and teaching, and has begun to see herself as a future university professor who can inspire and support fellow Latinas in STEM fields.
Marsha Massey and Arielis (Ariel) Rodriguez-Gutierrez
Through her research and testing during her internship at UCI’s Center for Closing the Carbon Cycle, Rodriguez-Gutierrez developed a catalytic system to convert carbon dioxide into a valuable chemical feedstock, achieving a breakthrough that is being prepared for publication. This is an exceptional accomplishment for an undergraduate researcher. According to her site supervisor, Rodriguez-Gutierrez’s work demonstrated remarkable scientific acumen, stating, “It is a rare accomplishment for an undergraduate student to perform enough quality research to gain authorship on a peer-reviewed publication, let alone as a lead author!”
Rodriguez-Gutierrez was nominated for UCA Intern of the Year by Marsha Massey, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
As a recipient of the Arkansas Talented Optimistic Motivated (ATOM) Scholars program and an undergraduate research student at UCA, she has demonstrated leadership and commitment to her discipline. She has presented four research projects and has applied to graduate school and the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
