After watching several documentaries on national geography, Dr. Rodney Priestley was certain he would pursue a career in marine biology, or perhaps, become a geologist, exploring the behaviors of volcanic disruption. Instead, Priestley chose a different view of natural life — a microscopic view.
Once he enrolled in one of his high school’s advanced chemistry courses, he found chemistry “tangible and applicable to real life phenomenon.”
“There was always a natural interest for me to figure out how things worked, so when I was able to connect chemistry with everyday life like the makeup of basic household commodities that I’d regularly stumble upon, I knew I wanted to go further with chemistry,” says Priestley.
Priestley’s research on the structure of polymer molecules and the changing behaviors of molecular activity on a nano-scale indicated the elevated research levels required of Ivy League professors. In developing research around polymer science, he was awarded several honors. His research proposition, coupled with many awards, positioned him to be one of the first Black professors to start on a tenured track within Princeton University’s chemical and biological engineering department.
