Anna Henderson
Curious and motivated, Anna Henderson just graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chemistry. Henderson’s primary interests are in analytical chemistry. She has already established herself as a researcher working with renowned scientists in Canada, including UWinnipeg’s Dr. Doug Craig, Dr. Doug Goltz, Dr. Tabitha Wood (Acting Associate Dean of Science) and Dr. Charles Wong (Canada Research Chair in Ecotoxicology).
“I want to pursue graduate studies because I enjoy a learning process that involves question and discovery,” said Henderson. “I enjoy research and my career goal is to become a chemistry professor.”
Over several summers Henderson has completed considerable research, and has already published as an undergraduate. The publication: Craig D, Henderson A. Protein J, 32 (2013) 81-88 was also presented by Henderson as a paper at the Western Canadian Undergraduate Chemistry Conference in Saskatoon and the Canadian Society for Chemistry Conference in Vancouver. She will also be presenting the publication: Craig D., Reinfelds G., Henderson A. Electrophoresis. 35 (2014) 2408-2411 at the Canadian Society for Chemistry Conference in Ottawa and at the Association of Official Analytical Chemists Conference in Winnipeg.
“Anna has made excellent use of every research opportunity during her undergraduate studies at the University of Winnipeg,”said Wood. “First, she developed depth of understanding by working in three different analytical chemistry research lab and then she developed breadth by branching out and learning a whole new set of skills by working with me in my synthetic chemistry research lab.”
The University of Winnipeg, the American Chemical Society, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) have recognized her for the amount of research she has done while at UWinnipeg, which is reflected in the number of awards she has earned.
Henderson’s highly coveted awards include: the Gold Medal for a Major in Chemistry in 2014; the John Roberts Prize for Excellence in Academic Research; and the Molly Rogers Brickman and Leo Brickman Scholarship for the most promising student planning to enter graduate studies in chemistry; the American Chemical Society’s Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry; and NSERC’s Undergraduate Student Research Award.
Between research and study, Henderson still finds time to volunteer for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba and for UWinnipeg’s Let’s Talk Science program. This program engages children in science-related activities to help them get excited about science. Henderson has also participated in outreach programs for The University of Winnipeg with Dr. Wood that involves youth in science and served as President of Chem Club.
As a musician she has volunteered her time to teach music to children at the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre where her sister Maggie, also a UWinnipeg alumna, began a music program for inner city youth. As well, Anna takes time to shoot hoops with her dad, Jim Henderson — former University of Winnipeg Collegiate Associate Dean, chemistry teacher and basketball coach — who suffers from a traumatic brain injury caused by a tragic car accident that has left him wheelchair ridden.
Henderson heads to The University of Alberta to begin her master’s program in chemistry this fall and subsequently plans to pursue a PhD. Her master’s program also comes with a list of prestigious scholarships valued at over $25,000.
