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As a fourth-year doctoral degree candidate in the University of Oregon's leading-edge green chemistry program, she is working to reduce the massive amounts of energy required for chemical reactions in many types of manufacturing. Perhaps more importantly, she has found personal satisfaction in the program, a world leader in curbing the use of toxic chemicals in industrial chemistry.

Support from faculty members and funding from the university, Ahmed says, have given her a chance to thrive. "There are so many areas where we're so close to breakthroughs. It’s really exciting to be a part of all of it."

Ahmed is the recipient of the 2007-8 University of Oregon Doctoral Research Fellowship. The award carries an $18,000 stipend and a tuition waiver. It is given to outstanding advanced doctoral degree candidates. In 2006, Ahmed was named the first recipient of the university’s Rosaria P. Haugland Fellowship, which helps fund her work as well.

"The best scientist hopes to change the way people think about science, but Takiya wants to change the way people think about everything," said her adviser Dave Tyler, a professor of chemistry.

Since arriving in Eugene from her hometown of Richmond, Va., Ahmed has flourished in the community, the lab, and the classroom. As one of few African American women in science at the university, she’s a role model.

That's a big reason Carla Gary, an assistant vice provost at the UO, tapped Ahmed to help out with the Oregon Young Scholars Program, a summer conference for underprivileged middle schoolers.

"Takiya's enthusiasm for science and for these young people, along with her mentoring and association with them, will be profoundly powerful and empowering," says Gary.

The sense of empowerment on campus is what attracted Ahmed to the UO on her first visit. The area, she says, meshes perfectly with a top-notch program in green chemistry, which faculty members have been developing since 1997.

"Everybody here is so positive," Ahmed says. "No matter what the problem, people at the UO are going to proactively search for a solution. That's what makes it such an amazing place."

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