We are William and Courtney Moats. We both graduated from Waynesburg University in 2019 with degrees in Chemistry.
After graduating, I, Courtney, continued my education and earned a Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry from West Virginia University. I started working in the Analytical Development group at KBI Biopharma in Durham, North Carolina, shortly after graduating, and have been there for almost 5 years. My role is focused on qualifying methods that will be used for identity, purity, safety and efficacy testing of manufactured drug products. I am a subject matter expert and have trained my peers in a variety of analytical techniques.
I, William, started my career at Catalent Pharma Solutions, a worldwide provider of contract development and manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical industry. In this role, I performed quality and safety testing of small-molecule pharmaceutical products. I currently work at BioAgilytix Labs, a contract research organization in Durham, North Carolina. In this role, I provide clinical trial testing solutions to support leading biopharmaceutical companies.
Waynesburg’s laboratories are extremely well-equipped and much of the equipment that we used at Waynesburg is the same as what we use every day in our careers."
What we learned in the chemistry program goes far beyond just what was taught in the classroom. The chemistry program is very hands-on and the classroom experience is enhanced and reinforced in the laboratory. Waynesburg’s laboratories are extremely well-equipped and much of the equipment that we used at Waynesburg is the same as what we use every day in our careers. We learned how each piece of equipment operates, how to operate it, and how to interpret the results—skills that many starting in this industry do not have.
The documentation and analytical thinking skills that we developed at Waynesburg are critical to our success in the industry. Knowing how to appropriately document what has been done, paying attention to the small details, and keeping integrity as the central focus is a critical part of our day-to-day. Accurate documentation is crucial in the pharmaceutical industry to ensure the safety of the patients that need the medications that we have a role in delivering.
One thing that we think makes WU so unique and stand out from other universities is the small class size that allows the professors to have personal relationships with each of the students. You don’t get lost in a huge classroom where nobody knows your name. All the professors in the Chemistry Department are committed to helping every student succeed and truly care about you as a person. The professors take the time to answer every question, which isn’t always the case at larger universities. The students and professors in the Chemistry Department are so close-knit and it really feels like a second family.
Some fond memories from our time at Waynesburg include ACS outreach activities like helping out with homeschool labs and Haunted Lab. Being able to share our love for science with the local community was very fulfilling.
Department of Chemistry and Forensic Science
Waynesburg University sets itself apart with $1 million in new, cutting-edge chemistry and forensic science equipment routinely used in professional labs, providing students with unmatched hands-on learning rarely found at similar institutions.
