Cindy Browder is Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University. Torn between writing and science, she chose to focus on the latter when earning her BA from Oberlin College. With a drive to teach and carry out independent research, Cindy earned her PhD from the University of Utah in Organic Synthesis, then conducted postdoctoral research at Oregon State University. Her laboratory research in new synthetic methods, drug discovery, and polymer electrolyte development has involved numerous undergraduate researchers, both at Fort Lewis College (Durango, CO, 2001–2007) and NAU (Flagstaff, AZ, 2007–present).