For James Corey, some of the most important lessons he learned at BYU came between late nights and early mornings.
As a chemistry major, undergraduate researcher and new father, Corey learned quickly how to balance long days of class work and lab work with nights at home with his wife, caring for their newborn daughter.
“I’ve learned that you can still do chemistry short on sleep,” he says with a laugh.
But for Corey, his BYU experience wasn’t simply about endurance. It was about learning what mattered most.
“I always tried to weigh the balance of my family, church responsibilities and other things that I knew were more important than just a grade,” Corey said. “That focus on the most important things has been my most valuable asset throughout college. It helps me so much to not get burned out or overstressed while giving my all.”
Later this month, Corey will graduate from BYU with a degree in chemistry. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. and a future career in research and teaching. During his time on campus, he has co-authored multiple research papers, conducted advanced laboratory work and become a first author on a forthcoming publication; a rare accomplishment for an undergraduate student.
Still, Corey measures his BYU experience differently. For him, it’s been an education in faith, leadership and discipleship.
Growing up in American Fork, BYU was already a part of his life. His father, a professor, introduced him early to the university, but Corey initially considered going elsewhere. That changed after a summer visit to another campus.
“I just realized the environment wasn’t really a place that I wanted to go,” he said. “I really wanted to learn and grow, in spiritual ways and in academic ways.”
After his first semester at BYU, Corey left to serve a mission in South Korea. When he returned to campus, he felt a renewed sense of excitement to study chemistry.
“I relived the joy that I felt in high school chemistry classes,” he said. “Learning the why’s and how’s of the world around me was mind-blowing. I still remember right where I was when I learned how blood starts clotting when we get cut and how specific additives to iron can make stainless steel.”
During his first semester after his mission, Corey joined chemistry professor David Michaelis’ research lab. Over the next several years, Corey’s work in the lab would become foundational to his time at BYU.
“I think I’ll look back and view this experience as a central part of my training and learning,” Corey said. “It’s been so instrumental, not just because of the concepts I’ve learned, but because of the person I’ve become. Experiments that failed didn’t just teach me about chemistry, they also taught me how my personal mistakes can be powerful triggers for growth. Through my lab work, I’ve also learned how to ask meaningful questions and address problems in new ways.”
His research focuses on developing new metal additives that can speed up chemical reactions. It’s an approach that could make complex industrial processes more efficient, leading to cheaper, more available medicines and materials.
While the science is deep and intricate, what stood out most to Corey was the trust he was given as a student, noting that many of his professors gave him hands-on opportunities to lead out on different experiments.
“I feel like that’s something that’s really allowed me to flourish,” he said. “The responsibility and trust that’s been shown through my professors has allowed me to grow more than I ever could have imagined.”
That level of trust and the close mentorship that came with it sets BYU apart, Corey believes. “It’s one thing to see your professors in class and totally another to work with them day by day. You see firsthand their love for students. That’s really what brought them to BYU.”
Studying chemistry at BYU offered more than a technical education. It provided a lens for understanding the world and its creation.
“After glimpsing the complexity of the world at the molecular level, it’s pretty hard to see how all of this earth and life could be accidental,” he said. “There were a lot of humbling moments in my studies.”
Grounded by both scientific and spiritual truth, Corey says he’s prepared to approach both his education and his future. When considering career paths, Corey turned a class assignment into a personal question: What kind of work will allow me to build the life I want?
“My research found that the biggest thing that will impact your family is how you come home from work,” he says. “If you can come home energized and positive, that’s what really matters.”
That realization strengthened his resolve to pursue graduate school, where he can focus on discovery and problem solving in meaningful ways.
During his time on campus, Corey met his wife, Maria, and the two were married while he was still an undergraduate. They now have a 9-month-old daughter, Anna.
Balancing school, research and family life hasn’t always been easy, but for Corey, it’s essential to how he wants to live his life.
“School and work have become such a team effort. Just knowing that I have Maria supporting me through it all makes it so much easier,” he said. “It’s made getting a degree in chemistry possible.”
As graduation approaches, Corey is applying to graduate programs and preparing for what comes next. He hopes to continue his education, and eventually, teach and mentor others like the mentors he’s had at BYU.
Regardless of what the future holds, Corey’s focus will remain the same.
“I think the people we can really influence are the ones right next to us every day,” he said. “That’s what going forth to serve looks like for me.”
By Tyler Stahle, April 12, 2026
Media Contact: Aaron Sorenson
Originally published by BYU News