IU Kokomo graduate parlays lab work with professor into career in chemistry
Hands-on research with an Indiana University Kokomo professor set Cristian Juarez Mora up for professional success.
Juarez Mora is a good laboratory practices analyst for Corteva Agriscience, based at its global headquarters in Indianapolis — a job he prepared for by researching alongside Hisako Masuda, professor of biochemistry, while completing his degree in biochemistry in May 2025.
“I learned how to operate in the lab, how to maintain a clean area, how to get good results, how to weigh things out, and how to document everything,” he said. “In my job, I have to document everything with precision and accuracy, which I did when researching with Dr. Masuda. She gave me a lot of hands-on experience and emphasized that to get good results, you have to keep your area clean. They’ve noticed how clean I am here and asked where I learned it. I said that I definitely learned all of that at IU Kokomo.
“The courses, learning the science, math, doing a lot of calculations, that helped me in the real world,” he said. “I’m glad I took all those classes, and that I paid attention.”
His work with Masuda, researching biodegrading and repurposing nylon 11 plastic using fungi as a degrader, was his defining IU Kokomo experience. He successfully repurposed nylon 11 into polyurethane foam, which is most used as insulation or cushioning. That work earned him a place representing the campus at the inaugural Regionals at the Rotunda, an event at the Indiana Statehouse that showcased IU regional campus students’ contributions to research, artistic innovation, and economic opportunity.
“The work I started with Dr. Masuda inspired me,” Juarez Mora said. “When I first heard of analytical chemistry, I thought it didn’t sound like fun doing the same work over and over. When I started working with her, I realized I was doing the same experiments over and over, and it wasn’t bad. I thought maybe I could enjoy this in the real world. I’m glad I had the opportunity because I enjoy my time at Corteva. It’s fast-paced, and before I know it the day is over and I’m going home.”
Juarez Mora said Masuda encouraged him to learn by doing, rather than just sharing information.
“She wanted me to learn it myself rather than her just telling me,” he said. “She put me on the path of the career I’m doing now and helped me experience it. Rather than telling me what to expect, she let me try it. I’m very thankful for that. It’s better to do hands-on training than giving advice.”
As the first in his family to go to college, he said relatives were surprised he picked a difficult major like biochemistry. He moved to Kokomo but visited his parents in West Lafayette on weekends.
“They would ask me, ‘Why did you choose biochemistry? It’s so hard,’” he said. “They saw me studying until 5 or 6 a.m. and wondered why I would go through all that, but they were supportive. Just seeing my name on my diploma made me so proud and makes my parents and relatives proud, too.”
With nobody in his family having prior college experience, he had to navigate the process on his own.
“It was very difficult for me because I didn’t have anyone to lean on in terms of what to expect,” Juarez Mora said. “I didn’t know where to go or who to talk to, so I learned by experience, which helps in the science field as well.”
He’s proud to serve as an example to his younger sister, who is now a college student.
“She saw me working late nights,” he said. “I’ve helped her with all of her science stuff. I’m glad she has someone to lean on. I had a rough time at the beginning, and I didn’t have anyone to lean on.”
Juarez Mora said his IU Kokomo classes prepared him well for his career.
“Learning the math for the science field helped me a lot in terms of what I’m doing,” he said. “There are dilution calculations, figuring out concentrations, and all of the research I did gave me real-world experience in that.”
It also prepared him for the repetitiveness of the job.
“A lot of people don’t realize in the science industry there is a lot of repetitiveness,” Mora said. “You have to repeat experiments a lot. Sometimes you get the same results, sometimes you don’t. They mentioned this job can be draining if you don’t realize you are going to do things over and over again. I’m glad I picked that up doing research for a year and a half. It’s helped me a lot here.”
Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.