Maeve McInnis of Peterborough recently completed a senior capstone research project and earned a bachelor’s degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
McInnis, a chemical engineering major in the Class of 2026, completed a Major Qualifying Project titled “Varying the Light Conditions of Hicksii Plant Cell Cultures.” The project is a graduation requirement for all WPI seniors and is designed to address real-world challenges through research and professional-level problem-solving.
The Major Qualifying Project is a cornerstone of WPI’s project-based curriculum, emphasizing hands-on learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. Projects are often completed in partnership with outside organizations and can lead to publications, conference presentations, patents and entrepreneurial ventures.
McInnis received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering during WPI’s 157th commencement ceremony on May 15. Nearly 1,200 undergraduate degrees were awarded.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, centers its undergraduate education on project-based learning, giving students opportunities to apply scientific and technical knowledge to open-ended problems with real-world impact.
