They became friends, and the relationship led to the altar immediately after her graduation, with the young couple moving to Newark and O'Brien starting graduate school. O'Brien says she has always been fascinated by science, and much of her research has been in the area of animal proteins. I love the beauty of the chain reactions of chemistry lined up with the life processes, so biochemistry was a natural field for me. O'Brien's mentor at Delaware was Hal White, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and she worked on a project involving proteins in chickens. At the University, O'Brien learned to teach with guidance from the chemistry department faculty, especially from John Burmeister, now Alumni Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Students have a misconception about teaching.
They think it's a natural ability or a gift, and that it is not difficult. I learned teaching is an art that requires planning, preparation, timing and methods. O'Brien concedes that, at first, she was terrified when she stood in front of a class for the first time. Now, give me a topic before any group and I can go on for hours. In addition to her graduate studies and teaching, O'Brien says she loved the openness and beauty of the University's campus.