On most days, Christian Ruff can be found in a chemistry lab, assembling molecules into structures designed to move energy more efficiently or teaching lab skills to other students. 

Soon, his workspace will look very different.

Instead of a lab bench, Ruff will head to New York City as a product manager on Mastercard’s cybersecurity team, helping develop technologies that detect fraud and secure digital transactions. 

At first glance, the shift from chemistry to cybersecurity seems curious. But for Ruff, a senior in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences, it goes to show that your major doesn’t define your future. 

Ruff, who grew up in Columbia, didn’t always see himself in science. “I was scared of science in high school,” he said. “It felt really complex, almost mystical, and you can feel excluded from those spaces.” 

At USC, he leaned into that challenge. A Chemistry 111 course sparked his interest and reshaped how he approached learning. “I just wanted to learn and grow,” Ruff said. “If you only focus on the outcome, you miss the fun of actually thinking, of getting stuck on a problem and puzzling it out.”

That mindset carried into his research, where he spent three years studying battery materials. He also conducted full-time research through a competitive REU program at University of California San Diego, where he worked on metal-organic frameworks and co-authored a published paper.

“People may think chemistry is just right or wrong answers,” he said. “But it’s actually really creative. You’re building something completely new.” 

Outside the lab, Ruff explored widely, taking courses in philosophy, media arts and vocal performance. Those experiences, he said, sharpened his ability to think critically and communicate complex ideas clearly. Over time, his interests expanded. After adding a second major in computer science, he discovered product management, which blends technology, strategy and problem-solving. 

“Doing research is very similar,” Ruff said. “You listen to people, understand their problems and develop creative solutions.” 

After interning with Mastercard last summer, he accepted a full-time role on its cybersecurity team. Ruff credits his chemistry background and his broader arts and sciences education and the skills he honed in chemistry for preparing him. 

“Product managers have to take complex ideas and translate them for different audiences,” he said. “That’s something I’ve practiced for years.” 

His advice to other students: don’t feel limited by your major. 

“Don’t restrict yourself just because of something you chose when you were 18,” he said. “If you don’t explore, you’ll miss out.”