Undergraduate Research and Active Learning

Read about some of our undergraduates who have engaged in research and internships:

	Brian Landry conducted research on low dimensional magnets
	Jessica Mendes studied molecular motion in polymer blend systems.
	Chemistry minor Lesley Matthews discussed her internships with local biotech firms

Academic Spree Day and Fall Fest

Academic Spree Day (begun in 1991) and Fall Fest (begun in 2000) are two very popular annual events where students from every department get a chance to display and talk about their "fruits of labor" in the form of posters, papers, art work, etc.  These events give students a chance to exhibit the work and/or research they have performed under the guidance of a faculty sponsor.  Below is a list of our chemistry students and their research titles who have participated in these events for 2008 and 2009.

Academic Spree Day Presentations

2009

Mercury resistance and reduction by Shewanella algae BrY.  Johanna Finn '09 (sponsor:  Professor Healther Wiatrowski)

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of bis(S-pyrazine)dihalocopper(II) [S=Cl or CN; halogen = Cl or Br].  Susan Herringer '09 (sponsor:  Professor Mark Turnbull)

Mn(II) and Co(II) halide complexes with 2-amino-3-methylpyridinium and 2-amino-5-methylpyridinium.  David Carnevale '09 (sponsor:  Professor Mark Turnbull)

Hard templating of inorganic oxides in a silicon oxide mesopore.  Melissa Loving '09 (sponsor:  Professor Luis Smith)

Chemistry of the 2-pyridone copper halide system.  Kelley Shortsleeves '09 (sponsor:  Professor Mark Turnbull)

Biophysical studies of a prostatic acidic phosphatase peptide associated with enhanced HIV transmission.  Kristine Meador '10 (sponsor:  Professor Noel Lazo)

Sol-gel supported proton shuttles as proton exchange membranes for water-free hydrogen fuel cells.  Justin Conway '09 (in collaboration with Yan (Ricky) Meng, graduate student; sponsors:  Professor Sergio Granados-Focil and Professor Luis Smith)

2008

Underlined titles link to a Powerpoint presentation

Biophysical studies of Collagen VII. Lincoln Muhoro '08 (sponsor: Professor Noel Lazo)

Biophysical studies of keratin peptides associated with Epidermolysis bullosa. Stacy Lawrence '08 and Lincoln Muhoro '08 (sponsor: Professor Noel Lazo)

Deuteration: Preparation for neutron scattering studies. Susan Herringer '09 (sponsor: Professor Mark Turnbull)

Synthesis and characterization of bimetallic pyradinedicarboxylate complexes. Alexander Parent '08 (sponsors: Prof. Mark Turnbull and Professor Christopher Landee)

Transition metal complexes of dihaloaminopyridines: syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetic properties of [Cu(3,5-diCAP)2X2] and [Cu(3,5-diBAP)2X2]. Kelley Shortsleeves '09 (sponsor: Professor Mark Turnbull)

On the effects of the S20G mutation on the folding and aggregation of the Islet amyloid polypeptide. Miranda Simon '08 (sponsor: Professor Noel Lazo)

Effects of a beta-glycine substitution in the folding nucleus of the Amyloid-beta protein. Salvatore Pezzella '09 (sponsor: Professor Noel Lazo)

Synthesis and analysis of 2,2'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridine coordination complexes. David Carnevale '09 (sponsor: Professor Mark Turnbull)

Characterization of the Arabidopsis mitochondrial helicase. Dmitry Merzon '09 (sponsor: Professor Donald Crampton)

Fall Fest Presentations

2009

2-Pyridone/pyrazine Complexes of Copper (II) Perchlorate:  Effects of 2-pyridone Substitution on Pyrazine Mediated Magnetic Exchange.  Veli Selmani '12 (sponsor:  Professor Mark Turnbull)

Synthesis and Characterization of RbLaNb207 and KLaNb207.  Hui Yang '12, in collaboration with Ting Liu, graduate student (sponsor:  Professor Luis Smith)

19F NMR and Mutational Studies of the Aggregation of the Islet Amyloid Polypeptide.  Samuel Sparks '10 (sponsor:  Professor Noel Lazo)

Limited Proteolysis and Circular Dichroism Studies of the Aggregation of the Amyloid-beta 42 Protein.  Kathryn MacDowell '10 (sponsor:  Professor Noel Lazo)

Structural Studies of the Wild-type and Dutch Amyloid-beta Proteins in the Presence of Model Membranes.  Nicole Rogers '10 (Sponsor:  Professor Noel Lazo)

Model Compound Study of Lithium Transport Through Polymeric Matrices:  Towards Better Lithium-ion Batteries.  Abhijit Srungavarapu '12 (sponsor:  Professor Sergio Granados-Focil)

Sol-gel Threaded Proton "Shuttles" as Proton Exchange Membranes for Hydrogen Fuel Cells.  Christopher Quan '12, in collaboration with Justin Conway, graduate student (sponsor:  Professor Sergio Granados-Focil)

2008

Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic Properties of bis(3-amino-2-chloropyridinium) tetrahalocuprate (II) [halogen = Cl or Br].  Susan Herringer '09 (sponsor:  Professor Mark Turnbull)

Filling a Silica Mesopore with Water Soluble Precursors of LiLaTi03.  Melissa Loving '09 (sponsor:  Professor Luis Smith)

Structural Studies of Protofibrils from the Amyloid-beta Protein.  Di Dong '10 (sponsor:  Professor Noel Lazo)

Sol-gel Supported Proton "shuttles" as Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells.  Justin Conway '09 (in collaboration with Robert P. Doyle, graduate student; sponsor:  Professor Sergio Granados-Focil)

Isolation of a Prophage Helicase from Bacteroides Thetaiotaomicron.  Ricky Lane '09 (sponsor:  Professor Donald Crampton)