Undergraduate and Fifth-Year Research

You may become involved in research in a variety of ways, including:

• An elective course (either Directed Study 299 or Honors 297)
• Full-time research during the summer
• Volunteering during your spare time and/or taking our Introduction to Research course (CHEM 199), which allows you to become involved in research with faculty.

You may conduct research with faculty in chemistry, or biochemistry and molecular biology.

A few steps:

• Review the basics of each faculty member’s research to decide which areas interest you.
• Meet with those faculty (we recommend at least three) to discuss the research in more detail and learn about the specific aspects of the research in which you may become involved.
• Attend research group meetings, or talk with other students in a particular research group (both graduate and undergraduate) before making a decision.
• You also might want to spend some time working with a prospective research adviser on an informal basis before deciding to register for research as a course.
• Once you have reached a final decision, go back to the faculty member you have chosen and ask to participate in their work.

Many faculty have individual research grants they may use to support students; research work. In addition, the Chemistry Department offers a number of summer research fellowships to conduct full-time, paid research. These include:

• Leo E. and Dorothy J. Beavers Summer Fellowship
• James and Ada Bickman Summer Science Research Internship
• Maurine H. Milburn Fund for the Sciences
• Frederick M. and Alice Murdock Summer Science Internship
• PolyCarbon Industries Chemistry Summer Fellowship
• Arthur E. Martell and Thomas T. Sugihara Summer Internship

Arthur E. Martell – Thomas T. Sugihara Summer Science Internship:
Teodora-Maria Uglean

Donald J. Nelson Research Fellowship:
No Award Given for 2021

Frederick M. and Alice Murdock Summer Science Internship:
Conor Milson

James ’39 and Ada Bickman Summer Science Research Internship:
Amanda Brown (Chemistry)

Lise Anne and Leo Beavers II Research Fellowship:
Kim Nguyen
Marimo Oka
Vanessa Tischofer

Maurine H. Milburn Summer Research Fellowship:
Luke Mazur
Caroline Wang

PCI Synthesis Chemistry Fellowship:
Lyra Macek

Arthur E. Martell – Thomas T. Sugihara Summer Science Internship:
Nicholas Mathieu

Donald J. Nelson Research Fellowship:
Chi Nguyen

Frederick M. and Alice Murdock Summer Science Internship:
Callista Carns
Colin Farrington

James ’39 and Ada Bickman Summer Science Research Internship:
Conor Milson
Thuy-Mi Le

Lise Anne and Leo Beavers II Research Fellowship:
Kimberly Le

Maurine H. Milburn Summer Research Fellowship:
Jue Chen
Wentao Li
Johanna Schafer

PCI Synthesis Chemistry Fellowship:
Benjamin Mukda

Lise Anne and Leo Beavers II Summer Research Fellowship:
Nicolina Braccio
Anh-Vy Le
Bethany Lee
Kimberly Lee
Isabella Teixeria
Jay Verchin

Arthur E. Martell – Thomas T. Sugihara Summer Science Internship:
Colin Farrington

Maurine H. Milburn Summer Research Fellowship:
Samuel Hartley
Nathan Huynh
Madison Latendre
Iryna Onasenko

Frederick M. and Alice Murdock Summer Science Fellowship:
Muhammed Zuhayr Chowdhury
Emma Kirkman-Davis

Donald J. Nelson Research Fellowship:
Emma Narkewicz

PCI Synthesis Chemistry Summer Fellowship:
Alma Araujo Martinez

Abbvie-labs Summer Research Scholarship:
Diana Argiles-Castillo (5th year)

Lise Anne and Leo Beavers II Summer Research Fellowship:
Saadman Islam ‘19
Liliana Wurfl ‘19

James ‘39 and Ada Bickman Summer Science Research Fellowship:
Ailin Fu ’19 (BCMB)
Bethany Lee ’20 (Chemistry)

Maurine H. Milburn Summer Research Fellowship:
Justine Bohl ‘19
Emily Ladda ‘19
Young Sun Lee ‘19

PCI Synthesis Chemistry Summer Fellowship:
Faith Witkos ‘20

LEEP Fellowship:
Anh Nhu ’19 (Larochelle)

Sherman Fairchild Fellowship:
Anh-Vy Le ‘20
Zaza Gelashvili ‘19
Nikita Kupko ‘20
Chloe Kellum ‘19
Rylee Simons ‘19
Luke Barrows ‘19
Molly McAuliffe ‘19
Kayla Rich ‘19
Dylan (Samuel) Gillespie ‘19

Abbvie Labs Summer Research Scholarship:
Jeremy Abdulla ‘18

Lise Anne and Leo Beavers II Summer Research Fellowship:
Ann Kim ‘18 (Biology)
Jenna Libera ’19 (Biology)

James ‘39 and Ada Bickman Summer Science Research Fellowship:
Chloe Kellum ’19 (BCMB)
Nikita Kupko ‘19 (Chemistry)

PCI Synthesis Chemistry Summer Fellowship:
Luke Barrows ’19 (BCMB)
Joseph McElwee ’19 (BCMB)
Michael Kebede ‘18 (BCMB) – Industry Internship

Carlson or Traina Summer Fellowship:
Rebecca Meservier ‘18 (Traina)

LEEP Fellowship:
Joseph McElwee ‘19
Luke Barrows ‘19
Young Sun Lee ‘19
Lara Prosterman ‘17
Emilie Ogisu ‘17
Noah Schwaegerle ‘17

Sherman Fairchild Fellowship:
Jonathan Chellali ’17 (Chemistry)
Yana Zubarev ‘19 (Chemistry)
Diana Argiles-Castillo ‘18 (BCMB)
Aaron Bogle ‘18 (BCMB)

Global Scholar:
Saadman Islam ‘19

Chemistry

• Synthesis and Magnetic Data Collection of Cobalt (II) Complexes: International Reactions. Samantha Fowles, ’20 (sponsor: Professor Mark Turnbull)
• Selective sensing of azide moiety by a cyclic peptide. Ailin Fu, ’19 (sponsor: Professor Ahrundhati Nag)
• Single Crystal EPR Studies of Pyrazine-Bridged Copper (II) Chains with Pyridone Ligands:
  Lab Rotations 10° at a Time. Emma Kirkman-Davis, ’20 in collaboration with graduate student Jeffrey C. Monroe (sponsor: Professor Mark Turnbull)
• Synthesis of magnetic ladders and chains from the reactions of ethylpyrazine and (methylthio)pyrazine with CuX2 (X = Br, Cl). Nikita Kupko, ’20 (sponsor: Professor Mark Turnbull)
• Structure and Coordination of Nickel(II) with 4-substituted Aniline Ligands. Katie Meehan, ’20 (sponsor: Professor Mark Turnbull)
• Antiferromagnetic Exchange of n-Methyl-2-Pyridone Substituted Copper(II) Pyrazine Linear Chains. Faith Witkos, ’20 (sponsor: Professor Mark Turnbull)

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

• Structural and Biochemical Characterization of HACE1: A HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Involved in Huntington’s Disease and Wilms’ Tumor. Diana Argiles Castillo, ’19 (sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Development of an Organic Chemistry Lab: Analysis of Fatty Acids Composition in Cooking Oils Through LC/MS. Luke Barrows, ’19 (sponsor: Professor Charles Jakobsche)
• Structural and Biochemical Analysis of the HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase, HECW2, and its Implications in Progeria. Justine Bohl, ’19 (sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Expression and Purification of KRasB. Dylan Gillespie, ’19 (sponsor: Professor
  Arundhati Nag)
• Structural and functional studies of the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase E6AP reveal a possible mechanism for the neurodevelopmental disorder Angelman Syndrome. Chloe Kellum, ’19 (sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Biochemical and Biophysical Characterization of HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase AREL1 and its Implications in Apoptosis. Emily Ladda, ’19 (sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Analyzing Aggregation Properties Across A Family of Amyloid Fibril Binding Small Molecules Anh-Vy Le, ’20 (sponsor: Professor Charles Jakobsche)
• Kinetics of IDE-Dependent Degradation of Insulin in the Presence of Polyphenols. Bethany Lee, ’20, Lili Wurfl, ’19, Saadman Islam, ’19 (sponsor: Professor Noel Lazo)
• Biochemical and Structural Examination of HERC4 – a HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase that Controls Spermatogenesis, Cancer Metastasis, and Organ Size. Young Sun Lee, ’19 (sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Biophysical Analysis of Antp and Ubx Homeodomain Transcription Factor-DNA Binding Affinity. Jeanmarie W. Loss, ’19 (sponsors: Professor Donald Spratt, Professor Robert Drewell, Professor Jacqueline Dresch)
• Biophysical Studies of Ubiquitin E3 Ligase, HECTD1, and its Disease Relevance. Misa Mai, ’19 (sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt.
• A Tale of a Tail: Structural and Functional Studies of HERC2 C-Lobe with Implications in Breast Cancer. Kayla Rich, ’19 (sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Biophysical Analysis of AbdA and AbdB Homeodomain Transcription Factor-DNA Binding Affinity. Rylee Simons, ’19 (sponsors: Professor Donald Spratt, Professor Robert Drewell, Professor Jacqueline Dresch)

Chemistry

• Preparation of [LnCuX2] (L = 3-cyanopyridine, 2-amino-3-cyanopyridine, 2-amino-
  5- cyanopyridine; n = 1,2; X = Cl, Br) via Mechanochemical Synthesis. Jonathan Chellali ‘18 (in collaboration with Penelope Farris & Christopher P. Landee; Sponsor: Professor Mark Turnbull)
• Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic Behavior of Nickel (II) and Cobalt (II) Halide Complexes of Isoquinoline. Micheal Kebede ‘18 (Sponsor: Professor Mark Turnbull)
• Solvent Coordinated Compounds of the Family L2CuX2, where L= 2-chloro-3-fluoropyridine and X=Cl,Br. Robert DuBois ‘17 (Sponsor: Professor Mark Turnbull)

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

• Biochemistry and Mechanism of HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase HUWE1. Noor Alzuhairy ‘17 (Sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt) – LEEP Project
• Characterization of the HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase HECTD1. Vladislav Kiveliyk ‘17 (Sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Biochemical Characterization of HERC2, a HECT E3 Ligase Implicated in Breast Cancer and Prader-Willi Syndrome. Noah Schwaegerle ‘17 (Sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Helix-Dipole Effects on Amyloid Formation in the Presence of Model Membranes. Senegal Carty ‘17 (in collaboration with Qiuchen Zheng, graduate student; Sponsor: Professor Noel Lazo).
• Biochemical Characterization of TRIP12, a HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Linked to Autism Spectrum Disorder. Alexandra Brown ‘17 (Sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Biochemistry and Mechanism of HACE1. Janel Gardner ‘17 (in collaboration with Yaya Wang & Steven Beasley, graduate students; Sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase WWP1: a major player in cellular signaling pathways and diseases. Emilie Ogisu ‘17 (Sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Fluorescently labeled non-viral DNA delivery Vector. Alva Tan ‘17 & Sharon Chieng ‘17 (Sponsor: Professor Sergio Granados-Focil)
• HECTD3 E3: A Ubiquitin Ligase Associated With Breast Cancer. Andres Torres ‘17 (Sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Structure-based identification of C-terminal Binding Protein inhibitors from the Zinc-database compound library. Antony Gruness ‘17 (in collaboration with UMass Medical School; Sponsor: Professor David Thurlow)
• Characterization of AREL1 to understand apoptosis resistance in cancer cells. Pinky Htun ‘17 (Sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Biochemical Characterization of HECT E3-Ubiquitin Ligase Itch and its Implications in Cancer. Roela Bardhi ‘17 (Sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)
• Studies to Better Understand the Structure and Mechanism of Smurf1, a HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase. Lara Prosterman ‘17 (Sponsor: Professor Donald Spratt)

• Anny Qurrat Ul-Ain ’18, MA ’19, BCMB 5^th Year Program, “Development of Novel Copper-Peptide Complexes for Water Oxidation” (advisor: Arundhati Nag) expected graduation December 2019
• Lara Prosterman ’18, MA ’19, BCMB 5th Year Program, “Structural and Biochemical Studies of the HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligases AREL1 and Smurf1” (advisor: Donald Spratt)
• Diana Argiles Castillo ’18, MA ’19, BCMB 5th Year Program, “Biochemical and Structural Studies of HACE1: A Human HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Implicated in Cancer and Huntington’s Disease” (advisor: Donald Spratt)
  
• Aaron Hope Bogle ’18, MA ’19, BCMB 5th Year Program, “Biophysical and Structural Analysis of Drosophila Transcription Factors” (advisor: Donald Spratt)
• Micheal T. Kebede ’18, MA ’19, BCMB 5^th Year Program, “Determinants of the IDE-Dependent Degradation of Insulin” (advisor: Noel Lazo)
• Misa Mai ’18, MA ’19, BCMB 5th Year Program, “Biochemical Characterization of the Human HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase, HECTD1: A Key Regulator in Neurological Development” (advisor: Donald Spratt)
• Jeanmarie Loss ’18, MA ’19, BCMB 5th Year Program, “Biophysical and Structural Analysis of Antennapedia and Ultrabithorax Homeodomain Transcription Factor-DNA Binding Affinities” (advisor: Donald Spratt)
• Anamika Datta, MA ’18, CHEM Masters Student, “Polyethylenimine based copolymer blends as lithium-ion conductors for rechargeable batteries” (advisor: Sergio Granados-Focil)
• Noah D. Schwaegerle ’17, MA ’18, BCMB 5^th Year Program, “Biochemical and Structural Characterization of the Large HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase HERC2” (advisor: Donald Spratt)
• Emilie Ogisu ’17, MA ’18, BCMB 5th Year Program, “Biochemical and Biophysical Examination of the Human HECT E3 Ubiquitin Ligase WWP1” (advisor: Donald Spratt)
• Rachel J. Orlomoski ’17, MA ’18, BCMB 5th Year Program, “Biophysical Analysis of Homeodomain Transcription Factor-DNA Binding Site Affinity” (advisor: Donald Spratt)
• Senegal Carty ’17, MA ’18, BCMB 5^th Year Program, “Connections Between Protein Misfolding and Monodenzone – Induced Vitiligo” (advisor: Noel Lazo)
• Claire A. Krasinski ’17, MA ’18, BCMB 5th Year Program, “Proteolytic Degradation of CTF57 and Aβ Polypeptides by Insulin-Degrading Enzyme: Biophysical Studies with Implications for Alzheimer’s Disease” (advisor: Noel Lazo)
• Thanaphorn Suk-in ’16, MA ’17, BCMB 5^th Year Program, “Functionalization of liner poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) as DNA-binding polymer for Gene therapy applications” ( advisor: Sergio Granados-Focil)
• Linshu Wang, MA ’16, BCMB Masters Student, “Towards Hydrazine-Functionalized Peptides as Potential Lysyl Oxidase Inhibitors and a 4-Step Amine to Alcohol Conversion via N-Nitrosoamides” (advisor: Charles Jakobsche)
• Rhady Sorm ’14, MA ’15, BCMB 5^th Year Program, “Biophysical Effects of Polyphenols on Model-Membrane-Mediated Aβ42 Self-Assembly” (advisor: Noel Lazo)