Chemistry Program at UA Prepares Students for Careers in Science

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A summer program at The University of Alabama, funded by the National Science Foundation, is helping train the next generation of chemists and scientific researchers.

The UA department of chemistry is hosting a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program May 29-Aug. 5, under the direction of Dr. John Vincent, professor of chemistry, and Dr. Stephen Woski, associate professor of chemistry.

Top undergraduate students with strong backgrounds in chemistry are invited to come to the UA campus for 10 weeks during the summer to work with UA faculty in their research group and to take part in informal seminars and educational activities.

The 2011 chemistry participants and their UA faculty mentors include:

Joshua Bauth, a Kennesaw State University student from Kennesaw, Ga., is working under the direction of Dr. Patrick Frantom on “Characterization of Enzyme Mechanisms.”

Adam Beg, a UA student from Tuscaloosa, is working under the direction of Dr. Joseph Thrasher on “Measurement of Equivalent Weight and Other Properties of New Containing Ionomers.”

Karson Brooks, a UA student from Dothan, is working under the direction of Dr. Shanlin Pan on “Surface Enhanced Optical Spectroscopy and Molecular Sensing Using Single Molecular Techniques.”

Daniel Castillo, a UA student from Tuscaloosa is working with Dr. Daniel Goebbert on “Mass Spectrometry of Explosives.”

Anthony Cesnik, a Gustavus Adolphus College student from Rice Lake, Wis., is working under the direction of Dr. Thrasher on “Preparation of Fluoro-Polymers Based on Tetrafluoroethylene.”

Stephen Crooke, a Georgia Southern University student from Claxton, Ga., is working under the direction of Dr. Vincent on “Chromium as a Therapeutic Agent.”

Keana Graves, a Clark Atlantic University student from Honolulu, Hawaii, is working under the direction of Dr. Martin Bakker on “Bicontinuous Hollow Fiber Membranes via Nanocasting for Fuel Cell Electrodes.”

Roland Hinojosa, a University of the Incarnate Word student from San Antonio, Texas, is working under the direction of Dr. Silas Blackstock on “Crystal Structures of the Redox States of Poly Aryl Amines.”

Natalie Hudok, an Emory & Henry College student from Elkins, W.Va., is working under the direction of Dr. Robin Rogers on “Ionic Liquids for Tomorrow’s New Technologies.”

Christina Leonard, a University of Montevallo student from Columbiana, is working under the direction of Dr. Shane Street on “Extraction of Metal Nanoparticles from Their Organic Matrices SS.”

Kendra McCraney, a University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff student from Helena, Ark., is working under the direction of Dr. Goebbert on “Mass Spectrometry of Explosives.”

Chelsea McMillan, a William Carey University Student from Hattiesburg, Miss., is working under the direction of Dr. Carolyn Cassady on “Mass Spectrometry of Neutral Peptides.”

Fraser Mole, a student from the University of Strathclyde, is working under the direction of Dr. Pan on “New Nanostructured Electrodes for Electrochemical Charge Storage Applications.”

Dustin Morgan, a University of West Georgia student, is working under the direction of Dr. Timothy Snowden on “Synthesis of Anti-inflammatory/Cancer Chemopreventative Lead Analogs for SAR Studies.”

Rachel Mustain, a Mississippi State University student from Jackson, Miss., is working under the direction of Dr. Kevin Shaughnessy on “Synthesis of Water-Soluble Phosphines and Their Application in Metal-Catalyzed Reaction.”

Zachary Riley, a University of West Alabama student from Meridian, Miss., is working  under the direction of Dr. David Nikles on “AlMn Nanoparticles for Future Magnetic Tape Storage Systems.”

Pasha Sanders, a Tuskegee University student from Akron, Ohio, is working under the direction of Dr. Bakker on “Iron Oxide/Manganese Dioxide/Carbon Based Electrodes for Advanced Batteriess.”

Stephen Smith, a University of North Alabama student from Florence, is working under the direction of Dr. Woski on “Synthesis of Molecular-Scale Electronic Components.”

Rohey Sowe, an Alabama A&M University student from Huntsville, is working under the direction of Dr. Greg Szulczewski on “Synthesis and Characterization of Bismuth Chalcogenide Nanostructures for Thermoelectric Materials.”