Student researchers showcase summer work

Students of BU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry recently showcased their summer research results, covering topics from blood clotting to fragrances to gun shot residue analysis.

Research Presentations

• Brandon Brown — Interaction of LSPR with Thrombun as an Inhibitor of Blood Clotting, mentored by Toni Bell.
• Matthew Miele — Determination of Solid-Liquid and Vapor-Liquid Phase Diagrams of Organic Binary Mixtures using Differential Scanning Calorimetry, mentored by Gregory Zimmeran. Funded by URSCA.
• Jacob Powell — Determination of the Equivalent Conductance of Lanthanum Chloride Solutions at 25, 50 and 75 degrees Celsius and 0.7 MP, mentored by Gregory Zimmerman. Funded by URSCA.
• Amanda Pritzlaff — Percent Composition of Lavandula Augustifulia and the Art of Fine Fragrance, mentored by Toni Bell.
• Franklin Rodemer — Influence of the Oneida #3 Acid Mine Drainage and Passive Limestone Treatment System on Little Tomhicken Creek in Luzerne County – Department Summer Research, mentored by Christopher Hallen. Funded by Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Scholars Summer Program.
• Gene Tunney — Analysis of Gun Shot Residue using a Handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), mentored by Michael Pugh. Funded by Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Scholars Summer Program.
• Jessica Viscomi — Analysis of Blood Clot Inhibition by ISPR, mentored by Toni Bell. Funded by Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Scholars Summer Program.

Student Summer Presentations

Matt Miele

Matt Miele presented at the Susquehanna Valley Undergraduate Research Conference held at the Henry Hood Center for Health Research, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA on August 2, 2012. His poster was titled "Determination of Solid-Liquid and Vapor-Liquid Phase Diagrams of Oranic Binary Mixtures using Differential Scanning Colorimetry." Mentor: Dr. Gregory Zimmerman.

Ariana Winder

Ariana Winder presented Susquehanna Valley Undergraduate Research Conference held at the Henry Hood Center for Health Research, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA on August 2, 2012. Her poster was titled "Percutaneous Cholecystostomy in Patients with High Risk Acute Cholecystitis." Mentors: Mohanbabu Alaparthi MD, John Semian MD, Mohsen Shabahang MD, Nicole Woll PhD, Joseph Blansfield MD (Geisinger Medical Center, Danville PA).

COST 2011 Spring Honors Symposium

Pictured with BU President David Soltz, chemistry students receiving honors were (L-R):

• Benjamin McFadden — ACS award in Inorganic Chemistry
• Adam Miller — Junior Chemistry Achievement award and ACS award in Analytical Chemistry
• Hannah Cronk — ACS POLYED undergraduate award in Organic Chemistry
• Kenneth Myers — Susquehanna Valley Section ACS Outstanding Senior award, American Institute of Chemists Foundation Outstanding BS Biochemistry Senior award, Phi Lambda Upsilon National Chemistry Honor Society inductee, and Cum Laude

Nanotechnology students making the grade

Jackie North and Andrew Sibley, seniors in the chemistry and biochemistry department, were the first BU students to complete the 18-credit Capstone Semester at Penn State University during the summer of 2010 as part of BU’s new nanotechnology track. Nanotechnology is the study of the controlling of matter on an atomic and molecular scale.