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Chemistry Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

aPKCs role in Neuroblastoma cell signaling cascades and Implications of aPKCs inhibitors as potential therapeutics , Sloan Breedy

Protein Folding Kinetics Analysis Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy , Dhanya Dhananjayan

Affordances and Limitations of Molecular Representations in General and Organic Chemistry , Ayesha Farheen

Institutional and Individual Approaches to Change in Undergraduate STEM Education: Two Framework Analyses , Stephanie B. Feola

Applications in Opioid Analysis with FAIMS Through Control of Vapor Phase Solvent Modifiers , Nathan Grimes

Synthesis, Characterization, and Separation of Loaded Liposomes for Drug Delivery , Sandra Khalife

Supramolecular Architectures Generated by Self-assembly of Guanosine and Isoguanosine Derivatives , Mengjia Liu

Syntheses, Photophysics, & Application of Porphyrinic Metal-Organic Frameworks , Zachary L. Magnuson

Chemical Analysis of Metabolites from Mangrove Endophytic Fungus , Sefat E Munjerin

Synthesis of Small Molecule Modulators of Non-Traditional Drug Targets , Jamie Nunziata

Synthetic Studies of Potential New Ketogenic Molecules , Mohammad Nazmus Sakib

Coupling Chemical and Genomic Data of Marine Sediment-Associated Bacteria for Metabolite Profiling , Stephanie P. Suarez

Enhanced Methods in Forensic Mass Spectrometry for Targeted and Untargeted Drug Analysis , Dina M. Swanson

Investigation of Challenging Transformations in Gold Catalysis , Qi Tang

Diazirines and Oxaziridines as Nitrogen Transfer Reagents in Drug Discovery , Khalilia C. Tillett

Developing New Strategy toward Ruthenium and Gold Redox Catalysis , Chenhuan Wang

Gold-Catalyzed Diyne-ene Cyclization: Synthesis of Hetero Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons and 1,2-Dihydropyridines , Jingwen Wei

Development of Antiviral Peptidomimetics , Songyi Xue

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Investigating a Potential STING Modulator , Jaret J. Crews

Exploring the Structure and Activity of Metallo-Tetracyclines , Shahedul Islam

Metabolomic Analysis, Identification and Antimicrobial Assay of Two Mangrove Endophytes , Stephen Thompson

Bioactivity of Suberitenones A and B , Jared G. Waters

Developing Efficient Transition Metal Catalyzed C-C & C-X Bond Construction , Chiyu Wei

Measurement in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics Education: Student Explanations of Organic Chemistry Reaction Mechanisms and Instructional Practices in Introductory Courses , Brandon J. Yik

Study on New Reactivity of Vinyl Gold and Its Sequential Transformations , Teng Yuan

Study on New Strategy toward Gold(I/III) Redox Catalysis , Shuyao Zhang

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Design, Synthesis and Testing of Bioactive Peptidomimetics , Sami Abdulkadir

Synthesis of Small Molecules for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases , Elena Bray

Social Constructivism in Chemistry Peer Leaders and Organic Chemistry Students , Aaron M. Clark

Synthesizing Laccol Based Polymers/Copolymers and Polyurethanes; Characterization and Their Applications , Imalka Marasinghe Arachchilage

The Photophysical Studies of Transition Metal Polyimines Encapsulated in Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF’s) , Jacob M. Mayers

Light Harvesting in Photoactive Guest-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks , Christopher R. McKeithan

Using Quantitative Methods to Investigate Student Attitudes Toward Chemistry: Women of Color Deserve the Spotlight , Guizella A. Rocabado Delgadillo

Simulations of H2 Sorption in Metal-Organic Frameworks , Shanelle Suepaul

Parallel Computation of Feynman Path Integrals and Many-Body Polarization with Application to Metal-Organic Materials , Brant H. Tudor

The Development of Bioactive Peptidomimetics Based on γ-AApeptides , Minghui Wang

Investigation of Immobilized Enzymes in Confined Environment of Mesoporous Host Matrices , Xiaoliang Wang

Novel Synthetic Ketogenic Compounds , Michael Scott Williams

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Biosynthetic Gene Clusters, Microbiomes, and Secondary Metabolites in Cold Water Marine Organisms , Nicole Elizabeth Avalon

Differential Mobility Spectrometry-Mass spectrometry (DMS-MS) for Forensic and Nuclear-Forensic applications , Ifeoluwa Ayodeji

Conversion from Metal Oxide to MOF Thin Films as a Platform of Chemical Sensing , Meng Chen

Asking Why : Analyzing Students' Explanations of Organic Chemistry Reaction Mechanisms using Lexical Analysis and Predictive Logistic Regression Models , Amber J. Dood

Development of Next-Generation, Fast, Accurate, Transferable, and Polarizable Force-fields for Heterogenous Material Simulations , Adam E. Hogan

Breakthroughs in Obtaining QM/MM Free Energies , Phillip S. Hudson

New Synthetic Methodology Using Base-Assisted Diazonium Salts Activation and Gold Redox Catalysis , Abiola Azeez Jimoh

Development and Application of Computational Models for Biochemical Systems , Fiona L. Kearns

Analyzing the Retention of Knowledge Among General Chemistry Students , James T. Kingsepp

A Chemical Investigation of Three Antarctic Tunicates of the Genus Synoicum , Sofia Kokkaliari

Construction of Giant 2D and 3D Metallo-Supramolecules Based on Pyrylium Salts Chemistry , Yiming Li

Assessing Many-Body van der Waals Contributions in Model Sorption Environments , Matthew K. Mostrom

Advancing Equity Amongst General Chemistry Students with Variable Preparations in Mathematics , Vanessa R. Ralph

Sustainable Non-Noble Metal based Catalysts for High Performance Oxygen Electrocatalysis , Swetha Ramani

The Role of aPKCs and aPKC Inhibitors in Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Breast and Ovarian Cancer , Tracess B. Smalley

Development of Ultrasonic-based Ambient Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry , Linxia Song

Covalent Organic Frameworks as an Organic Scaffold for Heterogeneous Catalysis including C-H Activation , Harsh Vardhan

Optimization of a Digital Ion Trap to Perform Isotope Ratio Analysis of Xenon for Planetary Studies , Timothy Vazquez

Multifunctional Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) For Applications in Sustainability , Gaurav Verma

Design, Synthesis of Axial Chiral Triazole , Jing Wang

The Development of AApeptides , Lulu Wei

Chemical Investigation of Floridian Mangrove Endophytes and Antarctic Marine Organisms , Bingjie Yang

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

An Insight into the Biological Functions, the Molecular Mechanism and the Nature of Interactions of a Set of Biologically Important Proteins. , Adam A. Aboalroub

Functional Porous Materials: Applications for Environmental Sustainability , Briana Amaris Aguila

Biomimetic Light Harvesting in Metalloporphyrins Encapsulated/Incorporated within Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs). , Abdulaziz A. Alanazi

Design and Synthesis of Novel Agents for the Treatment of Tropical Diseases , Linda Corrinne Barbeto

Effect of Atypical protein kinase C inhibitor (DNDA) on Cell Proliferation and Migration of Lung Cancer Cells , Raja Reddy Bommareddy

The Activity and Structure of Cu2+ -Biomolecules in Disease and Disease Treatment , Darrell Cole Cerrato

Simulation and Software Development to Understand Interactions of Guest Molecules inPorous Materials , Douglas M. Franz

Construction of G-quadruplexes via Self-assembly: Enhanced Stability and Unique Properties , Ying He

The Role of Atypical Protein Kinase C in Colorectal Cancer Cells Carcinogenesis , S M Anisul Islam

Chemical Tools and Treatments for Neurological Disorders and Infectious Diseases , Andrea Lemus

Antarctic Deep Sea Coral and Tropical Fungal Endophyte: Novel Chemistry for Drug Discovery , Anne-Claire D. Limon

Constituent Partitioning Consensus Docking Models and Application in Drug Discovery , Rainer Metcalf

An Investigation into the Heterogeneity of Insect Arylalkylamine N -Acyltransferases , Brian G. O'Flynn

Evaluating the Evidence Base for Evidence-Based Instructional Practices in Chemistry through Meta-Analysis , Md Tawabur Rahman

Role of Oncogenic Protein Kinase C-iota in Melanoma Progression; A Study Based on Atypical Protein Kinase-C Inhibitors , Wishrawana Sarathi Bandara Ratnayake

Formulation to Application: Thermomechanical Characterization of Flexible Polyimides and The Improvement of Their Properties Via Chain Interaction , Alejandro Rivera Nicholls

The Chemical Ecology and Drug Discovery Potential of the Antarctic Red Alga Plocamium cartilagineum and the Antarctic Sponge Dendrilla membranosa , Andrew Jason Shilling

Synthesis, Discovery and Delivery of Therapeutic Natural Products and Analogs , Zachary P. Shultz

Development of α-AA peptides as Peptidomimetics for Antimicrobial Therapeutics and The Discovery of Nanostructures , Sylvia E. Singh

Self-Assembly of 2D and 3D Metallo-Supramolecules with Increasing Complexity , Bo Song

The Potential of Marine Microbes, Flora and Fauna in Drug Discovery , Santana Alexa Lavonia Thomas

Design, Synthesis, and Self-Assembly of Supramolecular Fractals Based on Terpyridine with Different Transition Metal Ions , Lei Wang

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Fatty Acid Amides and Their Biosynthetic Enzymes Found in Insect Model Systems , Ryan L. Anderson

Interrogation of Protein Function with Peptidomimetics , Olapeju Bolarinwa

Characterization of Nylon-12 in a Novel Additive Manufacturing Technology, and the Rheological and Spectroscopic Analysis of PEG-Starch Matrix Interactions , Garrett Michael Craft

Synthesis of Novel Agents for the treatment of Infectious and Neurodegenerative diseases , Benjamin Joe Eduful

Survey research in postsecondary chemistry education: Measurements of faculty members’ instructional practice and students’ affect , Rebecca E. Gibbons

Design, Synthesis, Application of Biodegradable Polymers , Mussie Gide

Conformational Fluctuations of Biomolecules Studied Using Molecular Dynamics and Enhanced Sampling , Geoffrey M. Gray

Analysis and New Applications of Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF): Thermal Conductivity of a Perovskite-type MOF and Incorporation of a Lewis Pair into a MOF. , Wilarachchige D C B Gunatilleke

Chemical Investigation of Bioactive Marine Extracts , Selam Hagos

Optimizing Peptide Fractionation to Maximize Content in Cancer Proteomics , Victoria Izumi

Germania-based Sol-gel Coatings and Core-shell Particles in Chromatographic Separations , Chengliang Jiang

Synthesis, Modification, Characterization and Processing of Molded and Electrospun Thermoplastic Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites , Tamalia Julien

Studies Aimed at the Synthesis of Anti-Infective Agents , Ankush Kanwar

From Florida to Antarctica: Dereplication Strategies and Chemical Investigations of Marine Organisms , Matthew A. Knestrick

Sorbent Enrichment Performance of Aromatic Compounds from Diluted Liquid Solution , Le Meng

Development of Bioactive Peptidomimetics , Fengyu She

Azamacrocyclic-based Frameworks: Syntheses and Characterizations , Chavis Andrew Stackhouse

Structure-based Design, Synthesis and Applications of a New Class of Peptidomimetics: 'Y -AA Peptides and Their Derivatives , Ma Su

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Home > College of Arts and Sciences > Chemistry > Theses

Undergraduate Theses

The University of Dayton Department of Chemistry encourages its undergraduate majors to conduct scholarly research, offering students paid laboratory work, academic scholarships, and summer research fellowships. Faculty provide mentorship, advice, supervision, supplies, and access to state-of-the-art instrumentation.

Many of the theses in this collection are components of larger projects done in collaboration with faculty members; when papers resulting from these projects are submitted for publication in scientific journals, undergraduate students are listed as co-authors, a great distinction for undergraduate students.

Many undergraduate theses also are presented in poster form at the annual Stander Symposium.

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Guidelines for writing a senior thesis.

Except as noted below, each thesis should be about 20-25 pages in length (12 pt font, double-spaced except for abstract which may be single-spaced) and written in the style of an article to be published in a journal in the area of the research. Students should, of course, consult with their research directors about the structure of their theses; however, a suggested outline which may be used as a default follows. [Comments in brackets apply to research publications in primary literature and are generally based on material in  The ACS Style Guide .]

Title; names of student and research director; date.

[The title should be brief, grammatically correct, and accurate enough to stand alone. The purposes of the title are to attract the potential audience and to aid retrieval and indexing services. The latter is facilitated by using several keywords in the title. In a journal publication, the title is followed by the names of the authors, the address of the institution where the work was conducted, and the date on which the paper was received by the journal editor. The names of the authors are each listed in the order: first, middle initial, and surname; and include all who made substantial contributions to the research. An asterisk is placed on the name of the author to whom correspondence should be addressed.]

One-half to one page (single-spaced); a succinct summary of objectives, methods, results and conclusions.

[The purposes of the abstract are (1) to allow the reader to determine the nature and information given in the paper and (2) to allow editors to pinpoint key features for use in indexing and retrieval. State briefly the problem or purpose of the research if it is not adequately conveyed by the title. Indicate theoretical or experimental plan used, accurately summarize the principal findings, and point out major conclusions.]

Statement of objectives and significance and a review of pertinent literature, carefully cited. This section should generally be more detailed than allowed for a journal article.

[The introduction should contain a clear statement of the problem and why you are studying it. Outline what has been done before by citing truly pertinent literature. Indicate the significance, scope and limits of your work. In journals, this section is frequently not labelled.]

Methods used; instrumental, synthetic and analytical, as well as computational. Also, description of equipment built, compounds synthesized, computer programs written, etc.

[This section should include sufficient detail about the materials and methods that you used so that experienced workers could repeat your work and obtain comparable results.]

The data, complete and detailed, with sufficient description to be understood — but without interpretation.

[Summarize the data collected and the statistical treatment of them. Use equations, figures, and tables where necessary for clarity and conciseness.]

The interpretation, analysis and explanation of the results, both positive and negative; what does it all mean?

[In journal publications, the Results section is sometimes combined with the Discussion section of the paper.]

Final wrap-up statement.

[Have you resolved the original problem? If not, what exactly have you contributed? Conclusions must be based on evidence presented in the paper. Suggest further study or applications, if appropriate. This section may be omitted and its contents presented in the Discussion section.]

[The last paragraph of a journal article frequently contains acknowledgements of people, places, financing, etc.]

In the style indicated by your research director. If your research director does not indicate a specific style, use the following.  Book references.  Author or editor (last name followed by initials),book title in italics or underlined, publisher, city of publication, year of publication, page number(s). Dodd, J.S., Ed.; The ACS Style Guide, American Chemical Society:Washington, DC, 1986, pp 108-111.  Journal references.  Author (last name, followed by initials), abbreviated journal title in italics or underlined, year of publication (boldface), volume number in italics or underlined, and initial page of cited article (the complete span is better). Fletcher, T.R.; Rosenfeld, R.N. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1985, 107, 2203-2212.

Any extensive tabulations of raw data, additional spectra not needed for illustration of the main text or listings of computer programs written or modified. That is, if there is just too much data to include in the Results Section or if much of the raw data have been abstracted and/or tabulated, these abstracts and/or tables may go in the Results Section along with only representative spectra (or chromatograms, etc.), and the bulk raw data put in Appendices. NEW: An  appendix on safety  should be added to the thesis.

• All pages should be numbered consecutively.
• Each table should be on a separate sheet, be consecutively numbered, and have a caption at the top. Columns must be labeled and all labels should be explained in the caption or in footnotes.
• Each figure should be carefully drawn on a separate sheet, consecutively numbered and accompanied by a legend. The legend should normally appear below the figure but may be placed on a separate sheet, if necessary. Figures should be carefully prepared using a drawing program such as ChemDraw or ISIS. Graphs are treated as figures, i.e., they should not be labeled as "Graph 1," "Graph 2," etc. Each axis of a graph must be clearly labeled as to the variable represented and its value along the axis. Each curve on a graph should be clearly identified. Raw data displayed in graphs may also appear in separate tables. All symbols and conventions, such as broken lines or dotted lines, should be explained in the legend.
• Insofar as is practical, mathematical equations, Greek letters, special mathematical symbols, and chemical reaction schemes should be typed in the text.
• Reprints or preprints of any publications that have already arisen from the research being reported may be appended.
• Further details may be obtained from  The ACS Style Guide .
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A guide to writing up your chemical science thesis

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This guide aims to give you guidance on how to write your thesis so that your research is showcased at its best. It includes suggestions on how to prepare for writing up and things to consider during the final stages. 

• Higher-order thinking and metacognition
• Investigation
• Manipulating data
• Working independently
• Communication skills

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Home > Arts and Sciences > Chemistry > CHEMISTRYHONORS

Chemistry Undergraduate Honors Theses

Honors theses from 2023 2023.

A Combinatorial and Solution Phase Approach to the Synthesis of Polyyne Compound Libraries with Therapeutically Relevant Biological Activity. , Cody Funk

Development of Data Science Tools for Photovoltaic Design and Super-Resolution Imaging , Grayson Hoy

Examining the Nutritional Quality of Mixotrophic Dinoflagellates Using Elemental Ratios and Total Lipid Content , Delaney Kirr

First Row Metal Complexes for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction of Artificial Photosynthesis , Ryan Anderson

Introducing Additional Protein Functionality via Incorporation of Non-Canonical Amino Acids , Hannah Smith

Modulation of Protein Function and Synthesis of Bioconjugates using Unnatural Amino Acids , Naya Burrow

Solvent-Mediated Photophysical Outcomes of Brown Carbon Chromophores , Ruby Neisser

Honors Theses from 2022 2022

Chemical Analysis of Organic Compounds in Dew Water , Monica Dibley

Copper(I) Iodide Complexes for the Detection of Aqueous Pyridine , Stephen Yachuw

Differential Protein Expression in Bacteriophages CrimD and Larva , Daria Moody

Gas-Phase Proton Affinities for Twenty of the Proline-Containing Dipeptides , Henry Cardwell

I. Synthesis of Pyrrolodiketopiperazines from an Intact Diketopiperazine Ring II. A Non-oxidative Method for Synthesizing 1,2-diketones from Aldehyde and Organometallic Building Blocks , Gwyneth Pudner

SERS Analysis of Pretreated Red Lake Colorants in Historical Oil Paintings & Development of a SERS Spectral Analysis Program with Deep Learning , Zhaoyun Zheng

Synthesis and Biological Testing of Small-Molecule Mitochondrial Complex I Inhibitors , Willough Sloan

The Role of Relative Humidity on Biomass Burning Organic Aerosol Photolysis , Natalie Warren

Honors Theses from 2021 2021

Alkylpyridinium Iodobismuthate Structural Determination and Analysis , Neal Marshall

Construction of Pyridine Derivatives Using 1,4-Oxazin-2-one Precursors through Cycloaddition / Cycloreversion Tandem Sequences , Nicole Carrillo Vallejo

Developing Iron Complexes for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Generation , Benjamin Travis

Experimental and Computational Electronic Quenching Dynamics of Nitric Oxide by Molecular Collisional Partners , David J. Hood

Humic Acids as Sacrificial Electron Donors for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation , Allison Moyer

Investigating Charge Transfer Complexes in Brown Carbon Aerosols , Brianna Peterson

Molecular Cluster Fragment Machine Learning Training Techniques to Predict Energetics of Brown Carbon Aerosol Clusters , Emily E. Chappie

Multivalent Conjugation of Biologically Active Molecules Through use of Unnatural Amino Acids , Cameron Goff

Photolysis of Methylglyoxal Brown Carbon , Lemai Vo

Proteomic Analysis of Mycobacteriophage CrimD , William Moeller

Spectroscopy and Dynamics of CO-NO: Intermolecular Interactions Drive Photochemical Outcomes , Daniel Costantino

Synthesis and Biological Testing of Quinone-Based Natural Products , Yihan Qin

Honors Theses from 2020 2020

Adaptation of a Low-Cost Hyperpolarization Technique for Use with Single-Sided NMR , Ruth A. Beaver

Chemical Transformation of Biomass Burning Organic Aerosols Due to Photolytic Aging , Hongmin Yu

Conformational Changes of Lactate Dehydrogenase Isozymes , Benjamin Hauk

Determination of Thermodynamic Properties of Non-Protein Amino Acids and Characterization of Multimers of Carbamazepine , Gwendylan Turner

Employing Unnatural Amino Acids to Develop Bioconjugations, Multivalent Conjugates, and Protein Modulation Strategies , Elizabeth King

Iron polypyridyl complexes for electrocatalytic proton reduction , Zachary Schiffman

Photocatalytic Generation of Hydrogen Catalyzed by Iron (III) Polypyridyl Complexes , Margaret Lawrence

Photolytic Aging of 4-Nitrophenol: Effects of Fresh and Aged Secondary Organic Aerosol on Atmospheric Lifetimes , Lydia Dolvin

Study of the Catalytic Abilities of Methyl-Functionalized & Dimethyl-Functionalized Iron Complexes for Proton Reduction , Jiashu Wang

Synthesis and Investigation of Asymmetric Diyne and Polyyne Compounds for Biological Activity , Lauren Mazur

Using Unnatural Amino Acid Technologies to Immobilize and Regulate Proteins , Emily Mae Peairs

Honors Theses from 2019 2019

1,4-Benzoquinone and 1,4-Naphthoquinone Natural Products: C-H Functionalization and Enzymatic Activity , Zhenyu Han

Atomic Force Microscopy Measurements of Interfacial Forces Between Boron Nitride and Polymers for Development of an Optimum Nano-Composite , Hall Zhang

Characterizing Flame-resistant Polymers using Single-sided NMR , Anna Tsutsui

Determinations of Proton Affinities of Methylated Cysteine and Serine Homologs , Danielle Long

Electrocatalysis for Proton and Oxygen Reduction Reactions , William Lake

Exploring the Blinking Dynamics of Eosin Y Photosensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Photocatalysis Using Single-Molecule Spectroscopy , Pauline Lynch

Iron Complexes for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation , Indira Stevens

Optimizing Silver Nanoparticles for Pigment Identification in Art , Carolyn Farling

Spatial Encoding with Single-sided NMR , Madeline Brass

Honors Theses from 2018 2018

Accessing Light-Sensitive Polycyclic Aromatics through an Alkynyl-Prins Cyclization , Daniel John Speer

Alkyl Arylinium Iodocuprate Clusters: Structural and Spectroscopic Diversity , Amelia Marie Wheaton

Characterizing the Ductile-Brittle Transition of Polyamide-11/ Purification and Characterization of Boron Nitride Nanotubes , William Kim

Construction of Bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane Scaffolds via Intermolecular Diels-Alder: Synthesis of (±)-Brevianamide B and Progress Toward (+)-Serantrypinone , Xiye Wang

Development and Optimization of Bioconjugations to Probe and Modulate Protein Function , Christopher Travis

Employing Unnatural Amino Acids Towards Therapeutic Bioconjugates , Zachary Nimmo

Gas-Phase Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange and Fragmentation Studies of Tetrapeptides Containing Lysine and Its Homologs , AnnaTram Do

Imaging the Dynamics of CH2BrI Photodissociation in the Near Ultraviolet Region , Changen Pan

Investigation of the Catalytic Ability of Iron Complexes Containing Pendant Proton Relays for Proton Reduction , Shichuan Xi

Photo-Controlled Release of Zinc Ions in Aqueous Solution with Simultaneous Fluorescence Detection , Tyler Larson

Honors Theses from 2017 2017

Advancements in the Photocatalysis of Iron Complexes and the Electrocatalysis of Cobalt Complexes for Hydrogen Generation , Ryan J. DiRisio

An analysis of oxidative damage to lactate dehydrogenase in context of neurodegeneration and catechol-based phenolic antioxidant chemistry , Lydia Boike

Characterization of Mixed N,S Donor Ligand and Group 12 Metal Complexes with X-Ray Crystallography, ESI-MS, and NMR , Mikhaila D. Ritz

Connecting Energy Metabolism and Neurodegeneration: Pyruvate Kinase and Oxidative Stress , Julia P. Zuercher

Development of Novel Chemical Strategies to Modulate Biological Function , Diya M. Uthappa

Does 5-propionyl-1-dimethylaminonapthalene Fluoresce through a TICT State? , Tao Chen

Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Generation by Cobalt Complexes , Jessica E. Armstrong

Fluorescently-Labeled Glutathiones to Quantify Cysteine Reactivity , Saloni H. Patolia

Improving Water Barrier Properties of Epoxy Coatings with Addition of Graphene Oxide , Sang H. Kim

Investigating Biological Properties Utilizing Synthetic Methods , Lindsay E. Chatkewitz

Metabolism and Oxidative Stress: Understanding the Role of Reactive Cysteines in Pyruvate Kinase , Mary Cate Duff

Optogenetic Investigations of the PreBötzinger Complex: Support for the Dbx1 Core Hypothesis , Francis D. Pham

Photocontrol of pH via Doped Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles , Aaron I. Bayles

Structural Comparison of Copper(II) Thiocyanate Pyridine Complexes , Joseph V. Handy

Total synthesis of barettin: Model study of specialized aldol condensation to directly access diketopiperazine targets , Elizabeth W. Kelley

Towards a Greater Understanding of Post-Translational Modification of Transcription Factor, ArsR, in Helicobacter pylori via Bottom-Up Proteomics: Methods Development for Electrospray and Nanospray Approaches , Theresa Gozzo

Tuning the pKa of Fluorescent Rhodamine pH Probes via Substituent Effects , Sarah G. Stratton

Utilization of Unnatural Amino Acids in Novel Bioconjugates and Probing Applications , Christina A. Howard

Visible Light Fluorescence Switching in Dye-Doped Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles , Xinzi Zhang

Honors Theses from 2016 2016

An Experimental and Theoretical Study of Proton Affinity in Proline-Containing Dipeptides: Exploring the “Proline Effect” , Anton Luke Lachowicz

Construction of Bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane Alkaloids via Intermolecular [4+2] Cycloadditions , Jacob Gabriel Robins

Creating a Computational Model of Prion Disease in the Human Neocortex , Christina Alexandra Stephens

Domino Reactions Involving Merged Cycloaddition and Cycloreversion Processes Affording Pyridine Products , Jill Williamson

Fragmentation Studies of Lysine and Lysine Analog Containing Tetrapeptides , Zachariah Imran Hasan

Hydrogen-Bonding Control of Solvatochromism and Non-Radiative Decay in the Fluorescence of 3-Aminofluoren-9-one Derivatives , Isaac Gregory Alty

Investigation of Unnatural Amino Acids as a Means to Modulate Protein Function , Taylor Harrison Jacobs

Iron Complexes for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation , Carolyn L. Hartley

Oligomers and Polymers of Copper(I) With Dicyanobenzene and Cyanopyridine Ligands , Mark K. Broderick

Peptide Fragmentation Studies on Doubly Charged Proline and Pipecolic Acid Containing Pentapeptides and Methods Development for an HPLC/MS Instrument for Proteomics Experiments , Hannah Emily Smith

Probing Single-Molecule Photophysics of Rhodamines on TiO2 , Jenna Adrienne Uy Tan

Studies of the development of intermolecular networks during the curing of coatings using single-sided nuclear magnetic resonance , Frances Jude Morin

Synthesis and Characterization of Interpenetrating Polymer Networks for Applications in Extraterrestrial Radiation Shielding , Josiah Arevalo Hammack

The Effect of Ethanol, Methanol, and Water on the Hydrolytic Degradation of Polyamide-11 , Patrick Smith

Total Synthesis of Peramine, a Defensive Alkaloid Produced by Endophytic Fungi of Cool Season Grasses Possessing Anti-Insect Properties , Matthew Rolfe Nelli

Utilizing Synthetic Tools to Address Biological Issues , Marshall Scott Padilla

Honors Theses from 2015 2015

Cu(I) Networks With Polycyanoaromatic Ligands , Congqi Yang

Development of a Site-Selective Protein Immobilization Methodology Utilizing Unnatural Amino Acids , Benjamin K. Raliski

Development of Novel Chemical Techniques to Address Biological Questions , Johnathan C. Maza

Diffusion-Based Biomolecular Sensing Using Low-Field NMR , John S. Gray

Electro- and Photocatalytic Generation of Hydrogen by Iron Polypyridyl Complexes , Kathryn J. Mayer

First-­‐Row Transition Metal Coordination Compounds for the Electrocatalytic Generation of Hydrogen from Organic and Aqueous Solutions , Patrick M. Crossland

High Performance Co-Polyimide Synthesis for Cosmic Radiation Shielding , Jarrell H. Raper

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Honors Thesis

Honors in chemistry.

Upon the completion of an honors thesis, and upon the recommendation of the Department of Chemistry, the B.A. or B.S. degree with a major in chemistry may be awarded with honors in chemistry or highest honors in chemistry.

To attain the honors or highest distinction, the candidate must satisfy the following guidelines:

• Complete an honors thesis project and write an accompanying honors thesis
• Achieve an overall grade point average of 3.30 or higher.
• Achieve a chemistry major grade point average of 3.40 or higher.
• Prior to the final semester during which the honors thesis is completed, conduct two semesters or one semester plus one summer of research in the laboratory in which the thesis work will be completed. This research can be through Chem 395, work-study, funded or paid research, or volunteer.

Honors in chemistry is a distinction bestowed on an outstanding student who has completed a research project of considerable merit, as certified by the research advisor and two faculty members appointed by the director of undergraduate studies.

Highest honors in chemistry is a distinction bestowed on a truly exceptional student who has completed a research project of considerable depth and significance that meets the most rigorous standards of scholarly excellence, as certified by the research advisor and two faculty members appointed by the director of undergraduate studies.

Students who wish to complete an honors thesis should begin planning their course programs and research activities during or before the junior year so that ample time and effort may be devoted to research.

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Dept. of Department of Chemistry

Research thesis.

You may decide to culminate several semesters of research work by documenting your results in the form of an undergraduate thesis:

• For students who are members of the Schreyer Honors College (SHC), a thesis is required to graduate with distinction.
• For all other students, the Eberly College of Science offers a certificate via the Science Research Distinction (SCIRES) program .

Completing a research thesis indicates a high level of achievement, and the resulting distinction is an important addition to your CV. Details of the specific requirements and deadlines for these two approaches can be found at the SHC and SCIRES websites listed above.

From the perspective of the chemistry department, the requirements for an undergraduate research thesis in chemistry are the same for honors and non-honors students. Research in chemistry or a related area must be undertaken under the supervision of a thesis advisor (or co-advisor) who is a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry.

The thesis will be evaluated by a three-person committee consisting of the research advisor and at least two other faculty members. In the case of SHC theses, one of the committee members should be your honors advisor. At least two members of the committee must be from the tenure-track faculty; the third participant may be a non-tenure- track faculty member. When appropriate, participating faculty members may be from departments other than chemistry. Note that the chemistry requirements for thesis evaluation are more comprehensive than those of the SHC or the SCIRES programs. Students fulfilling the chemistry requirements will automatically fulfill the requirements of either of these two programs.

After the thesis is approved by the research advisor, and at least one week prior to the submission deadline, students should provide a complete copy of the thesis to all committee members and schedule a meeting with the committee. During this meeting, the candidate first presents a 20–30-minute talk to their committee members and, if desired, to other interested persons. The committee members will then discuss the research with the student, decide whether it satisfies requirements for research distinction, and suggest any required changes to the thesis. Students are responsible for scheduling a meeting of their committee early enough to meet the program-specific deadlines for final submission. Contact the chemistry department's Undergraduate Program Office to reserve an appropriate room for this meeting. Be sure to bring the required signature page to the meeting. Theses must be signed by all committee members and, in the case of SCIRES theses, the Associate Head for Undergraduate Education must also sign. In the case of SHC theses, the final audit for conferring an honors degree must be completed by the Schreyer Honors College.

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Chemistry Undergraduate Honors Theses

Theses from 2024 2024.

Preliminary Reactions for DO3MBn ester Design of Experiments With a Separation Procedure for DO2MBn ester and DO3MBn ester ligand , Cerys A. Easton

Theses from 2023 2023

Understanding Ubiquitin-like Signaling at the Host-Pathogen Interface , Danna Eloisa Guzman Gonzalez

Investigating the Mammillary Bodies as an Early Target of Alzheimer's Disease , Cole Martinson

Climate Change Proposal: Coupling Equity and Scientific Rigor in Facing Global Warming , Rebecca McNicholas

Theses from 2022 2022

Detection and Quantification of Arsenic Pollution with a Moss Bio-Indicator and ICP-MS , Erin R. Bowey

Theses from 2021 2021

The Effect of Diazepam on Early Neural Stem Cells Proliferative Activity and Hippocampal-Dependent Memory after Traumatic Brain Injury , Van Khanh Doan

Rapid Method for Consistency and Concentration Reporting of Cannabidiol Using 1 H-NMR and Computer-Assisted Chemical Software , Michael A. Fernando

The Role of Native Lens α-crystallin in Amyloid Suppression Using β-amyloid as a Model Amyloid Client , Leilani Lopes

Soft Lithographic Replication of High Length-Scale Micropillars From Laser-Ablated Fused-Silica Templates , Jason Pitts

Uniting Non-Empirical and Semi-Empirical Density Functional Approximation Strategies using Constraint-Based Regularization , Trine K. Quady, Zachary M. Sparrow, Brian G. Ernst, and Robert A. DiStasio Jr.

Theses from 2020 2020

A Review of Methodologies Applied for Determining Particulate Matter Characterization in Urban Regions , Garrett F. Diehl

Identification of Degradation Products Formed from Glycerol and Terpenes in Aromatherapy Vaporizers , Alisha Ortiz

The Role of Redox Chemistry of Disulfide Bonds in Cysteine Residues of Membrane Proteins by Cuprous and Cupric Ions in Cell Death of E. coli , Morgan R. Stewart

Theses from 2019 2019

β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex with Oxazine-4 Derivative for the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme , Rohi Gheewala

BRET Assays to Determine Altered Function of a D2DR Variant in G Protein-Independent and -Dependent Pathways , Alex R. Kunz

The Synthesis of Di-substituted DOTA Ligands for MRI Contrast Agents , Chau V. Nguyen

The Effects of Chronic Chemogenetic Stimulation of Nucleus Accumbens on Binge Drinking, the Transcriptome, and Neuronal Morphology , Dar'ya Y. Pozhidayeva

Neuroprotective Effects of Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators Against Amyloid Beta Toxicity and the Pathways that Provide Protection , Maggie Rose

Cortical Thickness Comparison of ASD and TD Subjects , Jonathan Rigoberto Uriarte-Lopez

The Use of Aromatherapy for the Treatment of Post-Operative Nausea Vomiting , Mikayla J. Whitley

Theses from 2018 2018

Isomers of Heteroleptic Derivatives of Nickel(II) Tris-Pyridinethiolate , Matthew McAllister Davis

Topological Structures Influencing Kinetic Control in Small, Catalytically Closed, RNA Recombinase Systems Emerging from the Spontaneous Self-Organization of Heterogeneous Fragments of the Azoarcus Ribozyme , Sanjay Ramprasad

Theses from 2017 2017

Determination of Electronic Cigarette Liquid Water Content by NMR Spectroscopy , Michael Lethin

Theses from 2016 2016

Cofactor Binding Determinants in the NADPH-Dependent Nitrile-Oxidoreductase QueF , Spencer William Cohen

The Effect of pH on the Photoluminescent Properties of Silicon Nanoparticles , Parker Karaba

Mimicking the Bioactivation of the Antitubercular Agent Ethionamide using Peracetic Acid , Isabelle E. Logan

Synthesis, Structure and Contrast Efficacy of Bismuth (III) Chelated with 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-Tetramethylene Phosphonate and its Incorporation into Nano-Assembled Capsules , Karley B. Maier

Ribozyme/Duplex Binding Interactions as a Thermodynamic Basis for Chemical Game Theory , Elizabeth Satterwhite

Three Novel Seminaphthorhodamines: Synthesis, Structure, and Spectral Properties , Chris Schweizer

Theses from 2015 2015

Polyethylene Glycol and Silica Coatings of Bismuth Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization and Whole Serum Compatibilities , Victor Benavides-Montes

Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Fluorescent Chemosensor Data , Kimberly Guttinger

Development and Initial Application of Low-Molecular Weight Organic Acids and Inorganic Ionic Species in Aerosol Particulate Matter via Ion Chromatography , Clarissa D. Karpinski

Comparison of Monowave and Polywave Transmission and Curing Profile thru Various Composites , Anna Kolpakova

A Study on the Effects of Using Redox Active Solvents on the Photophysical Properties of Hydride-Terminated Silicon Nanoparticles , Eunice Y. Lee

Biomimetic Model Membranes to Study Protein-membrane Interactions and their Role in Alzheimer’s Disease , Grant W. Marquart

Designing Nanochelators for Cancer Therapy , Tan Pham-Duy Nguyen

Analyzing Riboswitches as a Function of Genome Size and Genus Ancestry in Gammaproteobacteria , Robyn Reid

Theses from 2014 2014

Elemental Bismuth Nanoparticles : Mechanistic Studies Concerning Reduction of a Bi(III) Precursor Leading to Nanoparticle Formation in a Bottom-Up, High Payload Synthetic Approach , Colin J. Hiatt

Frozen, Old, or New? : Comparing Biochemical Markers and Tissue Oxygenation in Transfused Blood , Connor Wiles

Theses from 2013 2013

Thinking Through Consciousness , Erica Hanson

Theses from 2012 2012

The Regulation of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 by Growth Hormone via Stat5b , Tiffany Morrison

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Senior Thesis

Application of Admission Progress Report Candidate Declaration Form

The Undergraduate Senior Thesis is a two-semester program culminating in a written research thesis, public thesis defense seminar, and private oral examination. The senior honors thesis is a capstone experience for exceptional undergraduates, allowing them to showcase the depth of their Chemistry knowledge and focus on independent research. Students wishing to pursue an undergraduate senior thesis must:

• Be a senior in good academic standing,
• Be majoring in Chemistry, ACS Certified Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Chemical Physics,
• Have been on the Dean’s list at least twice prior to senior year,
• Have at least one prior summer or semester of research prior to senior year.

Students should coordinate with their research director*, register for CHEM 0195 for the first semester of senior year, and complete the Application for Admission to the Chemistry Thesis Program in the spring of their junior year. The research director* must sign the application indicating their approval. This form is due to the Chemistry Department Main Office no later than September 30th of their senior year.

* If the research director is not a chemistry faculty member then a Chemistry faculty member must also serve as co-advisor and also sign the form.

Prior to Senior Year

• [Mandatory] Perform at least one summer or semester of research; one year of prior research is common.
• [Mandatory] Apply to the Chemistry Thesis Program: The application form must submitted to the Chemistry Department Main Office (Pearson 110) no later than  September 30th of the student’s senior year. The Research Director must sign the application form indicating their approval; if the Research Director is not a chemistry faculty member, a chemistry faculty member must serve as co-advisor and also sign the form. The thesis committee must have at least two faculty members from the Chemistry Department. The Department will evaluate the application and notify the student if they are admitted into the thesis program.
• [Mandatory] Register for CHEM 0195 for the first semester of the senior year.

Senior Year, Fall Semester

          All semester:

• [Mandatory] Continue with research. Commit to performing at least 20 hours of research per week during the senior year.
• [Strongly recommended] Attend departmental seminars.

          October:

• Have a planning meeting with the committee by the end of October (recommended but optional).
• [Mandatory] Submit the university form to be enrolled in the Honors Thesis Program

Senior Honors Thesis   Policies and Procedures

In general, the “Thesis Honors Candidate” form must be received in Dowling by mid-October , but please check their website. 

          December:

• [Mandatory] Register for Chem 0199.
• Begin writing thesis, especially introductory sections during the break.

Senior Year Spring Semester

• [Strongly recommended] Attend departmental seminars.         

          January–February:

• [Mandatory] A progress report meeting must be held in January–February . The student should make a 20-minute   presentation of research progress followed by a Q&A and planning discussion. A progress report form must be filled out after the meeting, indicating that the meeting has taken place and that progress toward the thesis is satisfactory, and must be filed with the Main Chemistry Office no later than February 15 of the student’s senior year.

          March:

• [Mandatory] Schedule the thesis defense with the committee. Reserve a room with the Chemistry office and give them a title. The defense is public, announced by the office one week in advance, and the defense must be completed before final exams begin in May . The defense may take place shortly before or during the Reading Period.
• [Strongly recommended] Submit a draft of your thesis to your research director for editing and general approval.

          April–May:

• [Mandatory] Submit a written thesis to the committee at least two weeks before the defense date.
• [Mandatory] Give the defense seminar on the scheduled date. The seminar should be 45 minutes, should include introductory information so that the audience can understand the context of the research, and should be presented at a level understandable by a chemically literate general audience. After the public defense, the committee will question the student privately. The research director must submit the “Recommendation for Senior Thesis Honors” form by the deadline ( usually early May ). 

Senior Honors Thesis

• [Mandatory] Incorporate edits and suggestions from the thesis committee in the written thesis. Deposit the thesis with the Tisch Library. Please check these websites regarding formatting restrictions, how to deposit your thesis, and the deadline ( usually mid-May ):

Senior Honors Thesis   Tufts Archival Research Center   Submit Your Work

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Undergraduate Chemistry Major and Research

Undergraduate majors in chemistry and biological chemistry.

Current Course List

See the most current  Courses and Programs of Study Catalog  for the requirements for the Chemistry and Biological Chemistry concentration programs and course listing.

The Faculty Advisor for Chemistry and Biological Chemistry majors is Professor John Anderson .

Undergraduate Research

If you are considering graduate study in chemistry or a related field, by fall or winter quarter of your third year you should seek out an opportunity to do research, even if you do not plan to do an honors thesis. Typically students begin research on a volunteer basis during their second or third year of study. Productive students can be hired as paid assistants here or at other institutions over the summer.

PLACEMENT TESTS - Which placement tests are offered for entering students and how do I register?

A chemistry placement test, taken online in the summer, is required for all students intending to enroll in general or introductory chemistry. To be placed into Honors General Chemistry, students must pass the second part of the online exam, the Honors Placement Test. A placement test for math or calculus is also required. Consult the College Orientation Office for information about the administration of the placement tests.

CHEMISTRY ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS - What is the Chemistry Advanced Placement Exam and how do I register?

Incoming students who plan to take chemistry courses are required to take both the Chemistry and Math Placement exams that are offered online through the College during the summer prior to matriculation.

All incoming students who place into Honors General Chemistry (CHEM 12100) will automatically be registered to take the Chemistry Advanced Placement Exam. Performing well on this exam and consultation with the Chemistry  Di rector of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) may offer placement out of General Chemistry.

The Chemistry Advanced Placement Exam is offered online via Canvas prior to the start of classes. This is the only time during the year that this test is given.

PLACEMENT CREDIT – What type of placement credit can be earned in Chemistry?

Students who earn a score of 5 on the AP exam in chemistry are given credit for CHEM 11100 Comprehensive General Chemistry I. Students with CHEM 11100 Comprehensive General Chemistry I credit may join CHEM 11200 Comprehensive General Chemistry II in the Winter Quarter. A score of 5 on the AP exam also permits students to take CHEM 12100-12200-12300 Honors General Chemistry I-II-III; students may opt to begin with CHEM 12100 Honors General Chemistry I in the Autumn Quarter or CHEM 12200 Honors General Chemistry II in the Winter Quarter. Students who complete the first quarter of Comprehensive General Chemistry or Honors General Chemistry forgo the AP credit. Note that no credit is given for IB chemistry, but students may pursue the Advanced Placement option described above.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES - How do I learn about which faculty member's research might interest me?

The best way to start is to talk to friends or classmates who have done undergraduate research with faculty here and to read the descriptions of the research interests of faculty in chemistry and related fields. A student should feel free to explore opportunities in other interdisciplinary areas not listed below (such as molecular or condensed matter physics, computational biology, etc.). If you are planning to pursue an honors thesis in chemistry, the research should be in chemistry or a related chemical area (we have had students who have done honors work in biology and physics, but their research involved problems related to chemistry and was approved in advance by the chemistry undergraduate advisor).

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RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES - How do I approach faculty members about doing research in their group?

After you have identified a few faculty whose research looks interesting to you, contact them directly for more information. Go to the Faculty page to find their contact info.

When contacting faculty, it can be helpful to provide the following information:

your year in the program

courses you have taken that are relevant to the research position 

your plans, if any, to pursue a higher degree 

any prior research you have done

• other faculty in the department who might be able to provide a recommendation for you

If you are considering an honors thesis, ask which research projects might be appropriate. In many groups, you will learn the most day to day from the graduate students in the group, so you may wish to meet them. If all parties seem interested and willing, ask the faculty member if he or she can take you on and how you should proceed -- how often and when you are expected in lab, when group meetings are, and so on.

If you wish to learn about opportunities in other groups before actually asking a faculty member if you can work with them, let the faculty member know when you plan to contact them again and thank them for taking the time to let you know about possible research opportunities (do not take more than a week or two to look around once you have had serious conversations with one faculty member). It is usual to approach your favorite person first so that if they spend a half-hour telling you about their research and then tell you they have a spot available for you, you can then tell them you are delighted to accept. Do not get discouraged if your favorite group is already over-committed. Use the opportunity to ask for advice on other research groups in the department.

Keep in mind that when you first work with a group it is a time to learn to be productive. If it is a good research project, it will take time to learn how to contribute. You should not expect to be paid during the academic year, but that work can prepare you for a paid summer internship.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES - How do I secure a paid position on campus over the summer?

The best way to secure a paid research position over the summer with a faculty member at UChicagois to work with them on a volunteer basis during the academic year preceding the summer you want to work full time on research. Whether you plan to do an honors thesis or not, one option is to identify a couple of faculty whose research interests you by reading the Description of Research of Faculty in Chemistry or Biochemistry and then contacting the individual faculty member directly.

Your summer salary can be funded in one of several ways:

The most common is for the faculty member to pay you from their research grants.

The Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physics also often have National Science Foundation REU (Research Opportunities for Undergraduates) programs running each summer that you may apply to for salary support (rather than an individual faculty member having to use funds from research grants). Contact the Chemistry Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) ( [email protected] ) about the Chemistry REU site and contact Stuart Gazes ( [email protected] ) about the Physics REU site.

• First-years willing to commit to conducting research in the Department of Chemistry may be eligible for the James Norris, Jr. Grant for Undergraduate Summer Research in Chemistry .
• The Beckman Scholars Program (funded by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation) is available for Second-year and Third-year students working with a Beckman Scholar Faculty Mentor. Read more about eligibility for the  Beckman Scholars Program .

If you are a second-year student and want to pursue a Ph.D. program, you may qualify for the Mellon Mays Fellowship, which funds a summer Research Training Program. See Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program  for more information.

• The Biological Sciences Collegiate Division also has a Summer Research Fellowship Program (deadline for application is usually in April).
• There are several opportunities and programs associated with UChicago Careers in Health Professions (UCHIP) available. 
• Grants for unpaid opportunities are available through the Career Advancement office. See  Career Advancement  for more information on the Jeff Metcalf Fellowship Grant and the Odessy Metcalf Fellowship Grant. 
• The College Center for Research and Fellowships (CCRF) offers funding opportunities through the College Summer Research Fellows Program . 

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES - What other summer research opportunities are there outside of the university?

There is a wide variety of summer research programs for undergraduates across the country at universities, companies, and government laboratories. For further information on the types of programs available, consult the file of undergraduate research opportunities in the undergraduate Chemistry Advisor office. Information on a few of the programs is posted on the bulletin board (not display case) just outside Kent 107 labeled "Announcements and Information for Chemistry and Biological Chemistry majors ".

One of the largest formal summer research programs at universities are the  National Science Foundation REU  (Research Opportunities for Undergraduates) sites. 

There are also undergraduate research programs at government labs such as  Argonne National Laboratory  or  Lawrence Livermore Laboratory  and positions at industrial companies. Applications for some of these have very early due dates (as early as November of the summer before you want to do research).

Beyond any advertised program, you may call faculty at a university individually to request a summer research position. Particularly if you are considering graduate school at that university and plan to use the summer research to have an advance look at their graduate program, many faculty will be responsive to such a request. Consult the ACS Directory of Graduate Research (the library has a copy) to find the research areas and telephone numbers (or email addresses) of chemistry faculty at Universities in Ph.D. granting institutions across the country.

The most complete list of other summer research programs is in the file in the undergraduate advisor's office, so just call for an appointment to come look at it if you are looking for a summer research opportunity outside of the University of Chicago.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES – How do I fill out the College Reading/Research Course Form?

Filling out the College Reading/Research Course Form is necessary to participate in undergraduate research, whether it is for credit or not. There are three ways to perform undergraduate research: volunteer, for credit or as a paid position. Students can not be paid and receive credit at the same time.

1. Fill out the form here . The “Course and section” is CHEM 29600 01 or CHEM 29900 01, respectively.

2. Have your faculty supervisor sign.

3. Email the form to [email protected] , and in your email indicate if you are performing the research either voluntarily, for credit, or for pay.

4. You will be notified via email when you have been registered.

HONORS THESIS – What are the requirements for obtaining an honors degree?

The requirements for the honors thesis are as follows:

1. Maintain above a 3.0 GPA.

2. Take at least one quarter of research for credit (CHEM 299).

3. Write and get your PIs approval for an honors thesis.

4. Present your research at the Honors Thesis Symposium in the Spring.

HONORS THESIS – What are the research requirements for the Honors Thesis?

Students must normally have been enrolled for (at least) one official quarter of Chem 299, only open to Chemistry majors who are eligible for honors. It is very unlikely, however, that anyone will accomplish enough research in one quarter to write an Honors Thesis, thus the research effort would typically begin the summer before the year during which Chem 299 is taken.

The research should be in Chemistry or a related chemical area (we have had students who have done work in Biology and Physics, but the research involved was chemistry-related problems and was approved in advance for an Honors Thesis in Chemistry by the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) . The work must be carried out under the direction of a Chemistry faculty member or someone approved in advance by the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). Honors research in Biochemistry may be done with any faculty member from the Dept. of Chemistry or the Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or with any number of other researchers at the University. If you are considering doing research with a faculty member who is not in either of the primary departments sponsoring this degree, you need to submit a short description of your proposed research to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) for a determination of whether the subject matter is appropriate for an Honors Thesis in Biochemistry (The area is defined broadly as long as good scientific questions are investigated in the research).

HONORS THESIS – What are the requirements for the final thesis paper?

Typically, the paper should contain at least 15 pages of text (not including figures). The general form should follow the outline of a journal research paper, including proper citations. While most of the paper may be specialized, the introduction should serve as a general outline of the scientific questions addressed and a review of others work toward answering those questions- this part should be readable by people not working in that research area- (e.g. Could your classmates with an interest in another area of chemistry understand the importance of the scientific questions addressed by your research from your introduction?). The grammar and general appearance of the paper should be of the standards expected for a University of Chicago graduate.

The exact format of the paper should be decided upon by the student in consultation with their research mentor, since many faculty like to use the theses as a research record and aid in writing up results for a publication. For example, a synthetic chemist might wish to include photocopies of key NMR or IR spectra even though those would not be typically published in a journal article; a theoretical chemist might include an appendix with program code and annotation; a physical chemist might want to include detailed drawings of a piece of machined apparatus. What the research advisor wants (and needs) will always vary from group to group.

You can find some samples of honors theses here: https://uchicago.box.com/s/siwum3ayowcgttay0qkhhzfrdg7ea348

The final thesis paper should be submitted, typically, by the first week in May for students graduating in June. Inquire about the specific due date each year with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) (The Director of Undergraduate Studies has to provide the Master's office with a list of potential honors graduates in early May -- these deadlines are rigid because they have to print the proper diplomas).

To sign up for the Honors Thesis Symposium in Spring, please fill out your information on the following form:  https://forms.gle/nf1GJsPX2PJzjGWZ8

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Research Opportunities

Students at all levels are encouraged to undertake original research under the supervision of a member of the chemistry faculty through the  Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) . It is the goal of the undergraduate chemistry program to encourage students to become active members within the departmental academic community. Interaction between undergraduates, faculty, and graduate students is strongly promoted through class and laboratory contact, advising, and through more informal functions.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

The UROP advisor for the Chemistry Department is Prof. Alex Radosevich (Room 2-321, x3-4503). If you are interested in a chemistry UROP you should make an appointment with him to discuss your research interests and to receive advice on how to find a position in the department.

Please note that credit is obtained for undergraduate research by registering for 5.UR or 5.URG and by submitting a for-credit UROP application before the UROP deadlines. To receive credit, students enrolled in 5.UR (research for Pass/Fail grade) must file a progress report with the UROP coordinator. To receive credit, students enrolled in 5.URG (research for letter grade) are required to submit a ten-page final written report to their research advisor prior to the last day of classes. Please note that 5.URG may be taken for up to 12 units per term, not to exceed a cumulative total of 48 units.

UROP Symposium

Please join us for the Spring 2023 UROP Symposium on Friday, May 12, from 1:00-5:00 PM. The schedule is as follows:

Oral Presentation, 1-4pm in 2-136

Poster Session, 4-5pm in lobby of Building 18. Refreshments will be served.

The list of the 2023 Oral Presentations and Poster Presenters will be updated soon.

Oral Presentations Session #1 (TBD)

Poster Presentations (TBD)

Oral Presentations Session #2 (TBD)

5.39 Research and Communication in Chemistry

To enroll in 5.39 for the Spring 2023 term:

• Write a summary paragraph about your research, using the format in this example from Natur e .
• Ask your UROP advisor to email Angelina Toro to confirm that they approve of your enrollment in 5.39. If your advisor has already emailed Professor Radosevich to approve enrollment in 5.39 there is no need to have them email Michelle as well.
• As a reminder, the research must be conducted on the MIT campus and be a continuation of a previous fulltime UROP project from an academic or summer term in 2021. The research must under the direction of a member of the Chemistry Department faculty
• The approval from your advisor and summary paragraph should be submitted by 9:00am on Wednesday, January 19th.  You will be notified about permission to enroll in 5.39 no later than the end of the day on Tuesday, January 24th.

Undergraduate Thesis

Students preparing a thesis should enroll in course 5.THU in the semester they intend to submit their thesis (generally the spring of senior year). At least two semesters of research (summer UROP is considered to be the equivalent of a semester of research) in addition to the “5.THU semester” usually constitutes the minimum research experience that can provide the basis for a satisfactory thesis. Research toward a thesis carried out prior to 5.THU can be conducted for credit under 5.UR, 5.URG, or as “UROP for Pay.” Students enrolled in 5.THU may not simultaneously enroll in 5.UR or 5.URG in the same semester and may not receive financial support that semester through the UROP program, although they may be directly employed by faculty members as research assistants.

STYLE AND LENGTH

The student’s advisor will provide guidance concerning the specific style and organization appropriate for the thesis. In general, the style should be appropriate for a full journal article in the student’s particular area of chemistry. In most cases the thesis will include sections entitled “Introduction and Background,” “Results and Discussion,” and an Experimental Section. Literature citations should follow the format required by typical journals in the specific area of research.

The thesis should be double-spaced and typically will be 25 to 50 pages in length—under no circumstances should the length exceed 100 pages. The thesis should begin with a Title Page followed by a one-page Abstract, both conforming to the format described in the publication “ Specifications for Thesis Preparation ” prepared by the MIT Libraries Archives Department ( 14N-118 ). A Table of Contents should also be included in the thesis.

SUBMISSION OF THE THESIS

Students completing a thesis in Fall term must submit their thesis no later than Friday, January 20, 2023. Students completing a thesis in the Spring term must submit their thesis no later than Friday, May 12, 2023. Please submit a copy of your thesis as a PDF/A-1 to Jennifer Weisman this deadline, following the MIT  Thesis Specifications available here . Please also submit a signed title page with digital signatures from you, your UROP advisor, and Professor Elizabeth Nolan (Associate Department Head). Please see here for a full guide (with screenshots) to using DocuSign to obtain digital signatures; please disregard the references to a graduate thesis. If you would like to have a personal, bound copy of your thesis please let Jennifer know and the department will arrange this.

EVALUATION OF THE THESIS AND UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

The student’s Research Supervisor will read the thesis and determine the letter grade the student will receive for course 5.THU. In general, students should enroll in 5.THU for 6 to 21 units. An Undergraduate Research Symposium is held each spring and all students completing theses are encouraged to make an oral presentation at the symposium. Information about the Undergraduate Research Symposium will be posted on the Department of Chemistry website by Professor Alex Radosevich , the Symposium Coordinator.

Edinburgh Research Archive

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Chemistry thesis and dissertation collection

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The School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh is the top rated for teaching and research in Scotland.

Presented here is a selection of research from the School

This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.

Recent Submissions

Probing the organisation and turnover of synaptic proteins at the nanometre length scale , molecular dynamics simulations of engine lubricant additives , utilising non-canonical amino acids in the design of artificial enzymes: an exploration of cu-enzymes, steroid carrier protein scaffolds and synthetic biology , magnetism of multinuclear 3-d transition metal complexes of 2-hydroxymethylpyridine , antimicrobial polymers , biological control of crystallization by marine phytoplankton to produce functional mineral structures , low-temperature phase-change materials for energy-storage applications , biocompatible aldehyde modification in escherichia coli , novel smart probes for detection of neutrophil activation and net formation and investigation of etosis in fish erythrocytes , improving rapid pathogen detection: towards a gram-selective lateral flow test , towards predicting and tailoring properties of energetic materials , development of liquid crystal lasers for application in fluorescence microscopy , block by block: developments in nmr methodology , development and understanding of iron-catalysed c–h functionalisation reactions , developing new processes for the solvent extraction of precious metals , effect of drainage and drain-blocking on the molecular and microbial composition of blanket bog peat , investigating the biomedical applications of coordination cages , gas phase electronic spectroscopy of ionic carbon chains, rings, fullerenes and analogues , novel synthetically accessible polymers of intrinsic microporosity (pims) , fluorescence properties of nucleobase analogues in dna under one- and two-photon excitation .

Undergraduate Research

Chemistry and Chemical Biology majors may do research for credit under the direction of a faculty member. Students are encouraged to select a research area of their own interest from among those pursued by the professors in the Department of Chemistry or in many other departments at Berkeley. Students contemplating graduate study should include research in their undergraduate program during their junior and senior year or earlier.

Chemical Engineering majors are encouraged to do research for credit under the direction of a faculty member. Students follow their own scientific interests in the selection of research projects. Such research usually involves experimental, theoretical, or computational work within the context of funded research directed by a faculty member in the CBE Department or in other departments on campus. Research fields currently under investigation by chemical engineering students include biomolecular engineering, synthetic biology, energy storage and generation, multiscale modeling of micro- and nano-systems and related technologies, catalysis, polymers and polymer physics, and many others. Students contemplating graduate study should include research in their undergraduate program during their junior and senior year, if not earlier.

Students from Colleges at UC Berkeley other than CoC

Undergraduates from L&S, Engineering, and other Colleges at Berkeley are eligible to conduct research with College of Chemistry faculty for credit. Please review the information in the "On-Campus Research" and "How to Get Credit for Research" sections below. If your research supervisor is not affiliated with the College of Chemistry, you are not eligible to receive credit for research through CoC.

How to Get Involved in Research

A good place to start is by reading the useful material from a recent Chem 96 offering . Also check out the 55 minute video below from Fall 2021, How to Get Involved in Research , sponsored by AXE, AIChE, and ACS, and featuring the following CoC faculty:

• Prof. John Arnold, Undergraduate Dean
• Prof. Steven Leone, Chemistry
• Prof. Bryan McCloskey, Chemical Engineering
• Prof. Evan Miller, Chemistry/MCB
• Dr. Stefan Minasian, LBL
• Prof. Dan Nomura, Chemistry/MCB

Research Opportunities

The College offers undergraduate research opportunities both on-campus and with industry partners.

On-Campus Research

For on-campus research, find out which faculty research groups you are interested in joining:

• Research in Chemical Engineering
• Research in Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Make an effort to learn about a faculty member's research. When you contact a faculty member to inquire about whether there is an opening in his/her lab, try to convey the level of your interest in a particular area.

If you plan to earn course credit for research, follow the procedures for enrollment in independent study courses listed below.

An interesting undergraduate student perspective was published in  Nature  on finding research opportunities. Although this is only one person's perspective, this and the information below will help you start thinking about how you can approach finding research opportunities.

Off-Campus Research

The College has established a number of formal internship opportunities with industry partners.

For details on the application process (students) or to list an intership (industry partners), please review the Off-Campus Undergraduate Research Experiences webpage.

Najet Carrick

Career Adviser

If you are interested in off-campus research opportunities, please make an appointment with Najet via  Handshake .

Off-Campus Research Internships

View Spring 2024 research internships

How to Get Credit for Research

CoC students are eligible to receive letter-graded units for research with a CoC-affiliated faculty member or Ph.D. research scientist. Follow these guidelines to enroll:

• Get confirmation/approval via email from your research supervisor, including the # of units. The email may come from your supervisor's admin person if necessary.
• Chemistry and Chemical Biology students may enroll in Chem 196 or Chem H194 (if eligible) up to a maximum of 6 units per term, including the entire summer (not per session).
• Chemical Engineering students may enroll in up to 4 units of CBE 196 or CBE H194 (if eligible) per term, including the entire summer (not per session).
• Students may not enroll in both Chem and CBE 196/H194 in the same term.
• Complete the  Undergraduate Research form . You will be required to submit a PDF version of your research supervisor's approval email. 
• You will receive enrollment information 3-5 business days after submitting the form. It is your responsibility to enroll via CalCentral by the add deadline (Wednesday of the fourth week of classes).

If your research supervisor is not a faculty member in the College of Chemistry (e.g., they work at LBNL, UCSF, or another department at Berkeley), follow these instructions .

Research Links

• Berkeley Lab Research Areas
• CoC CBE Innovation Incubator Lab
• CoC Centers & Institutes
• CoC Research Areas in Chemical Engineering
• CoC Research Areas in Chemistry and Chemical Biology
• CoC Research Facilities
• Not Just Another Class: Berkeley’s Undergraduates Perform Research in Graduate Labs
• Research opportunities at Cal
• Research tips taken from C96 Introduction to Research
• Undergraduate Research Portal (sponsored by CBE GSAC)

[content coordinated by Korshid Tarin]

Senior Capstone/Thesis

The Senior Capstone in Chemistry and Biochemistry is required for the Bachelor of Science degree, and is designed to provide the student with laboratory research experience. Participation in research helps in choosing careers, develops mentoring relationships with faculty and other members of research groups, and is the best way to learn science. Students in the Honors College can use the senior capstone thesis toward both the Chemistry and Biochemistry degree and for the required Honors Thesis. A minimum of two semesters of laboratory work (including a minimum of 6 units total of CHEM/BIOC 498(h) credit is required, which begins during a student’s penultimate semester. It is usually comprised of focused research work, followed by a semester of writing a thesis. Students who choose not to complete the Senior Capstone in Biochemistry can still obtain a degree in Biochemistry, however they must switch to a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry (talk to your academic advisor).

TO ENROLL FOR SENIOR CAPSTONE/THESIS CREDIT (CHEM/BIOC 498/498H) STUDENTS MUST:

1. Work with the faculty research advisor   to write a Senior Capstone/Thesis Prospectus to include with the CBC Capstone Thesis. Only general faculty are available to be research faculty advisors, not post-docs, graduate or undergraduate students. However they can be listed as supervisors on the thesis form.

• a statement of the problem
• background information
• methods to be used
• expected outcomes

2. Biochemistry and Chemistry students will be enrolled for credit by Olivia Mendoza, Undergraduate Senior Program Coordinator,  after obtaining signatures from the research faculty mentor and your faculty advisor.

Note: Biochemistry majors wanting to work in laboratories of faculty outside of Chemistry & Biochemistry must obtain permission from the department, contact Olivia Mendoza at  [email protected] .  The process of obtaining approval of the Senior Capstone/Thesis must be completed prior to the start of the first semester of research. This would normally be in the spring semester of the junior year.

It is the policy of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry that students enrolled in an Individual course such as Senior Thesis/Capstone, Directed Research, Independent Student and Preceptor units cannot be paid for the same hours as lab work. Therefore, academic credit can be awarded only for faculty-approved academic work as defined by department policy, whereas, paid laboratory work must follow university or programmatic policies for student employment.

3. There are no exams for CHEM/BIOC498(H).  At the end of your first semester, your research mentor will assign you a grade based on the agreed upon criteria in the registration form. After one semester of research, students must submit a revised Prospectus to their Biochemistry Faculty Advisor.

4. Before your second semester of Capstone/Thesis begins, touch base with your research mentor to clarify what you should be focusing on for this final semester.  It is expected that the research faculty mentor will work with the student as the student prepares and writes the thesis.

5. At the start of your second semester , complete and submit the Registration Form for Capstone/Thesis (the most current form is available on the  Undergraduate Studies Forms page ) – Second Semester. Use the form to help you plan out your writing tasks for this semester. Writing should be an ongoing process during the second semester, so that there is ample time to work on the thesis drafts with input from the research faculty mentor.

6. At least 2 weeks prior to the completion of classes for the second semester, the student must submit a thesis  in  scientific paper format  for approval by the research mentor and by the Biochemistry faculty advisor. The Capstone/Thesis is not only the documentation of your research project, but also a scientific writing assignment. Before submission of the senior Capstone/Thesis, the research faculty mentor must sign the title page (with date), signifying approval of the thesis for both scientific content, scope of the Capstone/Thesis, and writing style. The student should then bring the Capstone/Thesis to their assigned BIOC faculty advisor for their approval and signature. The BIOC faculty advisor will only approve the thesis after they have read the document. Once approved by the BIOC faculty advisor the thesis is turned in to the senior program coordinator in the CBC Advising office by email at  [email protected] . 

7. Students graduating in the spring and summer semesters are required to present a poster in spring,  of their senior Capstone/Thesis (includes Honors Thesis) at the  Annual CBC Poster Fair Contest , a special presentation for undergraduate research and senior thesis presentations sponsored by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.   Fall Graduates are required to present at a fall poster fair, unless specified.

8. At the end of the semester, honors students must submit their Senior Honors Thesis  to the  Honors College  by the last day of classes. The deadline to submit your thesis is usually one week before finals. Research advisors/mentors will assign grades after the completed Capstone/Thesis is submitted.

If Interested in This Program, Contact:

Olivia mendoza, phone: (520) 621-3868, email:  o [email protected].

Undergraduate research: Apply what you learn in the classroom

Whether going on to graduate school or pursuing a career in the field, undergraduate research is one of the most important and rewarding experiences a student can have while pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Chemistry at Illinois has long been committed to offering a wide range of undergraduate research opportunities, including summer opportunities and research support and awards.

Chemistry majors are strongly encouraged to participate in research, which provides an opportunity to apply the principles learned in the classroom to an original problem. In addition, prospective employers and graduate schools both strongly value the undergraduate research experience.

Interested in becoming a chemistry major at Illinois? Learn about the endless opportunities .

If you are already an Illinois undergraduate (of any major, not just Chemistry) interested in chemistry research on campus, you should begin by reviewing the different research areas  in the Department. Having a general idea which areas of chemistry are of interest may help narrow your search. You should also explore this  list of faculty members  who accept undergraduates in their research groups. Find links to the research and information in each research group, which may also help narrow your search. Once you determine which faculty member research groups interest you, reach out to them directly.

Please note that most faculty require a minimum of a two-semester commitment. You will determine with your professor whether you will enroll in research credit as Chemistry 197, 297, 397, 497, or 499 .

If you are interested in viewing research opportunities from outside organizations, click on the 'External Opportunities' in the right-hand menu. If you have any questions about the undergraduate research process, please contact Ti na Huang .

Why participate in research?

By engaging in research as an undergraduate, you will:

• Enrich your educational experience
• Have the opportunity to work closely with a faculty mentor
• Explore issues and methods in your field of interest
• Gain valuable skills for graduate school, professional school and/or future careers
• Build confidence
• Improve your communication skills  

“The Department of Chemistry at UIUC is committed to raising the next generation of scientists, medical professionals, and educators by offering numerous resources and opportunities for personal, academic, and career development. Through involvement in undergraduate research, student organizations, and teaching experiences, my education extends beyond the classroom and has imparted on me a passion for science and discovery.” Ayman Roslend, undergraduate student researcher Catherine J. Murphy group

“My research journey started during high school with a simple idea for an electrochemical carbon capture device. Despite knowing very little about carbon capture, engineering, or the broader field of electrochemistry, the amazing teaching staff, campus facilities, and guidance of researchers made it possible to do novel and impactful research that contributes to climate change efforts. If you have a brilliant idea, a revealing question, or even a simple observation, Illinois provides the tools to explore, nurture, empower and share your findings with the world.” Curtis Althaus, undergraduate Chemistry student researcher Joaquín Rodríguez-López group

"I chose the chemistry program at UIUC because I was excited about the wide variety of opportunities available at this large university. I can easily say that having the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life." Lindsay Jones, undergraduate student researcher Steve Zimmerman group    

Policies for Undergraduate Research

• Policy on Undergraduate Research Credit  
• Policy on Undergraduate Research by ChemE Majors in Chemistry Labs  
• Policy for Chemistry Undergraduate Research with a Non-Chemistry Advisor
• Form to apply for undergraduate research in a Non-Chemistry Lab
• Research Overview
• Analytical Chemistry
• Chemical Biology
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Materials Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• Research Concentrations
• CHEM 499 How-Tos
• External Opportunities
• Faculty and Research Interests
• Independent Studies Course List
• Instructions for Preparation of a Bachelor's Thesis
• Employment Opportunities

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Research Opportunities in CBC

Students have many opportunities to pursue research while at Ohio State, and several of those are within the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.  In addition to the opportunities available within the department, listed below, outside institutions frequently solicit applications from undergraduate students for research experience positions.  These can be either paid or unpaid positions, may vary in length, and can take place during the academic year or the summer. As we find out about opportunities for CBC students, we post them on the CBC Undergraduate Program Blog.

CBC Research Programs  |  Early Experience | Undergraduate Research | Thesis

Getting Involved  |  Points to remember

Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Programs

Early experience in research in biochemistry (biochemistry 2900h & 2998h).

Two Honors courses have been developed as part of the University's "Early Experience Program". These courses, designated Biochemistry 2900H and 2998H, expose students to emerging research areas and topics in the field of biochemistry and biotechnology. Biochemistry 2900H, offered during Autumn Semester, includes presentations on research trends and topics by faculty, “excursions” to research labs and instrument facilities here at Ohio State, and various panel discussions relating to research and careers in Biochemistry. Biochemistry 2998H, offered during Spring Semester, provides students with the opportunity to become engaged in individual research experiences in some of our laboratories. For more information, contact  Dr. Jane Jackman .

Undergraduate Research

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers undergraduates to conduct research for academic credit. Enrolling in Undergradute Research (Chemistry or Biochemistry 4998/H) involves the student's active participation in a research experience in a faculty member's laboratory. Typically the student is assigned his or her own small research project and then conducts laboratory experiments which address a specific scientific question. Students learn how to design experiments, to obtain scientific data, and to interpret that data in a way to provide answers to the research question. A research experience is a great way to interact closely with some of the top research scientists in the world. Past participants have uniformly commented that research makes classroom material much more relevant and meaningful, deepening understanding of their coursework. Undergraduate research is an excellent way to prepare for graduate school, professional school, or a job in the field after graduation. Additionally, because a faculty member gets to know you and your capabilities much better than in a classroom setting alone, stronger and more personalized letters of recommendation often result from an undergraduate research experience.

Honors Research & Senior Thesis

Honors students have the option to enroll in Chemistry or Biochemistry 4999H, which involves a written thesis. To find out more about this program, contact an Undergraduate Honors Advisor  or see the  OSU Honors Thesis Oral Examination .

Research Distinction & Thesis

Students not completing an Honors program have the option to enroll in Chemistry or Biochemistry 4999, which involves a written thesis. To find out more about this program, please contact Ed Quinn ([email protected]) or see the Research Distinction webpage . 

So how do I get involved?

Getting involved in research is easy! Just follow these steps:

• Review the Faculty Research Descriptions alphabetical list or filterable list  to find a lab that interests you. Sometimes, faculty seeking new undergraduate researchers will be posted on the  CBC Undergraduate Program Blog . However, even if you don't see that a faculty member is actively seeking researchers, contact them anyway!
• E-mail the faculty member to set up an appointment to talk about research opportunities in their lab.  There is no need to feel intimidated in contacting our faculty; most are very interested in serving as advisors for undergraduate research and will be pleased to talk with you.
• If the faculty member agrees to have you in their lab, you should discuss scheduling your research hours, start date and number of credits you wish to take (each credit represents approximately 5-6 hours per week in a lab).
• Enroll in the appropriate 4998 course, "Undergraduate Research" (or 4998H,"Honors Research"). Your faculty research advisor will need to sign a course enrollment form [pdf] . Students usually sign up for 1 to 3 credit hours of research per semester. Again, each credit represents approximately 5-6 hours per week in a lab. The number of credit hours will be arranged in consultation with your faculty research advisor.

Points to remember:

• A research experience represents a serious commitment in time and effort. Because of this, it is recommended that only students who are doing well in the classroom (GPA > 3.0) should consider this opportunity.
• In order to maximize the outcome of a research experience, students should seriously consider commiting to at least two semesters of research.
• Research takes time. Meaningful progress can usually only be made if you can commit to blocks of time of at least 2-3 hours per session. Trying to accomplish an experimental protocol in one hour between classes usually doesn't work well. Scheduling is usually flexible so your research can be fit into your class schedule. It typically isn't necessary to work every day of the week.
• You need to set up your research project a semester ahead of time. For example, if you want to start research in spring semester, you need to get everything arranged in the fall semester.

[pdf]- Some links on this page are to .pdf files.  If you need these files in a more accessible format, please email  [email protected] . PDF files require the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader software to open them. If you do not have Reader, you may use the following link to Adobe to download it for free at:  Adobe Acrobat Reader .

Wayne State University

Academic catalog, chemistry (b.s.).

B.S. candidates may receive certification by the American Chemical Society upon graduation . This degree offers a strong background for students interested in a career in chemistry or in a professional field with a strong reliance on chemistry. It is particularly recommended for students planning to do graduate work in chemistry and chemically-related fields. The degree is offered with three options:

• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a concentration in materials

The first option is designed primarily for those planning to enter the chemical profession and other professional fields. The second option is designed primarily for students planning careers in biochemical and biomedical areas. The third option is designed primarily for students interested in materials science. (Note: Those interested in Phi Beta Kappa should consult with the secretary of the Wayne State University Chapter in order to determine the maximum number of chemistry credits allowed.)

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for this program are satisfied by the general requirements for  undergraduate admission  to the University. Students planning to major in chemistry should consult with an advisor in the Chemistry Department not later than the beginning of their sophomore year.

Candidates must complete 120 credits in course work including satisfaction of the  University General Education Requirements  and the  College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Group Requirements , as well as the departmental major  requirements cited below. All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the  University  and the  College  governing undergraduate scholarship and degrees.

Chemistry B.S. - Option One

Major requirements.

Those who wish to follow the curriculum in the College for the B.S. in Chemistry degree must complete the following courses:

By the first semester of the senior year, the student must enroll for at least two credits in independent research ( CHM 5999 or CHM 5998 ). The student must work under the direction of a faculty member of the Department of Chemistry. It is advised that the student consult with the faculty during the term prior to beginning work, in order to choose the area and staff member under whose direction this research will be carried out. At the conclusion of the project, the student must present a written report for approval by the Chairperson of the Department. With prior approval by the Chairperson of the Department, students may be allowed to substitute to 2 credits of an internship experience ( CHM 6991 ) in place of a research project.

A minimum grade of C is required in prerequisite chemistry courses.

At least fifteen credits in chemistry plus Research in Chemistry ( CHM 5999 ) must be earned at Wayne State University.

Substitutions in B.S. Curriculum (Option One ONLY): In recognition of the diverse backgrounds required for various careers in chemistry, students may petition the Chemistry Curriculum Committee for approval to substitute advanced courses numbered 5000 or above from another discipline (such as physics, mathematics, biology, engineering) for the following B.S. requirements:

Such petitions for substitutions must be submitted in writing accompanied by a detailed statement of justification and a current transcript, and must be approved prior to registration in the alternative courses. Decisions regarding approval of such requests will be based on their legitimacy in terms of the student’s professional goals. It is suggested that students consult the Chairperson of the Chemistry Curriculum Committee before filing such a petition.

Chemistry B.S. - Option Two (Biochemistry)

Those who wish to follow the curriculum for the B.S. in Chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry must complete the following courses (NO substitutions are allowed in the Option Two program: B.S. in Chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry):

Chemistry B.S. - Option Three (Materials)

Those who wish to follow the curriculum for the B.S. in Chemistry with a concentration in materials must complete the following courses (NO substitutions are allowed in the Option Three program: B.S. in Chemistry with a concentration in materials):

In addition, students must enroll for at least two credits in independent research ( CHM 5999 or CHM 5998 ) by the first semester of their senior year. Research must be conducted under the direction of a faculty member of the Department of Chemistry. It is advised that the student consult with the faculty during the term prior to beginning work, in order to choose the area and staff member under whose direction this research will be carried out. At the conclusion of the project, the student must present a written report for approval by the Chairperson of the Department. With prior approval by the Chairperson of the Department, students may be allowed to substitute to 2 credits of an internship experience ( CHM 6991 ) in place of a research project.

At least fifteen credits in chemistry plus Research in Chemistry ( CHM 5999 or CHM 5998 ) must be earned at Wayne State University.

Chemistry Honors (B.S. Program)

• All regular requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree must be fulfilled (no substitutions).
• Minimum g.p.a.: 3.3 overall; 3.3 in chemistry courses.
• Minimum of four credits must be earned in independent research ( CHM 5998 ); this should commence in the junior year (or earlier).
• Completion of one semester of an HON 4200-level honors seminar.This course may be used to partially fulfill college Group Requirements and can be elected in either the junior or senior year.
• Submission of a B.S. thesis (covering the undergraduate independent research project), or of a manuscript suitable for publication in a refereed chemical journal, to the Honors Subcommittee in Chemistry which will act to accept or reject the thesis (or manuscript).
• An oral examination covering the B.S. Honors Research Project, by the Honors Subcommittee in Chemistry.

The AGRADE program enables highly qualified students pursuing a B.S. with a major in Chemistry or a B.S. with a major in Biochemistry and Chemical Biology to enroll simultaneously in the M.A. with a major in Chemistry. Students will be able to apply up to a maximum of 16 credits towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. AGRADE applicants must have a cumulative grade point average (g.p.a.) of 3.50 or better. Applicants are also expected to have performed at a superior level in the major, as determined by the department,  and the required g.p.a. in the major shall not be less than 3.6 at the time of application. The earliest students may be admitted into the AGRADE Program is the semester in which they complete 90 credits towards the undergraduate degree. Students should consult with an undergraduate advisor in their major department to seek advice about the appropriate time to apply for AGRADE status.

Requirements

Depending on the degree, students may use up to 16 credits from the following courses to count towards their B.S. and M.A. degrees. Only those AGRADE-approved courses in which the student has earned a B or higher will transfer to the graduate transcript. Once in the master’s program, students may be required to repeat an AGRADE course in which they earn less than a B grade.

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School of Chemistry & Biochemistry

College of sciences, 12 grad students named as finalists for 2024 three minute thesis competition.

Mar 26, 2024

After six intense preliminary rounds, twelve exceptional scholars have emerged from a pool of 65 talented candidates, earning their place as finalists in Georgia Tech's highly anticipated annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. On Friday, April 5, 2024, these finalists will hit the stage, harnessing their research expertise, to deliver compelling presentations in a three-minute format.

Congratulations to the following twelve finalists:

Karina Bhattacharya MID Industrial Design 

Vinodhini Comandur, Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering 

Mo Jarin, Ph.D. Environmental Engineering 

Anamik Jhunjhunwala, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering 

Valeria Juarez, Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering 

Alexandra Patterson, Ph.D. Bioengineering 

Jeffrey Pattison, Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering 

Kantwon Rogers, Ph.D. Computer Science 

Mallika Senthil, MS Biomedical Engineering 

Wenting Shi, Ph.D. Chemistry and Biochemistry 

Shreyas Srivathsan, Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering 

Raghav Tandon, Ph.D. Machine Learning 

This year’s 3MT competition takes place on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the Atlantic Theater in the John Lewis Student Center. The entire Georgia Tech community is encouraged to attend the competition, which occurs as the finale of the 2024 Grad Student Appreciation Week. 3MT will also be streamed online and can be viewed at https://gatech.zoom.us/j/98696536715 .  Audience members and online viewers can vote for their favorite presenter to win the People’s Choice Award.  

Ph.D. winners can win up to $2,000 in research travel grants. The master's winner will receive a $1,000 research travel grant.   

Tech’s 3MT competition is coordinated by the Office of Graduate Education in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), The Naugle Communications Center, and the Language Institute.  

For more information, visit grad.gatech.edu/3mt . 

Brittani Hill | Marketing and Communications Manager 

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2024 Norma Stoddart Award for Exemplary Citizenship and Excellence in Graduate Research

Posted on April 3, 2024

On March 22, 2024, alumna  Dr. Ashley Shin  (Ph.D. ’23, Caram group), currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light at Erlangen, Germany, was presented with the 2024 Norma Stoddart Award for Exemplary Citizenship and Excellence at Graduate Research. Nobel Laureate and UCLA Emeritus Professor of Chemistry  Sir Fraser Stoddart  visited UCLA, accompanied by his daughter Dr. Fiona McCubbin (also a chemist), to introduce the life of Norma Stoddart and to present Shin with the award.

Stoddart spoke at length about his remarkable late wife, Dr. Norma Agnes Stoddart , whom the prize honors. In his introduction of Stoddart, Professor Ken Houk said, “Norma was a wonderful and important presence – Fraser’s secret weapon!” Stoddart told about her upbringing and many academic achievements, and noted that in addition to being his editor during his Nobel Prize-winning research at UCLA, she was “his harshest critic” but also most valuable advisor.

Stoddart’s talk was followed by Shin’s research lecture.  She was introduced by her former thesis advisor, Professor Justin Caram, who described the remarkable impact Shin had on his group and UCLA, not only through her inquisitiveness and powerhouse initiative but also her unwavering commitment to helping graduate and undergraduate students in the community. He said that he expects that Shin will continue to make a significant impact moving forward in her career. “The greatest pleasure of this job is that your impact is magnified exponentially by the small influence you have on the careers of your amazing students,” Caram said.

After Shin’s lecture, Stoddart presented her with the 2024 Norma Stoddart Award.  Shin’s father Dr. Inho Shin attended the events, which were held in the department’s Dongwon Yoo Seminar & Conference Hall in the Mani L. Bhaumik Collaboratory in Young Hall.

Select photos can be viewed below and a photo gallery can be viewed  here .

About Dr. Ashley Shin

After completing her undergraduate studies in chemistry and computer science at Washington University in St. Louis in 2017, Shin conducted post-baccalaureate research at Oxford University with Professor Mark Brouard and at the University of California, San Diego with Professor Robert Continetti. She joined UCLA’s chemistry program in 2018, working with Professor Justin Caram, and quickly established herself as a leader through her passion and interest in experimental physical chemistry and her dedication to science communication and outreach to underrepresented groups in physical sciences.  In addition to her research activities at UCLA, Shin also supervised multiple undergraduate and summer students, with whom she published multiple papers. Notably, she was the co-founder of Quantum Computing Student Association ( QCSA ), which continues to promote student engagement in quantum information science at UCLA. In recognition of her contributions, Shin received the prestigious Charles E and Sue K Young Graduate Student Fellowship Award for 2022-23.  After graduating, she joined the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light as a Postdoctoral Researcher working with Professor Vahid Sandoghdar on single molecule spectroscopy and quantum optics.

Shin’s close friend and fellow chemistry graduate student Zerina Mehmedović (Schwartz group) was quick to sing Shin’s praises at the reception following her lecture.  “Ashley is beyond deserving of this award,” Mehmedović said. “She is an incredible leader and her drive and determination are inspiring. Ashley completed her Ph.D. with distinction, mentored numerous students in and out of the Caram group, and demonstrated exceptional leadership. Her initiative in establishing a quantum information science group exemplifies her innovative spirit. Ashley’s relentless pursuit of excellence and willingness to explore new fields make her an ideal candidate for future success as a principal investigator. She actively wants to be a better scientist and has always made great strides in doing so. I am honored to call her my best friend and proud of all her accomplishments. I know this is just one of many.”

About the Norma Stoddart Award for Exemplary Citizenship and Excellence in Graduate Research Established in 2004, the award is open to all current and recently graduated research students and fellows in the UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. Selections are made by a committee of graduate students within the department. Recipients are chosen for their outstanding science, service and humanity – the same qualities that Norma brought to UCLA. Since 2012, Stoddart has returned to UCLA each year (except during the pandemic) to present the prize at the Norma Stoddart Prize lecture.

Previous Stoddart Prize recipients are  Prof. Marco Messina , University of Delaware, Dr. Janice Lin , The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (2019),  Dr. Nako Nakatsuka , ETH Zürich (2018),  Dr. Liana Hie, Yale, and Dr. Christian Beren , Colorado School of Mines (2017),   Dr. Steven Lopez , Harvard (2016),  Dr. Alexander Patananan , Amgen and Prof. Jessica Wang, UC Merced (2015);  Prof. Jessica R. Kramer , University of Utah (2014); Dr. Sarah M. Bronner, Maze Therapeutics (2013); Dr. Gregory B. Kuzmanich, Honeywell UOP (2012). (The prize was not awarded in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid 19 pandemic.)

Photos and article by Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, [email protected].

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Three IU Biology juniors win coveted Goldwater scholarships

Friday, April 5, 2024

Three juniors in the Department of Biology at Indiana University Bloomington were awarded prestigious Goldwater scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year, given to students who plan to pursue a research career in science, math or engineering.

The IU recipients were among 438 college students selected by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, the federally endowed agency that awards the scholarships. 

“We are extremely proud of our Goldwater Scholars and their accomplishments,” said Greg Demas , IU Department of Biology Professor and Interim Chair. “It is especially gratifying knowing that all the IU Fellows selected this year by the Goldwater Foundation are from biology, an unprecedented and remarkable achievement.”

This year’s IU Department of Biology’s winners are:

Malaak Alqaisi , a biology major and environmental science minor from Plainfield, Indiana, plans to pursue a Ph.D. to continue her research regarding how global change affects evolutionary and ecological processes.

Alqaisi's work in the Ketterson Lab last year included a project that assessed how artificial light at night (ALAN) may affect the migratory timing and physiology of the dark-eyed junco, a migratory songbird. “My specific project assessed the junco’s immune function in response to such conditions,” she said.

Since last spring, she has been working on a project that surveys public knowledge and opinion regarding the significant issue of avian window strikes and the strategies to prevent them.

Alqaisi credits the IU Department of Biology for supporting her throughout her undergraduate career. “Professor Ellen Ketterson has provided me with endless support and trust which allowed me to do my absolute best," she said. "Additionally, Professor Sid Shaw has contributed to my success through the research opportunity of the Integrated Freshman Learning Experience (IFLE) program.”

Lauren (Wren) Garcia , a microbiology major with minors in chemistry and philosophy from Crown Point, Indiana, plans to pursue a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology.

Her work in the Hardy Lab is broadly focused on understanding the molecular interactions between virus and host organisms which mediate virus replication, specifically using arthropod-borne viruses as a model. 

The project specifically is focused on investigating DKC1 and the effects of its relative expression in the presence of different alphaviruses to gain a greater understanding of pseudouridylation and ultimately the potential effects this RNA modification may have on viral replication and infectivity in mammalian cells. “Thus far, I have found that DKC1 downregulation is conserved across different alphavirus infections, and I have shown DKC1 to be a proviral host factor in mammalian cells," Garcia said.

What sparked her interest in research was her participation in the College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience (ASURE) program in which she worked in a lab led by Michael Manzella. “This experience has been fundamental in not only my undergraduate success but also my passion to pursue a career in research,” Garcia said.

Rose Nicholson , a major in molecular life sciences and minors in chemistry and biology from Bloomington, Indiana, hopes to pursue a Ph.D. and a career in conservation genetics to use a modern understanding of genetics and genetic tools to help save endangered species. 

Nicholson's work in the Ragsdale Lab centers around interactions between the environment, morphology, regulatory genes, and predatory behavior in the nematode  Pristionchus pacificus . 

Broadly, she is looking at how this system can be used to build a basis for understanding the integration and function of composite plastic phenotypes. 

“The IU Department of Biology has always provided incredible resources to undergraduates interested in research,” Nicholson said. “From funding through many scholarships to general mentorship and encouragement to pursue research through their work with the Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Experience, the department has been very supportive,” she said.

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