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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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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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Education Prizes 2024: Give someone the recognition they deserve! Nominate before 19 June

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 2024 2024.

A Unified Synthetic Approach to Onychine, Eupolauridine, and 1-Azafluoranthene via A Shared 1,2,4-Triazine Precursor , Yun Ma

Development of Low-Cost, Arduino based, Nephelometric and Back-Scatter Turbidity Sensors for Community-Led Environmental Restoration Monitoring in Rural Alaotra-Mangoro Region, Madagascar and James City County, Virginia , Sophia Holincheck

Harnessing the Power of Virtual Reality for Organic Chemistry Education , Jungmin Shin

IMPACT OF INTERFACIAL SOLVATION ENVIRONMENTS ON NITROPHENOL PHOTOCHEMISRY , W. Churchill Wilkinson

Investigating Organic Fluorophores for Blink-Based Multiplexing , Amelia Seabury

Investigation into Amine Polyynes for Antibacterial Properties , Sage Kregenow

Metal Antipyrine Complexes for Hydrogen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction , Nicole A. Fritsch

Molecular Dynamics simulations of Solid-Liquid Interfaces for NMR Relaxometry , Jacob Simonpietri

Non-Canonical Amino Acids for Multivalent Conjugation and Light-Mediated Protein Modulation , Robert Kinsman Gourdie

Optimizing Single-Molecule Blink-Based Multiplexing , Emma Smith

Process Modeling the Neuroprotective Effects of a Plant-Based Diet on Parkinson's Disease , Julia Mitchell

Proton Affinities for Proline and Pipecolic-Acid Containing Dipeptides , Georgia Westbrook

Self-Reporting Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles for Superoxide Generation and Detection , Anna Clayborn

Synthesis of Pyridine Derivatives: Cycloaddition/Cycloreversion of 1,4-Oxazinone Intermediates , Zannatul Shahla

Understanding and Harnessing the Blinking Behavior of Emitters for Single-Molecule Imaging , Isabelle Kogan

Use of Molecular Logic Gates for the Tuning of Chemosensor Dynamic Range , Orhan Acikgoz

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

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Home > School, College, or Department > CLAS > Chemistry > Chemistry Honors Theses

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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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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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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Chemistry Theses & Dissertations

Department of chemistry  https://chemistry.princeton.edu/.

Princeton University Undergraduate Senior Theses, 1926-2021 

https://dataspace.princeton.edu/handle/88435/dsp018c97kq479

Princeton University Doctoral Dissertations, 2011-2022  

https://dataspace.princeton.edu/handle/88435/dsp01sf2685121

Princeton University Library catalog, Chemistry undergraduate senior theses  - call number = SrTh CHM  https://bit.ly/3ilJGrV

Department of Chemistry records, 1893-2017  https://findingaids.princeton.edu/catalog/AC358

Chemistry Librarian Presentations

3660027 - Citation analysis for open-access content in theses and dissertations

American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2022 Conference 

The Ethics and Equity of Open:

06:00pm - 09:35pm USA / Canada - Eastern - March 22, 2022 

Judith N Currano , Organizer, Presider;  Dr. Ye Li , Organizer;  Professor Patricia Ann Mabrouk, Ph.D., F.A.C.S. , Organizer, Presider

Division: [CINF] Division of Chemical Information; Session Type: Oral - Virtual

Co-Sponsor/Theme:  Co-sponsor - Cooperative ETHX: Committee on Ethics

06:35pm - 07:05pm USA / Canada - Eastern - March 22, 2022 

Emily C. Wild, MLIS , Presenter

Abstract 

Each year, undergraduate and graduate students complete senior theses and PhD dissertations within the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University. During the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic, access to some content became challenging, and students became more aware of open-access and subscription content availability while researching remotely and worldwide. This session will be an analysis of citations for open-access content within theses and dissertations, as well as an analysis of the chemistry theses and dissertations as cited works in other research publications.

Division: [CINF] Division of Chemical Information

• << Previous: 2021 Nobel in Chemistry, Library Research for asymmetric organocatalysis
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• Last Updated: May 5, 2024 9:35 PM

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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.

Chemistry and Biological Chemistry

HONORS THESIS SYMPOSIUM

Spring 2024

  Thursday, April 25th

Searle Laboratory 240A

8:55 am - 5:45 pm, opening remarks by jiwoong park at 8:55am closing remarks by john anderson at 5:45 pm,   lunch will be served at 12:15 pm in kent 114.

All event attendees - students, their families, faculty and lab groups - are invited

 For those who cannot attend in person, the synchronous Zoom casting of the symposium is available. 

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 913 6077 8763 Password: honors

All are encouraged to attend and support the honors students’ hard work!

Tanner Baldwin

"Ultra-Mild Bisulfite Sequencing of 5mC in DNA"

Advisor: Chuan He (Chemistry)

Nora Sampson

"Fgf8 Gene Dosage in Brain Patterning at Single-cell Resolution"

Advisor: Francois Spitz (Human Genetics)

Madison Huynh

"Modulating Outer-Sphere Electron Transfer via Non-Covalent Self-Assembled Layers"

Advisor: Anna Wuttig (Chemistry)

Ryan Owyang

"Synergism of Cu-Importer Perturbation and Pt-Based Chemotherapy"

Joshua Edwards

"Development of IR Compatible Microsecond Mixing"

Advisor: Andrei Tokmakoff (Chemistry)

Marja Lalley

"Discovery of Nanostructured PGM-Free Anode Catalysts for Alkaline Water Electrolysis”

Advisor: Ahmed Farghaly (PME)

Tania Pena Reyes

"Characterizing Large Serine Integrase-Recombination Directionality Factor Interactions"

Advisor: Phoebe Rice (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)

"N1 Selective Methylation of Pyrazoles via α-Halosilanes as Masked Methyl Agents and a Transition Metal Free Deacylative Transformation of Methyl Ketones to Nitrile Group"

Advisor: Guangbin Dong (Chemistry)

Eyob Tewelde

"Simulating the Effects of Nucleotide Interactions on Prebiotic Membrane Stability"

Advisor: Jack Szostak (Chemistry)

Steven Labalme

“Nickel Catalysis in π-Conjugated Covalent Organic Frameworks”

Advisor: Wenbin Lin (Chemistry)

Rachel Quan

"Study Towards the Total Synthesis of Cinncassiol F "

Advisor: Scott Snyder (Chemistry)

Krishna Raghavan

"Effects of Charged Particles on Alpha-synuclein's Membrane Binding "

Advisor: Ka Yee Lee (Chemistry)

Amanda Hill

“Identifying Regulatory Strategies of Transcriptional Activator Pnt and Repressor Yan During Drosophila Photoreceptor Fate Specification"

Advisor: Ilaria Rebay (Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology)

"Using a Sparse Sampling of Epistasis Terms for Generative Protein Design in PDZ3"

Advisor: Rama Ranganathan (PME)

Alejandra Bergquist

"Usage of T cell Receptor γ Constant (TRGC) Genes C1 and C2 in Developing and Peripheral T Cells"

Advisor: Erin Adams (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)

"Pseudouridine-Binding Proteins”

Jack LeGrow

"Probing Nanoscale Heat Transport in 2D van der Waals Materials via Raman Thermometry"

Advisor: Jiwoong Park (Chemistry)

Megan Morales

“The Need for Speed: Kinetics of the Anomeric Amide"

Advisor: Mark Levin (Chemistry)

"Investigation of the Mechanistic Role of the Catalytic Metal Cation in Nonenzymatic RNA Replication"

Daisy Ortiz

"Mutagenesis of Mr1 α1 and α2 Platform Domains Allows for Mapping of Antigen Specific Antibody Binding"

"Temperature Responsive Polymersomes for Efficient Protein Vaccine Delivery "

Advisor: Stuart Rowan and Jeff Hubbell (Chemistry and PME)

Sophia Madejski

"Molecular Dynamics of Peptide Bound HLA-F "

Advisor: Benoit Roux and Erin Adams (Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology)

JJ Abu-Halimah

"Hydrogel Applications for Regenerative Medicine and Biosensing"

Advisor: Bozhi Tian (Chemistry)

Nicolas Bertuol

"The Role of STAG Proteins in 3D Genome Structure Evolution"

Advisor: Heather Marlow (Organismal Biology & Anatomy)

Marcos Lopez II

"Cationic Polymers & Small Molecules for NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation"

Advisor: Aaron Esser-Kahn (PME)

"The Role of Extracellular ATP Signaling and Putative P2X Receptors in Collective Epithelial Cell Migration in Clytia Hemisphaerica"

Advisor: Jocelyn Malamy (Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology)

"Studies Towards the Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Picrinine and 18Z-11-methoxypicrinine "

Ainsley Iwanicki

"Investigating the Effect of Hydrogen Bonding on Energy Transfer between H-Aggregates Using Cross-Peak Specific Two Dimensional Electronic Spectroscopy"

Advisor: Greg Engel (Chemistry)

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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

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].

Home > Sciences and Arts > Dept. of Chemistry > Dissertations and Master's Theses

Dept. of Chemistry Dissertations and Master's Theses

Explore our collection of dissertations and master's theses from the Department of Chemistry below.

Theses/Dissertations/Reports from 2024 2024

Chemical Synthesis of Sensitive DNA , Komal Chillar

Small Fluorescent Glycoconjugates as Imaging Agents for GLUT Sugar Transporters , Adelina Oronova

SYNTHESIS OF CHLORINATED DEOXYGUANOSINE NUCLEOTIDES AT THE N2 CARBON TO PREVENT SUBSTITUTION ERRORS DURING THE CAPPING STEP FOR THE CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS OF LONG OLIGODEOXYNUCLEOTIDES , J. Parker F. Harstad

Theses/Dissertations/Reports from 2023 2023

DETECTION AND MUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF A HUMAN PROTEIN ASSOCIATED WITH CANCER AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES , Priyanka Dipak Kadav

EXPLORING TURN-ON PROBES FOR GLUTs TARGETING AND ADVANCING SAFETY EDUCATION IN THE CHEMICAL SCIENCES: A TWO-PART DISSERTATION , Monica Mame Soma Nyansa

MULTILEVEL COMPUTATIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE CATALYTIC MECHANISMS OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-1 AND FAT MASS AND OBESITY-ASSOCIATED ENZYME , Ann Varghese

MULTISCALE MOLECULAR MODELING STUDIES OF THE DYNAMICS AND CATALYTIC MECHANISMS OF IRON(II)- AND ZINC(II)-DEPENDENT METALLOENZYMES , Sodiq O. Waheed

ORIGINS OF OPTICAL PROPERTIES IN NATURAL ORGANIC MATTER AND FLUORESCENT ANIMALS , Nastaran Khademimoshgenani

Small Molecules Targeting Fructose Transport , Nazar Gora

UHPLC/FT-MS NON-TARGETED SCREENING APPROACH FOR BIOMASS BURNING ORGANIC AEROSOL AND LIQUID SMOKE AS BIOMASS BURNING ORGANIC AEROSOL SURROGATE , D.M.R. Thusitha Dinusha Kumarihami Divisekara

Theses/Dissertations/Reports from 2022 2022

INTERFACIAL OXIDATION REACTIONS AND FILM NUCLEATION ON IRON SURFACES IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS USING SPECTROSCOPY AT THE LIQUID/SOLID AND GAS/SOLID INTERFACE , Adambarage Chathura de Alwis

ISOLATION AND CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION OF CYTOTOXIC PLANT COMPOUNDS , Michael C. Hromada

ISOLATION, PURIFICATION, AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW MANNOSE-BINDING PLANT LECTIN THAT RECOGNIZES FUNGAL ANTIGENS , Jessica C. Krycia

MULTILEVEL COMPUTATIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE DYNAMICS AND REACTION MECHANISMS OF NON-HEME IRON AND 2-OXOGLUTARATE DEPENDENT ENZYMES , Shobhit Sanjeev Chaturvedi

NON-CHROMATOGRAPHIC OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PURIFICATION AND AUTOMATED POLYETHYLENEGLYCOL SYNTHESIS , Dhananjani N. A. M. Eriyagama

STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF A NEW CYTOLYSIN , Jared L. Edwards

SYNTHESIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF FLUORESCENT CARBON DOTS FOR SENSING AND BIOIMAGING APPLICATIONS , Parya Siahcheshm

Theses/Dissertations/Reports from 2021 2021

BASE-LABILE PROTECTING GROUPS FOR STEPWISE PEG SYNTHESIS , Logan D. Mikesell

COBALT, MOLYBDENUM, AND NICKEL COMPLEXES, NATURAL ZEOLITES, EPOXIDATION, AND FREE RADICAL REACTIONS , Nicholas K. Newberry

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEAR-INFRARED FLUORESCENT PROBES FOR SENSING pH, HYPOXIA AND PEROXYNITRITE , Shulin Wan

DETERMINATION OF MOLECULAR MARKERS OF VACCINIUM BERRY STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIALS THROUGH DIFFERENTIAL ANALYSIS WITH ULTRAHIGH RESOLUTION LC/MS , Abby Mikolitis

EXPLORING GLUT5 TARGETING FOR CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY , Avik Ghosh

High-resolution molecular characterization of complex environmental mixtures: Aquatic dissolved organic matter and wildfire-influenced aerosol , Amna Ijaz

INVESTIGATING REDOX CHEMISTRY OF GRAPHITE, IRON OXIDE & IRON SURFACES , Mikhail Trought

Theses/Dissertations/Reports from 2020 2020

EXPLORING SUBSTRATE SPECIFICITY OF FRUCTOSE TRANSPORTERS EN ROUTE TO GLUT SPECIFIC PROBES FOR BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS , Vagarshak Vigenovich Begoyan

Macromolecular strategies for discovering disease-related proteins and new therapeutic agents , Christina Welch

RATIOMETRIC NEAR-INFRARED FLUORESCENT PROBES FOR THE SENSITIVE DETECTION OF INTRACELLULAR pH AND BIO-THIOLS IN LIVE CELLS , Shuai Xia

Theses/Dissertations/Reports from 2019 2019

Characterizing the physicochemical properties of TDP-43 protein and Acetylated Amyloid β peptides to discern its role in neurodegenerative diseases , Rashmi Adhikari

EXTREME MOLECULAR DIVERSITY IN BIOMASS BURNING ATMOSPHERIC ORGANIC AEROSOL OBSERVED THROUGH ULTRAHIGH RESOLUTION MASS SPECTROMETRY , Matthew Brege

METHOD CONSIDERATIONS FOR COMPOUND IDENTIFICATION IN COMPLEX MIXTURES USING ELECTROSPRAY IONIZATION ULTRAHIGH RESOLUTION MASS SPECTROMETRY , Tyler Leverton

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF FREE TROPOSPHERIC ORGANIC AEROSOL AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS FOR MOLECULAR FORMULA ASSIGNMENT , Simeon Schum

NEAR-INFRARED FLUORESCENT PROBES FOR SENSITIVE DETERMINATION OF LYSOSOMAL & MITOCHONDRIAL pH IN LIVE CELLS , Wafa Mazi

SMALL MOLECULE-BASED FLUORESCENT MOLECULAR PROBES FOR FACILITATING BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH: RATIONAL DESIGN AND BIOIMAGING APPLICATIONS , Xin Yan

Synthesis of Oligodeoxynucleotides Containing Sensitive Electrophiles , Shahien Shahsavari

TOWARDS THE DISCOVERY OF OLIGONUCLEOTIDE CROSS-LINKING AGENTS , Bhaskar Halami

Theses/Dissertations/Reports from 2018 2018

DEVELOPING NOVEL MOLECULAR IMAGING AGENTS FOR SHEDDING LIGHT ON OXIDATIVE STRESS , Shanshan Hou

DEVELOPMENT OF NEAR-INFRARED FLUORESCENT PROBES FOR MONITORING LYSOSOMAL pH CHANGES , Jianheng Bi

DIRECT MEASUREMENT OF RUPTURE FORCE OF SINGLE TRIAZOLE MOLECULE BY ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPE AND SOLID PHASE SYNTHESIS OF MONODISPERSE POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS , Ashok Khanal

NOVEL FLUORESCENT PROBES FOR VISUALIZATION OF pH CHANGES AND Zn (Ⅱ) IONS IN LIVE CELLS , Mingxi Fang

PHYSICOCHEMICAL, SPECTROSCOPIC PROPERTIES, AND DIFFUSION MECHANISMS OF SMALL HYDROCARBON MOLECULES IN MOF-74-MG/ZN: A QUANTUM CHEMICAL INVESTIGATION , Gemechis Degaga

Theses/Dissertations/Reports from 2017 2017

DEVELOPMENT OF A SYSTEM TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF HISTONE MUTATIONS AND POST-TRANSLATIONAL MODIFICATIONS ON NUCLEOSOME STRUCTURE VIA ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY , Chelsea Nikula

Fluorescent Probe Development for Fructose Specific Transporters in Cancer , Joseph Fedie

GLYCOBIOLOGICAL STUDIES THAT CAN HELP THYROID CANCER DETECTION AND THERAPY , Ni Fan

Heterologous Expression and Purification of Full-Length Human Polybromo-1 Protein , Sarah Hopson

NOVEL BIOCOMPOSITES AND NANOFIBERS BASED ON MODIFIED BIOMASS MATERIALS TO FACILITATE GREENER APPLICATIONS , Soha Albukhari

Theses/Dissertations/Reports from 2016 2016

Effect of disulfide bond scrambling on protein stability, aggregation, and cytotoxicity , Colina Dutta

FORMATION AND DEACTIVATION OF TRIMETHYLALUMINUM IN AIR CONDITIONER SIMULATOR AND MCM-41 SUPPORTED SILVER NANOPARTICLES FOR OXIDATION OF OLEFINS , Zhichao Chen

NEAR-INFRARED WATER-SOLUBLE FLUORESCENT PROBES FOR THE DETECTION OF LYSOSOMAL pH AND Zn (II) IONS , Cong Li

Novel Carbohydrate-Dependent Biological Properties of Human Health Related Lectins and Glycoconjugates , Melanie Talaga

SENSING AND MAPPING OF SURFACE HYDROPHOBICITY OF PROTEINS BY FLUORESCENT PROBES , Nethaniah Dorh

THE EFFECT OF POSTTRANSLATIONAL MODIFICATIONS ON PROTEIN AGGREGATION, MORPHOLOGY, AND TOXICITY , Mu Yang

Reports/Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS: PART A. TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE POLYMERS AND DRUG DELIVERY AND PART B. POLYMER MODIFICATION OF FISH SCALE AND THEIR NANO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES , Xu Xiang

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF BODIPY-BASED FLUORESCENT PROBES FOR SENSING AND IMAGING OF CYANIDE, Zn (II) IONS, LYSOSOMAL pH AND CANCER CELLS , Jingtuo Zhang

Extracellular expression of alkaline phytase in Pichia pastoris and Development of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy methods for structural investigation of inositol polyphosphates , Sasha Teymorian

ON THE PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF GLYCINE BASED OSMOLYTES IN A THIOL REDUCING ENVIRONMENT , John Michael Hausman

SYNTHETIC OLIGODEOXYNUCLEOTIDE PURIFICATION VIA CATCHING BY POLYMERIZATION , Suntara Fueangfung

Reports/Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

DESIGN, SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATIONS OF FLUORESCENT AND ELECTROCHEMICAL PROBES , Giri K. Vegesna

EVOLUTION OF SELECTED ISOPRENE OXIDATION PRODUCTS IN DARK AQUEOUS AMMONIUM SULFATE , D.M. Ashraf Ul Habib

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ATMOSPHERIC ORGANIC MATTER IN BIOGENIC SECONDARY ORGANIC AEROSOL, AMBIENT AEROSOL AND CLOUDS , Yunzhu Zhao

NON-CHROMATOGRAPHIC PURIFICATION OF SYNTHETIC BIO-OLIGOMERS , Durga Prasad Pokharel

PURIFICATION AND CARBOHYDRATE BINDING PROPERTIES OF TWO NEW PLANT PROTEINS , Robert K. Brown

Reports/Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

ACETYL RADICAL IN TOBACCO SMOKE: DETECTION, QUANTIFICATION AND SIMULATION , Na Hu

CHARACTERIZATION OF TWO NOVEL MONOCOT MANNOSE BINDING LECTINS PURIFIED BY ‘CAPTURE AND RELEASE’ METHOD , Ashli L. Fueri

Development and characterization of fluorescent pH sensors based on porous silica and hydrogel support matrices , Qili Hu

Enhancement of heterologous expression of alkaline phytase in Pichia pastors , Mimi Yang

Modern Computational Chemistry Methods for Prediction of Ground- and Excited-State Properties in Open-Shell Systems , Nina Tyminska

Oligodeoxynucleotide synthesis using protecting groups and a linker cleavable under non-nucleophilic conditions , Xi Lin

STUDIES OF FUNCTIONALIZED NANOPARTICLES FOR SMART SELF-ASSEMBLY AND AS CONTROLLED DRUG DELIVERY , Xiaochu Ding

THERMORESPONSIVE PROPERTIES OF GOLD HYBRID NANOPARTICLES OF POLY(DI(ETHYLENE GLYCOL) METHYL ETHER METHACRYLATE) (PDEGMA) AND ITS BLOCK COPOLYMERS WITH DIFFERENT ANCHORING REGIMES , Martha Juliana Barajas Meneses

TUNING FLUORESCENT PROBES FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS , Nazmiye Bihter Yapici

Reports/Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

Biological materials : Part A. tuning LCST of raft copolymers and gold/copolymer hybrid nanoparticles and Part B. biobased nanomaterials , Ning Chen

Characterization of water-soluble organic compounds in ambient aerosol using ultrahigh-resolution elctrospray ionization fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. , Parichehr Saranjampour

COORDINATION CHEMISTRY OF BIS(BENZYL)PHOSPHINATE , John S. Maass

DESIGN AND SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL SYNTHETIC ANTIOXIDANTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF OXIDATIVE STRESS RELATED DISEASES , Srinivas Rao Mandalapu

Indole based antioxidants for the treatment of ischemia reperfusion injury , Andrew Chapp

Performance evaluation and characterization of symmetric capacitors with carbon black, and asymmetric capacitors using a carbon foam supported nickel electrode , JinJin Wang

Soft Lewis acid catalyzed cycloisomerization of oxo-alkynes and enynes , Zezhou Wang

Reports/Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

Multimetallic complexes based on phosphine- and phosphine oxide- appended p -hydroquinones , Louis R. Pignotti

Performance evaluation of a novel asymmetric capacitor using a light-weight, carbon foam supported nickel electrode , Padmanaban Sasthan Kuttipillai

Structural characterization of water-soluble atmospheric organic matter by ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry , Jeffrey P. LeClair

Syntheses and structures of molybdenum and tungsten complexes capable of epoxidaton and copper coordination polymers and dendrimers , Linsheng Feng

Synthesis of chiral ferrosalen ligands and their applications in asymmetric catalysis , Xiang Zhang

Reports/Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

Syntheses and characterization of monomeric Mo(VI) complexes with bidentate phosphine oxide ligands and dimeric and tetrameric Mo(V) clusters with benzoic acid and phosphinic acid derivatives, containing MoO 2 , Mo 2 O 2 ( μ -O) 2 and Mo 4 O 4 ( μ 3 -O) 4 , Soumyashree Sreehari

Reports/Theses/Dissertations from 2009 2009

Molecular interaction between perthiolated [beta]-cyclodextrin (CD) and the guests molecules adamantaneacetic acid (AD) and ferroceneacetic acid (FC); and the effect of the interaction on the electron transition of CD anchored particles , Ming Ning

Reports/Theses/Dissertations from 2005 2005

Sulfoxides as an intramolecular sulfenylating agent for indoles and diverse applications of the sulfide-sulfoxide redox cycle in organic chemistry , Parag V. Jog

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9 Undergraduate Research Projects That Wowed Us This Year

The telegraph. The polio vaccine. The bar code. Light beer. Throughout its history, NYU has been known for innovation, with faculty and alumni in every generation contributing to some of the most notable inventions and scientific breakthroughs of their time. But you don’t wind up in the history books—or peer-reviewed journals—by accident; academic research, like any specialized discipline, takes hard work and lots of practice. 

And at NYU, for students who are interested, that training can start early—including during an undergraduate's first years on campus. Whether through assistantships in faculty labs, summer internships, senior capstones, or independent projects inspired by coursework, undergrad students have many opportunities to take what they’re learning in the classroom and apply it to create original scholarship throughout their time at NYU. Many present their work at research conferences, and some even co-author work with faculty and graduate students that leads to publication. 

As 2023-2024 drew to a close, the NYU News team coordinated with the Office of the Provost to pull together a snapshot of the research efforts that students undertook during this school year. The nine featured here represent just a small fraction of the impressive work we encountered in fields ranging from biology, chemistry, and engineering to the social sciences, humanities, and the arts. 

These projects were presented at NYU research conferences for undergrads, including Migration and Im/Mobility , Pathways for Discovery: Undergraduate Research and Writing Symposium , Social Impact: NYU’s Applied Undergraduate Research Conference , Arts-Based Undergraduate Research Conference , Gallatin Student Research Conference ,  Dreammaker’s Summit , Tandon’s Research Excellence Exhibit , and Global Engagement Symposium . Learn more about these undergrad research opportunities and others.

Jordan Janowski (CAS '24)

Sade Chaffatt (NYU Abu Dhabi '24)

Elsa Nyongesa (GPH, CAS ’24 )

Anthony Offiah (Gallatin ’26)

Kimberly Sinchi (Tandon ’24) and Sarah Moughal (Tandon ’25)

Rohan Bajaj (Stern '24)

Lizette Saucedo (Liberal Studies ’24)

Eva Fuentes (CAS '24)

Andrea Durham (Tandon ’26)

Jordan Janowski (CAS ’24) Major: Biochemistry Thesis title: “Engineering Chirality for Functionality in Crystalline DNA”

Jordan Janowski (CAS '24). Photo by Tracey Friedman

I work in the Structural DNA Nanotechnology Lab, which was founded by the late NYU professor Ned Seeman, who is known as the father of the field. My current projects are manipulating DNA sequences to self-assemble into high order structures.

Essentially, we’re using DNA as a building material, instead of just analyzing it for its biological functions. It constantly amazes me that this is possible.

I came in as a pre-med student, but when I started working in the lab I realized that I was really interested in continuing my research there. I co-wrote a paper with postdoc Dr. Simon Vecchioni who has been a mentor to me and helped me navigate applying to grad school. I’m headed to Scripps Research in the fall. This research experience has led me to explore some of the molecules that make up life and how they could be engineered into truly unnatural curiosities and technologies.

My PI, Prof. Yoel Ohayon , has been super supportive of my place on the  NYU women’s basketball team, which I’m a  member of. He’s been coming to my games since sophomore year, and he’ll text me with the score and “great game!”— it’s been so nice to have that support for my interests beyond the lab.

Anthony Offiah (Gallatin ’26) Concentration: Fashion design and business administration MLK Scholars research project title: “project: DREAMER”

Anthony Offiah (Gallatin '26). Photo by Tracey Friedman

In “project: DREAMER,” I explored how much a person’s sense of fashion is a result of their environment or societal pressures based on their identity. Certain groups are pressured or engineered to present a certain way, and I wanted to see how much of the opposing force—their character, their personality—affected their sense of style. 

This was a summer research project through the MLK Scholars Program. I did ethnographic interviews with a few people, and asked them to co-design their ideal garments with me. They told me who they are, how they identify, and what they like in fashion, and we synthesized that into their dream garments. And then we had a photo shoot where they were empowered to make artistic choices. 

Some people told me they had a hard time conveying their sense of style because they were apprehensive about being the center of attention or of being dissimilar to the people around them. So they chose to conform to protect themselves. And then others spoke about wanting to safeguard the artistic or vulnerable—or one person used the word “feminine”—side of them so they consciously didn’t dress how they ideally would. 

We ended the interviews by stating an objective about how this co-designing process didn’t end with them just getting new clothes—it was about approaching fashion differently than how they started and unlearning how society might put them in a certain box without their approval.  

My concentration in Gallatin is fashion design and business administration. In the industry some clothing is critiqued and some clothing is praised—and navigating that is challenging, because what you like might not be well received. So doing bespoke fashion for just one person is freeing in a sense because you don’t have to worry about all that extra stuff. It’s just the art. And I like being an artist first and thinking about the business second.

Lizette Saucedo (Global Liberal Studies ’24) Major: Politics, rights, and development Thesis title: “Acknowledging and Remembering Deceased Migrants Crossing the U.S.-Mexican Border”

Lizette Saucedo (Global Liberal Studies '24). Photo by Tracey Friedman

My thesis project is on commemorating migrants who are dying on their journey north to cross the U.S.–Mexican border. I look at it through different theoretical lenses, and one of the terms is necropolitics—how politics shapes the way the State governs life and especially death. And then of the main issues aside from the deaths is that a lot of people in the U.S. don’t know about them, due to the government trying to eschew responsibility for migrant suffering. In the final portion of the thesis, I argue for presenting what some researchers call “migrant artifacts”—the personal belongings left behind by people trying to cross over—to the public, so that people can become aware and have more of a human understanding of what’s going on. 

This is my senior thesis for Liberal Studies, but the idea for it started in an International Human Rights course I took with professor Joyce Apsel . We read a book by Jason De León called The Land of the Open Graves , which I kept in the back of my mind. And then when I studied abroad in Germany during my junior year, I noticed all the different memorials and museums, and wondered why we didn’t have the equivalent in the U.S. My family comes from Mexico—my parents migrated—and ultimately all of these interests came together.

I came into NYU through the Liberal Studies program and I loved it. It’s transdisciplinary, which shaped how I view my studies. My major is politics, rights, and development and my minor is social work, but I’ve also studied museum studies, and I’ve always loved the arts. The experience of getting to work one-on-one on this thesis has really fortified my belief that I can combine all those things.

Sade Chaffatt (Abu Dhabi ’24) Major: Biology Thesis title: “The Polycomb repressive component, EED in mouse hepatocytes regulates liver homeostasis and survival following partial hepatectomy.”

Sade Chaffatt (NYU Abu Dhabi '24). Photo courtesy of NYUAD

Imagine your liver as a room. Within the liver there are epigenetic mechanisms that control gene expression. Imagine these epigenetic mechanisms as a dimmer switch, so that you could adjust the light in the room. If we remove a protein that is involved in regulating these mechanisms, there might be dysregulation—as though the light is too bright or too dim. One such protein, EED, plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression. And so my project focuses on investigating whether EED is required in mouse hepatocytes to regulate liver homeostasis and to regulate survival following surgical resection.

Stepping into the field of research is very intimidating when you’re an undergraduate student and know nothing. But my capstone mentor, Dr. Kirsten Sadler , encourages students to present their data at lab meetings and to speak with scientists. Even though this is nerve-wracking, it helps to promote your confidence in communicating science to others in the field.

If you’d asked 16-year-old me, I never would’ve imagined that I’d be doing research at this point. Representation matters a lot, and you often don't see women—especially not Black women—in research. Being at NYUAD has really allowed me to see more women in these spaces. Having had some experience in the medical field through internships, I can now say I’m more interested in research and hope to pursue a PhD in the future.

Kimberly Sinchi (Tandon ’24) Major: Computer Science Sarah Moughal (Tandon ’25) Major: Computer Science Project: Robotic Design Team's TITAN

Sarah Moughal (Tandon '25, left) and Kimberly Sinchi (Tandon '24). Photo by Tracey Friedman

Kimberly: The Robotic Design Team has been active at NYU for at least five years. We’re 60-plus undergrad and grad students majoring in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, and integrated design. We’ve named our current project TITAN because of how huge it is. TITAN stands for “Tandon’s innovation in terraforming and autonomous navigation.”

Sarah: We compete in NASA’s lunatics competition every year, which means we build a robot from scratch to be able to compete in lunar excavation and construction. We make pretty much everything in house in the Tandon MakerSpace, and everyone gets a little experience with machining, even if you're not mechanical. A lot of it is about learning how to work with other people—communicating across majors and disciplines and learning how to explain our needs to someone who may not be as well versed in particular technologies as we are. 

Kimberly: With NYU’s Vertically Integrated Project I’ve been able to take what I was interested in and actually have a real world impact with it. NASA takes notes on every Rover that enters this competition. What worked and what didn’t actually influences their designs for rovers they send to the moon and to Mars.

Eva Fuentes (CAS ’24) Major: Anthropology Thesis title: “Examining the relationship between pelvic shape and numbers of lumbar vertebrae in primates”

Eva Fuentes (CAS '24). Photo by Tracey Friedman

I came into NYU thinking I wanted to be an art history major with maybe an archeology minor. To do the archeology minor, you have to take the core classes in anthropology, and so I had to take an intro to human evolution course. I was like, this is the coolest thing I’ve learned—ever. So I emailed people in the department to see if I could get involved. 

Since my sophomore year, I’ve been working in the Evolutionary Morphology Lab with Scott Williams, who is primarily interested in the vertebral column of primates in the fossil record because of how it can inform the evolution of posture and locomotion in humans.

For my senior thesis, I’m looking at the number of lumbar vertebrae—the vertebrae that are in the lower back specifically—and aspects of pelvic shape to see if it is possible to make inferences about the number of lumbar vertebrae a fossil may have had. The bones of the lower back are important because they tell us about posture and locomotion.

I committed to a PhD program at Washington University in St. Louis a few weeks ago to study biological anthropology. I never anticipated being super immersed in the academic world. I don’t come from an academic family. I had no idea what I was doing when I started, but Scott Williams, and everyone in the lab, is extremely welcoming and easy to talk to. It wasn't intimidating to come into this lab at all.

Elsa Nyongesa (GPH, CAS ’24 ) Major: Global Public Health and Biology Project: “Diversity in Breast Oncological Studies: Impacts on Black Women’s Health Outcomes”

Elsa Nyongesa (GPH, CAS '24). Photo by Tracey Friedman

I interned at Weill Cornell Medicine through their Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program where I worked with my mentor, Dr. Lisa Newman, who is the head of the International Center for the Study of Breast Cancer Subtypes. I analyzed data on the frequency of different types of breast cancer across racial and ethnic groups in New York. At the same time, I was also working with Dr. Rachel Kowolsky to study minority underrepresentation in clinical research. 

In an experiential learning course taught by Professor Joyce Moon Howard in the GPH department, I created a research question based on my internship experience. I thought about how I could combine my experiences from the program which led to my exploration of the correlation between minority underrepresentation in breast oncological studies, and how it affects the health outcomes of Black women with breast cancer.

In my major, we learn about the large scope of health disparities across different groups. This opportunity allowed me to learn more about these disparities in the context of breast cancer research. As a premedical student, this experience broadened my perspective on health. I learned more about the social, economic, and environmental factors influencing health outcomes. It also encouraged me to examine literature more critically to find gaps in knowledge and to think about potential solutions to health problems. Overall, this experience deepened my philosophy of service, emphasizing the importance of health equity and advocacy at the research and clinical level.

Rohan Bajaj (Stern ’24) Major: Finance and statistics Thesis title: “Measuring Socioeconomic Changes and Investor Attitude in Chicago’s Post-Covid Economic Recovery”

Rohan Bajaj (Stern '24). Photo by Tracey Friedman

My thesis is focused on understanding the effects of community-proposed infrastructure on both the socioeconomic demographics of cities and on fiscal health. I’m originally from Chicago, so it made a lot of sense to pay tribute back to the place that raised me. I’m compiling a list of characteristics of infrastructure that has been developed since 2021 as a part of the Chicago Recovery Plan and then assessing how neighborhoods have changed geographically and economically. 

I’m looking at municipal bond yields in Chicago as a way of evaluating the fiscal health of the city. Turns out a lot of community-proposed infrastructure is focused in lower income areas within Chicago rather than higher income areas. So that makes the research question interesting, to see if there’s a correlation between the proposed and developed infrastructure projects, and if these neighborhoods are being gentrified alongside development.

I kind of stumbled into the impact investing industry accidentally from an internship I had during my time at NYU. I started working at a renewable energies brokerage in midtown, where my main job was collecting a lot of market research trends and delivering insights on how these different energy markets would come into play. I then worked with the New York State Insurance Fund, where I helped construct and execute their sustainable investment strategy from the ground up. 

I also took a class called “Design with Climate Change” with Peter Anker in Gallatin during my junior year, and a lot of that class was focused on how to have climate resilient and publicly developed infrastructure, and understanding the effects it has on society. It made me start thinking about the vital role that physical surroundings play in steering communities.

In the short term I want to continue diving into impact-focused investing and help identify urban planners and city government to develop their communities responsibly and effectively.

Andrea Durham (Tandon, ’26)  Major: Biomolecular science Research essay title: “The Rise and Fall of Aduhelm”

Andrea Durham (Tandon '26). Photo by Tracey Friedman

This is an essay I wrote last year in an advanced college essay writing class with Professor Lorraine Doran on the approval of a drug for Alzheimer’s disease called Aduhelm—a monoclonal antibody therapy developed by Biogen in 2021, which was described as being momentous and groundbreaking. But there were irregularities ranging from the design of its clinical trials to government involvement that led to the resignation of three scientists on an advisory panel, because not everybody in the scientific community agreed that it should be approved.

When I was six years old, my grandmother was diagnosed. Seeing the impact that it had over the years broke my heart and ignited a passion in me to pursue research. 

When I started at NYU, I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do in the future, or what opportunities I would go after. This writing class really gave me an opportunity to reflect on the things that were important to me in my life. The September after I wrote this paper, I started volunteering in a lab at Mount Sinai for Alzheimer's disease research, and that’s what I’m doing now—working as a volunteer at the Center for Molecular Integrative Neuroresilience under Dr. Giulio Pasinetti. I have this opportunity to be at the forefront, and because of the work I did in my writing class I feel prepared going into these settings with an understanding of the importance of conducting ethical research and working with integrity.

Princeton University

Can ‘forever’ chemicals become less so this senior thesis works toward smarter cleanup of pfas..

By Molly Sharlach

May 20, 2024

For her senior thesis, Amélie Lemay worked with Ian Bourg, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute. She developed complex simulations of how PFAS molecules, a critical class of environmental contaminants, move and interact at the interface of water and air. Photos by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

The class of chemicals known as PFAS — used in firefighting foams, some nonstick cookware, and many other products — can resist heat and repel water. Their chemical bonds are hard to break, and they persist in water sources for decades.

Exposure to them has been associated with cancers, “impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which recently set national limits for PFAS in drinking water.

For her thesis research, Princeton senior Amélie Lemay has crafted computer simulations that could one day help lead the way to removing PFAS pollution from the environment.

Lemay, a civil and environmental engineering major, used simulations to investigate how seven types of molecules behave above bodies of water, where the water meets the air. She modeled their tendencies to mix with water or stick to the water-air boundary, and probed how mixtures of PFAS molecules interact — mimicking the messy reality of contaminated water.

Detailed knowledge of this chemistry could be key to understanding how remediation methods will work in settings like water treatment plants. Over the next few years, utilities across the United States will need to find effective ways to remove PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from drinking water to comply with the EPA limits.

“Most of our drinking water treatment plants are not set up to deal with these compounds,” said Lemay. “This type of research can eventually lead to better ways to be able to take PFAS out of water.”

Lemay, of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, came to Princeton with aspirations of using engineering to address environmental challenges. But using computer simulations to understand pollution was not part of her plan.

The summer after her first year, in 2021, Lemay secured internship support from Princeton’s High Meadows Environmental Institute to conduct field work with associate professor Ian Bourg on how rocks weather in the Princeton area and in the French Alps — research with implications for soil nutrients and atmospheric CO2 forecasting.

But COVID-19 travel restrictions were still in place that summer, so Bourg worked remotely with Lemay and several other students to set up simulations exploring the behavior of pollutants ranging from PFAS to anti-inflammatory drugs to insecticides.

“I actually ended up really liking this alternative project, and I think it’s even better suited for me than the original project would have been,” said Lemay, who earned certificates in statistics and machine learning and sustainable energy .

The research was an excellent opportunity for Lemay to build her computer coding skills and learn the intricacies of molecular dynamics simulation software.

“When I first started with Professor Bourg, he had to walk me through step by step how to create a file” simulating a single chemical compound, Lemay said. Over time, she learned to add more complexity, accounting for variables like salinity and surface tension. Now the work is “like second nature.”

The summer project was a new direction in the lab’s research. Bourg, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute, said he was learning along with the students. He quickly realized that he could rely on Lemay: “She’s been thinking like a grad student since the very beginning, in terms of being super conscientious and questioning the way we do things,” said Bourg.

Lemay and Ethan Sontarp, a geosciences major, continued the project as research assistants in Bourg’s group for the next two years. Eventually, they modeled the behavior of more than 80 organic pollutants at the water-air interface.

Lemay and Sontarp were co-first authors of a 2023 paper reporting the results in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. The article has been downloaded more than 2,000 times and is Bourg’s most-read research paper from last year — a testament to its value as a resource for researchers looking to improve the tracking and remediation of pollutants, said Bourg.

In her junior year, Lemay conducted independent work with Professor Barry Rand , who studies the properties of new materials for solar cells, analyzing factors that influence the adoption of rooftop solar energy. She published this analysis last year in the journal Energy Policy.

For her senior thesis with Bourg, she developed complex simulations of how multiple PFAS molecules move and interact at the interface of water and air. Her results have revealed that the contaminants’ movements are not limited only by physical space but also by complex charge interactions among neighboring PFAS molecules.

Lemay is now submitting this work for scientific publication. The simulations are a powerful way to understand how pollutants move in the environment, potentially helping to explain how rain interacts with contaminants, and why sea spray and lake spray aerosols are an important source of PFAS exposure in coastal communities. Lemay hopes this understanding can inform strategies to clean up PFAS pollution.

Lemay turned to engineering in high school, when she took part in a summer research program on biomolecular engineering. “In science, you’re seeking to uncover the unknown, which is very important,” she said. “But I found that the problem-solving and design aspects of engineering really appealed to me. I loved how practical and pragmatic the applications were.”

After nearly three years of research at Princeton, Lemay has gained comfort with the uncertainties of the process. “If you pursue something, and you don’t fully understand what the data are showing you at first — that used to be distressing to me,” she said. “But I’ve come to realize that it’s part of the process. You’re trying to do something that’s never been done before. No one has the right answer.”

This summer, Lemay will pursue a project advised by Professor Mark Zondlo analyzing electric vehicle use and neighborhood-level air pollution.

In the fall, she will begin a Ph.D. program in civil and environmental engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She’s interested in using computational methods to design chemicals for programmed degradation, to prevent problems with environmental contamination in the future.

“I think Princeton’s focus on undergraduate research really sets this institution apart,” said Lemay. “I’m grateful to have had the chance to work with multiple mentors who have shown me … how to design solutions and search for knowledge, and then share that with the greater community.”

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Department of Physics & Astronomy College of Science

This article originally appeared in @THEU

MARRIOTT LIBRARY

The J. Willard Marriott Library is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Alison Regan Library Thesis Award: Eliza Diggins, Savannah McDaniel and J. Clista Galecki. These students were chosen for their exceptional senior theses in the fields English, of physics and astronomy, and chemistry. Each student received $1,000 in recognition of their outstanding work.

The winner for the Humanities and Create category is Savannah McDaniel for her thesis “Creature Comforts: Domesticity and Domestication in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein (1818) and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).”

“I was delighted to have encountered such a perceptive, curious and thoughtful young scholar,” said Lisa Swanstrom, Savannah’s advisor. “Savannah is the finest undergraduate student I have had the pleasure of knowing in my eight years at the University of Utah. She is a clear and rigorous thinker, a careful and articulate writer and an absolutely gifted reader.”

The winner in the Science Category is Eliza Diggins for her thesis “Constraining Modified Gravity Using Galaxy Cluster Dynamics.”

“I have known Eliza since the fall semester of 2021, when she took my introductory astronomy course for majors, ASTR 3070. She easily aced the course, but even more impressive was her Communicating Science Project,” said her advisor Daniel R. Wik. “I was amazed to see a professionally produced and narrated video.The level of professionalism, clarity and style exhibited by the demonstrations and explanations in the video were far above any such finished project from the previous time I had taught the course. Simply put, Eliza is the most talented research student, undergraduate or graduate, that I have worked with by a large margin.”

The second winner in the Science Category is J. Clista Galecki for her thesis “Assessing Plant Adaptability to Wildfire Impact and Drought.”

“Clista is a stellar candidate for the Marriott Library’s thesis award,” said William R. L. Anderegg, Ph.D., her advisor. “To date, she has shown tremendous independence, drive and passion for biology and ecology research. Her honors thesis is absolutely top-notch, and I am exceptionally impressed with her independence, drive, work ethic and strong background in biology. Put simply, Clista has been incredibly dedicated, focused and intellectually engaged over multiple years in my lab.”

Joseph Wakim PhD Thesis Defense

Physical models of chromatin organization and epigenetic domain stability, event details:, this event is open to:.

Joseph Wakim PhD Candidate Chemical Engineering Academic advisor: Professor Andrew Spakowitz

Abstract: Physical Models of Chromatin Organization and Epigenetic Domain Stability

Although there are about 200 distinct cell types in the human body, all somatic cells in an individual share the same genetic code. The spatial organization of DNA plays an important role in regulating gene expression, enabling broad cellular diversity. In each cell, approximately two meters of DNA is organized into a cell nucleus only about 10 microns in diameter. This high degree of compaction is achieved by wrapping DNA tightly around histone octamers to form units called nucleosomes. These nucleosomes are arranged into tight chains called chromatin. Chemical modifications along the chromatin fiber, known as epigenetic marks, cause chromatin to phase separate into loose “euchromatin” and dense “heterochromatin.” Genes in euchromatin are accessible to transcriptional machinery and are more likely to be expressed, while those in heterochromatin are inaccessible and tend to be suppressed. Dysregulation of 3D chromatin architecture has been implicated in several age-related disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

During this presentation, I will explore how patterns of epigenetic marks and conditions in the nuclear environment dictate chromatin organization. I will begin by focusing on the transcriptionally active euchromatic phase. Despite its overall accessibility, euchromatin is characterized by isolated clusters of nucleosomes, which can affect local transcription levels. I will introduce a model that explains how nucleosome geometry and positioning are affected by trace levels of epigenetic marks in euchromatin, causing clusters to form along the chromatin fiber. Using this model, I will evaluate the physical factors dictating cluster sizes.

I will then introduce a model that explains how interacting “reader proteins,” which preferentially bind specific epigenetic marks, affect large-scale chromatin organization and contribute to the segregation of euchromatic and heterochromatic phases. I will demonstrate that direct interactions between different reader proteins are not required to facilitate their crosstalk. Rather, due to the shared scaffold to which reader proteins bind, chromatin condensation by one reader protein may indirectly support the binding of another. According to our model, if different reader proteins compete for binding sites along the chromatin fiber, large-scale chromatin organization can be remodeled in response to changes in reader protein concentrations. By characterizing modes of epigenetic crosstalk, I will demonstrate the interdependence of multiple epigenetic marks on the spatial organization of DNA.

Overall, my presentation will leverage principles from polymer theory, statistical mechanics, and molecular biology to identify factors contributing to the physical regulation of gene expression. The projects I will discuss offer a framework for evaluating how changes in epigenetic patterning and the nuclear environment affect local chromatin accessibility, which is implicated in cell differentiation and age-related diseases.

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Explore more events, sevahn vorperian phd thesis defense, benny freeman, four l.a.s.e.r. talks: human embodiment, 3d printing, ocean health, chinese computing".

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Congratulations to the 2024 Graduating Class!

The graduating chemistry students celebrated on May 13, 2024 with an intimate departmental ceremony and reception in beautiful Rosenthal Pavilion.  They were joined by their families and professors for an afternoon filled with festivity and pride all around.  The formalities began with welcome remarks from Department Chair Mark Tuckerman, followed by a "Taste of Research" student presentations.  Director of Graduate Studies Tianning Diao presented those students receiving doctoral and master's degrees, and Director of Undergraduate Studies Marc Walters presented the students receiving bachelors degrees, assisted by Clinical Professors John Halpin and Stephanie Geggier.  NYU alumna and representative of the donor family Alexandra Seidenstein presented the Edward J. McNelis Thesis Prize in Chemistry to Kelvin Vuong, the Morris Fishman Award for Excellence in Organic Chemistry to Lasya Damaraju, the Neville R. Kallenbach Thesis Prize in Chemical Biology to Eugene Toth, and the Harold Seidenstein Award to Christina Lian.  After closing remarks by Chemistry Chair Daniela Buccella, guests adjourned to a champagne reception.  Lucky raffle winners were bestowed with "treasures" from the NYU Bookstore, while all graduates received keepsake tote bags and Periodic Table towels.  We hope the graduates and their parents enjoyed the intimacy of the Chemistry Department Graduation Ceremony and Reception, and left Rosenthal Pavilion ready to enjoy the marathon of larger-scale celebrations that would come in the following days.

Congratulations, Graduates!   To access to the many (unedited!) photos, click here .  The photos will be available on the NYU Photo Bureau site all summer -- download them and they are yours to keep!

Eight CS students and alums receive 2024 NSF-GRFP fellowships

5/20/2024 Bruce Adams

Eight students associated with Illinois Grainger Engineering Computer Science have received the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP), one of the nation's foremost fellowships for graduate study. Undergraduate seniors, as well as first—and second-year graduate students, may apply. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support, including an annual stipend of $37,000.

Written by Bruce Adams

The first program of the National Science Foundation, NSF-GRFP is one of the nation's foremost fellowships for graduate study.  It is competitively awarded to US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in the sciences, social sciences, engineering, and mathematics. One goal of the program is to broaden the participation of the full spectrum of diverse talents in STEM "so that the nation can build fully upon the strength and creativity of a diverse society." NSF Fellows have made significant contributions to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering.  As the GRFP website states, they "are crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation’s technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society at large."  The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000 and a $16,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees (paid to the institution).

Fellowship Recipients

Chamika Sudusinghe

Sudusinghe is a first-year Illinois CS PhD student working with professor  Charith Mendis to develop data-driven approaches to accelerate systems. He has won the Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society Award, the Lance Stafford Larson Student Award, and the Richard E. Merwin Student Scholarship.

Priyanka Kargupta

Kargupta is a second-year Illinois CS PhD candidate working on natural language processing and text mining research under professor Jiawei Han . Her work has been published at top conferences, and she also received the Intel SRC Research Fellowship for her undergraduate research at UC Berkeley.

Ananya Yammanuru

Yammanuru is a second-year PhD student interested in algorithms for motion planning and human-robot interaction. She is currently working on using workspace guidance for sampling-based motion planning as part of Parasol Lab under  Nancy Amato . She earned bachelor’s degrees in computer science and brain and cognitive science from Illinois.

Maxwell Fan Fan will be starting the PhD program at Cornell this coming fall. He majored in CS + Philosophy  at Illinois to support his career goal of becoming a computer science professor researching programming languages and formal verification. While at Illinois, and during a summer internship at NASA in 2023, Fan proposed and developed a new temporal logic semantics. He conducted research with computer science professors Talia Ringer and Charith Mendis and philosophy professor Jonathan Livengood and is a 2023 Goldwater Award winner.

Mit Kotak Kotak is a graduate student at MIT CSE working with Tess Smidt and Saman Amarasinghe. He hopes to bring a  systems perspective to the geometric deep learning community. Kotak did his undergraduate work in  Engineering Physics at Illinois, where he was involved in numerical relativity, scientific computing, and HPC middlewares.

Peter Pao-Huang Pao-Huang is an incoming computer science PhD student at Stanford University. His research aims to develop machine learning algorithms to understand, treat, and reverse disease. Pao-Huang obtained a bachelor's degree in computer science from Illinois, advised by Vikram Adve , Bonnie Berger (MIT), and Morgan Levine (Altos Labs).

Honorable Mention

Eunice C. Chan

Chan is a graduate research assistant advised by CS professor Hanghang Tong . Her research explores the use of language models for interpretable question-answering over knowledge graphs. She is interested in explainable methods utilizing LLMs and graphs, researching fairness in the graph domain, and incorporating fairness in machine learning. Apurva Virkud

Virkud is a PhD student working with CS professors Adam Bates  and  Gang Wang . Her research interests are in security, privacy, and Internet measurement. Virkud graduated from the University of Michigan in 2020 with a BSE in computer science. Virkud was a research associate (2020 - 2022) in Professor Roya Ensafi's lab, working on projects related to  security  and  network censorship measurement . She also did research in computer aided diagnosis, automotive security, and analysis of C. elegan.

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This story was published May 20, 2024.

Two receive Klemperer Award for outstanding materials PhD thesis

Two PhD graduates, Qi Hua and Falon Kalutantirige, were awarded the 2024 Klemperer Award for Outstanding Materials Chemistry Ph.D. Thesis in the Department of Chemistry.

In a special presentation to the department on May 9, 2024, Hua presented her thesis, “Understanding and Controlling the Reactivity of Oxygen Reduction and Methanol Oxidation Electrocatalysts,” and Falon presented her thesis, “Morphogenesis-Morphology-Function Relationships of Irregular Nanomaterials Using Advanced Electron Microscopy and Graph Theory.”

Advised by chemistry Prof. Andrew Gewirth, Hua began her graduate studies at Illinois in 2019 after completing a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at Lanzhou University. And Kalutantirige earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, in 2017, and was advised at Illinois by materials science and engineering professor Qian Chen, who is also affiliated with the Department of Chemistry.

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