Virginia Commonwealth University

"Practices and Perspectives"

A research experience for undergraduates in chemistry and chemical engineering

The Department of Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University invites applications for participation in the Research Experience for Undergraduates for the summer of 2004. This program is partially funded by the National Science Foundation. The "Practices and Perspectives" program is designed to provide an experience that combines practical training in specific research techniques (practices) with activities designed to put the research into the context of larger goals of modern science and technology (perspectives). The program will also provide career planning and management components. The research projects offered involve experience in some combination of synthesis, analysis and computer modeling. Available research projects are summarized below.

Project Title

Skills

Techniques
Comparative Analysis of Environmental Contaminants by CE and ELISA Methods

A

 CE, antibody methods (ELISA), L-L extraction
Enzymatic Synthesis of Oligosaccharides

S, A

 chromatography, NMR, MS, synthesis
Synthesis of Nanoparticles by a Laser Vaporization-Controlled Condensation Technique

S, A

 SEM, FTIR, UV-vis and X-Ray
Platinum-DNA Interactions

S, A, M

 NMR, chromatography, synthesis
DNA Diagnostics Using Bioelectronic Detection

S, A

 UV-VIS-NIR, AFM, Impedimetry

Using Chemometric Analysis to Unravel Binary Solvent Interactions

A

 UV-Vis, chromatography
Phospholipid Bilayer Dynamics Studied by Ultrafast Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy

A. M

 biophysical separation and purification, optical spectroscopy
Synthesis and Characterization of Star Shaped Polymerics

S, A

 IR, NMR, DSC, SEC, synthesis, chromatography
Unraveling Solvation: A Chemometric Study

A

 UV-vis, LC, chemometric methods of data analysis
Polymer processing using Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Solutions (RESS).

A

 FTIR, UV-vis, SAW, AFM, microscopy

Resonance Raman of Peroxidase Intermediates

A

 chromatography, enzyme activity assays, absorption and Raman spectroscopy
Preparation and Activity of Supported Transition Metal Catalysts for Green Chemistry Applications

S, M, A

 Materials and small-molecule synthesis, TGA, UV/Vis, NMR, EPR, kinetics
Development of Polymer Scaffolds for Restorative Neurosurgery

S, A

 polymer synthesis, materials characterization
Supercritical CO2 Assisted Polymer Processing

A, M

 DSC, mechanical testing, X-ray diffraction
Polymeric Materials Synthesis

S, M, A

 NMR, TGA, MS, IR, DSC, HPLC, synthesis, modeling

key: S = synthesis, M = modeling, A = analysis

This program is ten and a half weeks long and will run from June 2 until August 13, 2004. During this time, participants will receive a stipend of $3000 and a $500 meal plan. In addition, the program will pay dormitory fees, health service fee and limited travel assistance will be available.

Students who apply to the program must have completed one year of general chemistry and one year of organic chemistry, for applicants in chemistry. Chemical engineering applicants must have completed one year of general chemistry, and one year of chemical engineering courses is desirable. To be eligible, students must not have graduated prior to June 2004. Completed applications, including transcripts, two letters of recommendation and one page narrative statement are due no later than March 1, 2004. Click on the following links to download the application and recommendation forms.

Application form

Recommendation form

 

Send application to:

 Practices and Perspectives REU Program

Department of Chemistry Box 842006

1001 W. Main Street

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA 23284-2006

 

Inquiries to:

Professor Suzanne M. Ruder, sruder@vcu.edu

Phone: (804)-828-7519, FAX: (804)-828-8599