Section
Eastern University Chemistry

News From the Chemistry Department

Summer Research * Recent External Grants * Sabbatical Awarded * New Brochure

Brochure

View our new brochure!

Summer Research

Following an academic year in which nine undergraduates participated in original laboratory-based research, six students are enrolled in the 2010 Summer Research Program of the Department of Chemistry at Eastern University.  Students are majoring in B.S. Chemistry, B.S. Biochemistry and B.A. Chemistry-Business.   Research projects include

  • synthesis of conjugated polymer-gold nanocomposites for diagnostic imaging and possible treatment of cancer with Dr. Joon-Seo Park
  • synthesis and effects of cyclopropyl derivatives on liquid crystals for electronic devices with Dr. George Lorenzo
  • cloning and characterization of a virulence factor from a bacterial pathogen with Dr. Jeff Lawton

Summer Research students are supported by a grant from Research Corporation and the Eastern University Natural Science Fund.

Recent External Grants

Cottrell College Science Award from Research Corporation for Science Advancement (Tucson, AZ), Expression and Functional Characterization of Enzymes Associated with Pathogenicity in Erwinia amylovora, the Fire Blight Pathogen.  $30,738 (2008-2010). Funding was used primarily to provide stipends and supplies for a total of four undergraduate students doing on-campus biochemical research full-time during summers 2008 and 2009.  During 2009, this extramural funding also indirectly supported two talented sophomore students from Upper Merion High School who participated in research as volunteers.  A continuation of the grant is expected to support two students in summer 2010.

Curriculum Development Grant, December 2009
from American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, “From Gene to Structure:  Lactobacillus bulgaricus Lactate Dehydrogenase as a Unified Curriculum Model for Undergraduate Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Laboratory Courses”  $1,000.  Funds used to purchase laboratory supplies used to redevelop the Molecular Biology Laboratory (BIO 345) course in Spring 2010.

Sabbatical Awarded - Dr. George Lorenzo - Spring 2011

Dr. George Lorenzo has been awarded a sabbatical for his research in organic chemistry on “Investigation of the Effect of Cyclopropane Position in Diacetylene- and Biphenyl- Type Liquid Crystals”.  Dr. Lorenzo will conduct his laboratory research at Eastern University.

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