Publication in Electroanalysis

Several undergraduate students have had the opportunity to research with Analytical Professor Grace Muna over the past two years: graduate Bonnie Jaskowski and current students Adam Kaylor, Roxanne Sirhan, and Craig Kelley.  Bonnie and Adam are pictured presenting some of their work.  

The fruits of their labor have just ripened as their research appears in the current issue of Electroanalysis as Electrocatalyic Oxidation of Estrogenic Phenolic Compounds at a Nickel-MOdified Glassy Carbon Electrode (2011, 23, 2915-2924).  Congratulations to Professor Muna and all of her students!

Doug McMillen becomes Dean McMillen

Professor Doug McMillen has been faithfully serving the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences in administration for many years.  He's been acting associate dean, associate dean, assistant dean, and acting dean for our college. Now, because of McMillen's excellent character, leadership, and experience, he has been asked to serve as acting dean of the College of Health Sciences to fill the vacancy left by the untimely death of Dean Mary Jo Regan-Kubinski.

Wait tables, paint houses, or research this summer?

A summer research position can serve many purposes: (1) many are paid positions; (2) they introduce you to research-based graduate school; (3) they look great on resumes and applications; (4) they let you see what other universities are like if your experience is off the South Bend campus.  

As an example, the University of Texas at Dallas offers two types of undergraduate research programs.  Each is 10 weeks with a stipend of $4,000. Housing costs are covered as well.  Such programs are competitive so you will need at least decent grades and excellent letters of recommendation from your IU South Bend faculty.  The following websites describe the two  programs at Dallas. 

UT-Dallas "SURF"    
UT-Dallas "QP-SURF"
   

If you are interested in a summer research experience, inform a faculty member so that he/she can let you know of opportunities.  A limited number of SMART grants are also available from IU South Bend to support research at this campus - see your favorite research professor for more details.

Science Outreach for Chemistry Week

The Biology-Chemistry Club had an evening of outreach at River Park Public Library a few weeks ago during "Chemistry Week".  IU South Bend students entertained and educated both kids and parents with eye-catching demonstrations and activities. A bit more colorful than in our labs!  

Visitors had a wonderful time and so did our students who were very impressed with the turnout.  Thanks to Biology-Chemistry Club for devoting their time and experience to make this event such a success.

Medical School Admission / Research Opportunities

The Biology-Chemistry Club has arranged two events.  The first is a presentation about medical school admissions by Professor Robert Stahelin of the IU School of Medicine located on the Notre Dame campus. Anyone interested in medical school is encouraged to attend.  

Even if you will not be applying this year, it would be good to learn what is involved - and possibly what actions could increase your chances for acceptance.  His talk is on Tuesday, Nov 15, in NS 152 from 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM.

The second event is a talk about undergraduate research opportunities at Notre Dame given by Professor Michelle Whaley.  She is campus's director of the NSF funded summer undergraduate research program.     Some research experience looks very nice on a student's application to graduate school.  It could also help you decide if you are interested in a career or further study involving research.  Her talk is on Friday, Nov 18, in NS 152 from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM.

Mole Day Party

To many chemists, the number that is approximately 6.02x10^23 may be more recognizable as Avogadro's number used in the definition of the SI unit mole than the small mammal pictured here. This number has been translated to the date 10/23 and time 6:02 to mark a celebration of chemistry.  

The Biology and Chemistry Club has reserved SAC 225 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM for food, fun, and games on that notable Sunday this month.   All students and faculty are invited to join the celebration.

Students present research at undergraduate conference

Students Abdullah Almayouf and Tyler Krause were two of several chemistry and biochemistry majors who tackled research projects this past summer. This pair teamed up with mathematics major Doan Le for a computational study of the Schrodinger equation under the guidance of Professor Marmorino.

The group introduced a parameter (for optimization) into the Temple formula used to calculate lower bounds to ground-state energies of atomic and molecular systems. Last Friday, Abdullah and Tyler presented this research at the Midwestern Symposium on Undergraduate Research in Chemistry held at Michigan State University.  Just a week earlier they were notified that their work had been accepted for publication in the Journal of Mathematical Chemistry.  Congratulations Abdullah, Tyler, and Doan!