Five Students Receive Grants to Present Undergraduate Research in New Orleans

The Westminster College Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning has awarded grants to five students to continue their undergraduate research and to present their work at the American Chemical Society National Meeting in New Orleans in April.

"Enhancing opportunities for undergraduate research is an important component of the work of the Drinko Center in enriching undergraduate education," said Dr. Virginia Tomlinson, Westminster College associate professor of sociology and director of the Drinko Center. "The Undergraduate Research Initiative provides funding for students to conduct research and to present their research at regional and national conferences. So far this year 40 students have been awarded grants to conduct research."

The latest students to receive awards are:

Cory Criss, a senior biochemistry major, is a son of Terry and Caroline Criss of Beloit, Ohio, and a graduate of West Branch High School. He will use the grant to present "Gold Mediated Cellular Delivery of Anticancer Drugs." His adviser is Dr. Peter Smith, Westminster assistant professor of chemistry.

Joseph Elliott, a senior biochemistry major, is a son of Joseph Elliott of New Castle and a graduate of Laurel High School. He will use the grant to present "Synthesis and Characterization of Polymers for Sequestering Carbon Dioxide Based on Poly (Vinyl Alcohol)." His adviser is Dr. Katherine Shaffer, Westminster adjunct faculty in chemistry.

Ryan Schubenski, a senior chemistry major, is a son of Kathy and William Schubenski of Avella and a graduate of Avella Area High School. He will use the grant to present "Synthesis of Oxygen and Nitrogen Containing Acenaphthene Based Ligands for Lanthanide Complexation." Dr. Brian Kail, Westminster assistant professor of chemistry, is his adviser.

Mallory Strickland, a senior biochemistry major, is a daughter of Howard and Deborah Strickland of North Huntingdon and a graduate of Norwin High School. She will use the grant to present "The Effects of Therapeutic Touch on the Renaturation of Ribonuclease A." Her adviser is Dr. Helen Boylan, Westminster associate professor of chemistry.

Ian Taylor, a senior chemistry major, is a son of Jack and Pat Taylor of Findlay, Ohio, and a graduate of Findlay High School. He will use the grant to present "Investigation of Ec YbaK Loop Function by Multi-Site Mutagenesis and FRET Analysis." Kail is his adviser.

All grant recipients are invited to participate in the Undergraduate Research Symposium held on campus in the spring.

Contact Tomlinson at (724) 946-6033 or e-mail tomlinvm@westminster.edu or visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for additional information.