Student Receives Grant for Undergraduate Research Presentation

The Westminster College Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning awarded a travel/presentation grant to Ryan Schafer, a Westminster senior biochemistry major, to present "Synthesis of a New N2S3 Pentadentate Ligand, and its Corresponding Co(III) Complex, as a Model of the Nitrile Hydratase Active Site" at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans in April.

Schafer, a son of Jack and Cheryl Schafer of Tallmadge, Ohio, is a graduate of Tallmadge High School. His adviser is Dr. Brian Kail, Westminster assistant professor of chemistry.

"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 49 students have been awarded grants to conduct research."

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.