Six Westminster College senior chemistry/biochemistry majors will present their research at Pittcon 2009 March 8-13 in Chicago.

Pittcon, one of the largest analytical chemistry conferences in the world, is produced by the Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy. The conference attracts nearly 25,000 attendees from industry, academia, and government from 80 countries, and includes over 2,000 technical papers and presentations.

Westminster students attending are:

Andrew Brown, a chemistry major, is a son of James and Tammie Brown of Hermitage and a graduate of Hickory High School. His research, "2D NMR Technique for Detecting Multiple Quantum Coherences Using Projective Measurement," is advised by Dr. Larry Miller, assistant professor of chemistry.

Andrew Davic, a chemistry major, is a son of Alexander and Sandra Davic of Elizabeth and a graduate of Elizabeth Forward High School. His research, "Trace Detection of Converted and Fluorescently Tagged Primary Fatty Acid Amides (PFAMs) Using HPLC Coupled with Fluorescence Detection," is advised by Dr. Pertti Viskari, assistant professor of chemistry.

Mallory Lichwa, a biochemistry major, is a daughter of Michael and Amy Lichwa of West Newton and a graduate of Yough High School. Her research, "Forensic Analysis of Fingernail Polish Using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A Preliminary Investigation," is advised by Dr. Helen Boylan, associate professor of chemistry and 1995 Westminster graduate.

Leah Maxwell, a biochemistry major, is a daughter of W. David and Mary Maxwell of Latrobe and a graduate of Greater Latrobe High School. Her research, "Effects of Anti-diabetic Drug, Rosiglitazone, on Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation to Adipogenic and Osteoblastic Phenotype," is advised by Boylan.

Tara Pregibon, a biochemistry major, is a daughter of Nick and Linda Pregibon of Niles, Ohio, and a graduate of Niles McKinley High School. Her research, "Validation of Green Tea Extracts by Liquid Chromatography-Particle Bean/Electron Ionization Mass Spectroscopy," is advised by Boylan.

Theresa Swanson, a biochemistry major, is a daughter of Charles and Elaine Rohrbach of Erie and a graduate of McDowell High School. Her research, "Kelvin Probe Microscopy on Graphene," is advised by Boylan.

"These students have also been selected to serve as student aides at the conference," Boylan said. "They will work with the volunteer organization that organizes Pittcon, including assisting with registration, the technical program, and exposition."

Boylan, who recently became a member of the Pittcon organizing committee, will attend with the students. She will organize and present at a workshop on service learning.

The students' attendance is funded in part by travel/presentation grants from Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

Contact Boylan at (724) 946-6293 or e-mail boylanhm@westminster.edu for more information about Pittcon.

Contact Dr. Terri Lenox, associate professor of computer science and co-director of Westminster's Drinko Center at (724) 946-7289, e-mail lenoxtl@westminster.edu, or visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for more information about the Drinko Center.