Summer science researchers present at symposium
Over the summer, Isis Torres Nu帽ez 鈥�20 spent several weeks in 糖心TV鈥檚 Hale Laboratory defending the reputation of microbes.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a common misconception that all microbes are harmful, but some are crucial for our survival and don鈥檛 cause maladies,鈥� explained Torres Nu帽ez, a biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology major who participated in the College鈥檚 summer science research program, which culminated with a symposium on campus Oct. 5.
鈥淚t鈥檚 gratifying to see everyone鈥檚 work on display,鈥� said Torres Nu帽ez. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 even more gratifying to see the community so engaged and interested in what we鈥檝e done. The symposium definitely serves as a bridge for us scientists to relay our research to other scientists on campus and even to non-scientists, to people who are not so familiar with it.鈥�
The summer program which leads to the poster symposium involves an intensive, 8-10-week collaboration in which a select group of students conduct funded research with faculty members on projects relating to their specific fields of science.
Jean C. Tempel '65 Professor of Chemistry Marc Zimmer is one of the faculty members who led a research project over the summer. Zimmer emphasized the importance of the program for students looking to enhance their research skills and lay an early foundation they can build on for graduate school, or for a career in science or medicine.
鈥淪cience is like a language,鈥� Zimmer said. 鈥淥ur language students go abroad to immerse themselves in world languages, and to really learn the practice of science, our students have to immerse themselves in science, doing research five days a week for at least eight weeks."
The summer program, which provides a stipend and campus housing, offers an early opportunity for students to work closely with faculty and then practice the skills needed to present their research at conferences or in graduate school.
Justin Nwafor 鈥�21, who is pursuing a major in chemistry, worked on two separate projects over the summer.
The first, under the guidance of Zimmer, involved using computational chemistry to aide in the study of Green Fluorescent Protein structures. The second, in collaboration with Margaret W. Kelly Professor of Chemistry Stanton Ching, focused on finding innovative water treatment methods, specifically with the use of manganese oxides, which have been shown to be effective in degrading materials that are resistant to common water treatments, yet are non-toxic and more cost effective.
鈥淭his poster symposium was really a nice conclusion to the summer research program, because everyone now gets to display what they did (or in the case of some of us, are continuing to do) from the summer until now,鈥� Nwafor said.
