Summer Research Opportunities 2012

The Department of Chemistry at Oakland University has a long history of participation in research by undergraduate students. This provides an extremely valuable addition to the student's education as well as generating important new results in chemistry. The programs listed here describe the current research opportunities available to undergraduates. Some of these involve opportunities in more than one department.

Dershwitz Summer Research Fellowship

• Research fellowship support for Oakland University undergraduates majoring in chemistry
• Provides stipend and supplies in Spring/Summer
• Oakland University undergraduate students
• Funding: established by Distinguished Alumni Award winner Mark Dershwitz, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Vice Chair of Anesthesiology, and Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts.

Chemistry Department Summer Research Fellowships

• Research fellowship support for Oakland University undergraduates majoring in chemistry or biochemistry
• Provides stipend and supplies in Spring/Summer
• Oakland University undergraduate students
• Funding: Faculty donations

Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry Undergraduate Summer Research Application 2012

Undergraduate Summer Research 2011

• Matthew Adams - Study of the Addition of Phosphines to Chiral Aldehydes and its relevance to the Synthesis of Chiral b-lactones
  Mentor: Dr. Nessan J. Kerrigan
• Yusaf Ahmed - Fluorescent Labeling of Polyglutamine with EDANS and HiLyte 488 Dye
  Mentor: Dr. John Finke
• Nicholas Collins - Expression Constructs of Two Ponticulin Related Genes
  Mentor: Dr. Anne Hitt
• Kayla J. Duane - Assessing the Influence of Frequency and Duration of Inundation on Organic-Matter Decomposition in Streams
  Mentor: Dr. Scott D. Tiegs
• Sarah E. Froberg - Synthesis and Electrochemical Study of Alkyne Substituted Metal Carbonyl Complexes
  Mentor: Dr. Greg A. N. Felton
• Kate Israel - The Role of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide in the Development of Herpetic Stromal Keratitis in a Mouse Model
  Mentor: Dr. Susmit Suvas
• Elizabeth Jacobs - Altered Phenylephrine (PE)-Induced Vascular Contractility and Reduced Endothelial Function during the Onset of Renal Wrap Hypertension
  Mentor: Dr. Amy Banes-Berceli
• Lauren Jones - Searching for Mutations in the Gene Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Receptor Type, D (PTPRD), a Candidate Tumor Suppressor
  Mentor: Dr. Douglas Wendell
• Hans Kivari - Assessing the Effects of a Millrace on Summer Water Temperatures in Paint Creek, Rochester, Michigan
  Mentor: Dr. Scott D. Tiegs
• Joseph J. McCormick - Synthesis, Characterization and Electrochemical Analysis of Polyhalogenated Benzene Dithiol Diiron Carbonyl Hydrogen Producing Catalysts
  Mentor: Dr. Greg A. N. Felton
• Nicholas A. Meyer - The Biotic and Abiotic Drivers of Larval Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) Development across Three Different Forested Ponds
  Mentor: Dr. Keith A. Berven
• Bruce Rottmann - Functional Status of CD4 and CD8 T Lymphocytes in the Trigeminal Ganglia during Lytic and Lysogenic Phases of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection
  Mentor: Dr. Susmit Suvas
• Arbresha Toplanaj - The expanded Gene Controls Tube Diameter in Drosophila Trachea
  Mentor: Dr. Lan Jiang
• Emily Verstraete - Insulin Delivery and Glucose Monitoring System Based on Glucose Oxidase Enzyme and Polypyrrole Modified Gold Electrode
  Mentor: Dr. Xiangqun Zeng
• Adam Yokom - Pathological Relevance of Amyloid Peptides Determined by Antibody Interactions Using Surface Plasmon Resonance
  Mentor: Dr. John Finke
• Jeremy Zaluski - Molecular Mechanisms of the Synergistic Potentiation Effects of Serotonin (5-HT) and Endopthelin-1 (ET-1): Involvement of the JAK2 and p42/44 MAPK Pathways
  Mentor: Dr. Amy Banes-Berceli

Academic Year Research Opportunities

Thompson Awards

• Support for undergraduate Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Environmental Health majors participating in research projects in the Department of Chemistry
• Typically 8--12 students per year, any semester
• Provides tuition for research credits, supplies
• Funding: endowment established by Ronald Bennett and Distinguished Alumni Award winner Janet Bennett, Ph.D.

Gift support for undergraduate research

• Support for undergraduate research participation in Chemistry
• Number of students per year varies
• Provides stipend and/or research supplies
• Funding from various gifts to the University. For example a donation from Distinguished Alumni Award winner Mark Dershwitz, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Vice Chair of Anesthesiology, and Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts provides summer stipend support for one student

Other opportunities:

• Undergraduate researchers receive salary support from faculty research grants for work in laboratories. Currently this involves approximately five students per semester
• Many undergraduates enroll in CHM 290, CHM 490, and CHM 491, earning academic credit for carrying out chemical research projects