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Jaie Woodard (Double degree) ’11
Jackson, MI
Advisor: Manish Mehta
Research Project: Computational
Studies of Peptide-Solvent Interactions
Small
biological molecules, such as di- and tripeptides,
lend themselves well
to quantitative computational analysis, as well
as experimental investigation. The small tripeptides
we are studying are chains of three alanine and/or
glycine amino acids. I am using a combination
of computational techniques to investigate the
secondary structure of these molecules in their
solvated state. Molecular dynamics simulations
use calculated forces and Newtonian laws of motion
to map the trajectories of systems of atoms over
periods of nanoseconds or picoseconds. Ab initio
and semiempirical calculations numerically solve
the Schrödinger equation, using quantum
mechanical principles to calculate various molecular
properties. Oberlin’s 70-node supercomputer
makes it possible to carry out such highly complex
calculations in a reasonable amount of time.
Computational results complement experimental
data collected by other members of the Mehta
lab, using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy.
Discoveries we make in studying these small peptides
can be applied and expanded to provide insight
into important aspects of larger peptides and
proteins, including the process of protein folding.
Other Interests: horn
playing, music composition, Wagner operas, Mahler
symphonies, physics, math, Bach cello suites,
history/philosophy of science, competitive walking,
Schubert Lieder, Beethoven piano concerti, movies,
women’s gymnastics.
~~~~
 Bryan
McLain ‘08 Downey, CA
Advisor: Robert Thompson
Winter Term Project: Colorimetric
Determination of Capsaicinoids
A simple, inexpensive method for measuring the
capsaicinoids (hot agents) in chili peppers
is being developed for use by chili growers.
Specifically, the color-forming reaction of
a capsaicinoid with Gibb’s reagent (dichloroquinoneimine)
was investigated. The products of the reaction
were characterized by liquid chromatography – mass
spectrometry (LC-MS), and attempts were made
at isolating the product by solid phase extraction.
A complete understanding of the colorimetric
reaction and its variables is within reach.
Other Interests: Anatomy and physiology, physics,
mathematics, biology, philosophy, guitar (acoustic
and classical), music, video games, logic, writing
(Tolkien-ish fantasy short stories and novels)
and reading (classic literature and sci-fi/fantasy),
photography, light sabers and Jedi knights, World
of Warcraft, and stealth mode..
~~~~
Haley Gittleman ’10
East Brunswick, NJ
Advisor: Robert Thompson
Winter Term Project: Isolation
of the Homodihydrocapsaicin Isomers from Chili
Pepper
The placentas, the fleshy tissue from which the
seeds hang, of habanero chili peppers were
removed and shaken in methanol for a time.
The yellow extract was characterized by UV-Vis
absorbance spectroscopy and by liquid chromatography-mass
spectrometry (LC-MS). The extract was diluted
with water, and the mixture processed through
C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) to isolate
the capsaicinoids, the spicy agents of chilies.
A second C18 SPE experiment further purified
the material. The SPE eluate was subjected
to UV-Vis and LC-MS analyses to determine the
purity and amount of capsaicinoids. Preparative
liquid chromatography was performed to isolate
individual capsaicinoids, in particular N-vanillyl
decanamide, 8-methyl homodihydrocapsaicin,
and 9-methyl homodihydrocapsaicin. The work
moved us closer to the goal of collecting enough
of these compounds for characterization by
carbon -13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
spectroscopy.
Other interests: tap dance,
swing dance, playing harp, video games.
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Alex Nichols ‘08
Concord, MA
Advisor: Manish Mehta
Winter Term Project: Hydration
studies of a series of alanyl- and glycyl-containing
tripeptides using solid-state NMR
By virtue of their size and relatively simple
structure, small peptides (short strings of amino
acids) often assume a wide range of low-energy
conformations in solution. As such, they are
exciting and challenging model system for understanding
subtle elements of solvation and their effects
on backbone torsion angles. Using a combination
of liquid NMR, solid-state NMR, X-Ray and neutron
diffraction, and quantum mechanical calculations,
we seek to understand how the solvation state
and associated chemical properties of glycine-
and alanine-containing dipeptides and tripeptides
change as the molecule transitions from the liquid
state to the solid state.
Once branch of our work involves the study of
a series of 8 glycine- and alanine-containing
tripeptides. Collecting a complete set of chemical
shift data requires knowledge of each peptide’s
crystal structure as well as high quality crystals.
I have therefore divided my efforts this summer
between performing liquids experiments to make
chemical shift assignments, crystal growth, and
performing solids experiments on crystalline
samples of known polymorphs.
Other Interests: Guitar, Running,
Cycling, Rock Climbing, Russian Kettlebell, Vintage
Audio Equipment, Valve Amplifiers, Electronics,
Reading, Eating and Drinking Well.
~~~~
Katie Kuksenok ‘11
Pittsburgh, PA
Advisor: Robert Thompson
Winter Term Project: Isolation
of the Homodihydrocapsaicin Isomers from Chili
Pepper
The placentas, the fleshy tissue from which
the seeds hang, of habanero chili peppers were
removed and shaken in methanol for a time. The
yellow extract was characterized by UV-Vis absorbance
spectroscopy and by liquid chromatography-mass
spectrometry (LC-MS). The extract was diluted
with water, and the mixture processed through
C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) to isolate the
capsaicinoids, the spicy agents of chilies. A
second C18 SPE experiment further purified the
material. The SPE eluate was subjected to UV-Vis
and LC-MS analyses to determine the purity and
amount of capsaicinoids. Preparative liquid chromatography
was performed to isolate individual capsaicinoids,
in particular N-vanillyl decanamide, 8-methyl
homodihydrocapsaicin, and 9-methyl homodihydrocapsaicin.
The work moved us closer to the goal of collecting
enough of these compounds for characterization
by carbon -13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
spectroscopy.
~~~~
Ryan Felix ‘08
Willoughby, OH
Advisor: Albert Matlin
Winter Term Project: Regiochemical
Selectivity in the Intramolecular Photocycloaddition
Reactions of Methylene-tethered bis-Enones.
In this study we are investigating the mode
of intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddion reactions
of bis-enones to give either bicyclo[n.1.1] or
bicyclo[n.2.0] ring systems as a function of
the chain length of the intervening methylene
chain that tethers the two reacting ends. We
are interested in this reaction both in terms
of the mechanistic questions posed by this system
(and its relationship to other well-known intramolecular
[2+2] photocycloadditons) and the synthetic possibilities
of producing 5,6-disubstituted bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes
which are of interest in our lab as an advanced
synthetic intermediates directed towards the
synthesis of bicyclo[2.1.1]hexan-5,6-dione.
Other Interests: Defeating never-do-wells
at every step of their evil schemes; taking long
walks on the beach while reading to orphans;
good books; keeping in shape, because fighting
crime just isn’t enough to stay the development
of those pesky love-handles; Concerns: developing
workaholism..
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 Sydney
Williams (Beckman Winter Term Fellow) ‘09
Chico, CA
Advisor: Rebecca Whelan
Winter Term Project: Selection
of an aptamer that recognizes CA 125
The selective detection of biomolecules in serum
is an important tool for basic Winter Term and
clinical applications. Traditionally, such assays
have relied on antibody molecules as the basis
of detection. In this project we will explore
a relatively new class of affinity molecules—aptamers—and
develop analytical assays that exploit their
unique advantages. Aptamers are single-stranded
nucleic acid molecules with recognition ability
comparable to antibodies. The process of aptamer
selection begins with a large random pool of
oligonucleotides. The oligos are allowed to interact
with the target protein of interest, and those
that bind well to the target are separated from
those that do not. Good binders are amplified
by polymerase chain reaction, and the cycle of
selection and amplification continues until the
pool converges on a small number of excellent
binders. This year, we will continue to work
on the selection a DNA aptamer that recognizes
CA 125, a protein that is widely used as an ovarian
cancer biomarker. Capillary electrophoresis is
used to separate and collect the population of
good binders. This approach has been shown by
others to increase the speed and efficiency of
the selection process.
Other Interests: drawing, graphic
novels, listening to music
~~~~
Zachary Diamond ’10
Bethesda, MD
Advisor: Robert Thompson
Winter Term Project: Experiments
in Environmental Chemical Analysis
Experiments in environmental chemical analysis
were tested. The level of total phosphorus in
surface water was determined, and the amount
of copper in several soil samples was measured.
A method was developed to determine the trace
concentration of benzene in cranberry juice using
the technique of single drop microextraction
and gas chromatography.
Other Interests: music, and
fixing bikes.
~~~~
Rachel Randall ‘08
Fremont, OH
Advisor: William Fuchsman
Winter Term Project: Assaying
Hydrogen Peroxide in the Presence of NADH and
NADPH
Previous experimental studies on the oxidase-like
catalytic behavior of hemoglobin and related
oxygen-carrying proteins have illustrated the
problem of trying to use spectrophotometric methods
to measure hydrogen peroxide concentrations in
the presence of the biological reducing agents
NADH and NADPH. I am examining several different
spectrophotometric methods for assaying hydrogen
peroxide in order to establish whether they are
partly or completely inhibited by NADH and NADPH,
and if so, whether strategies of prior removal
of NADH or three-dimensional calibration curves
that take into account concentrations of NADH
and NADPH will work to circumvent the inhibition.
The information gained will allow more accurate
determination of the ratio of NADH (or NADPH)
consumed and hydrogen peroxide produced when
hemoglobin (or related proteins) catalyzes the
reaction of NADH (or NADPH) with oxygen.
Other Interests: Philosophizing,
bike rides, flight instructing
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 Karin
Sono ‘08
Kyoto, Japan
Advisor: Jason Belitsky
Winter Term Project: Eumelanin
Based Materials as Lead Binding Agents
Eumelanin is the black to brown
pigment in humans and our primary photoprotective
agent. It is an unusual nano-structured biomaterial,
with many fascinating chemical properties that
both influence its biology and role in skin cancer,
and could also be exploited for non-biological
applications, including environmental remediation.
Natural and synthetic eumelanins are known to
bind a range of metals and organic compounds,
and could be applied to the sequestration and
potential photodegradation of environmental toxins.
Previous Winter Term in our lab has demonstrated
that polymeric discs coated with melanin derived
from human hair, as well as synthetic melanin
produced by a variety of routes, can effectively
sequester lead and certain organic dyes from
aqueous solutions. We are further optimizing
and characterizing the lead-binding capability
of these materials, particularly those obtained
via biomimetic enzymatic polymerization, to develop
their potential as lead-binding agents for environmental
remediation.
Other Interests: opera, piano,
Spanish, religions, and geography.
~~~~
Margaret Compton ‘09
Le Roy, NY
Advisor: Rebecca Whelan
Winter Term Project: Development
of a surface plasmon resonance immunoassay for
CA125.
The ovarian cancer biomarker CA125
is a very large (>2 million Dalton), abundantly
glycosylated protein that is found at elevated
levels in the serum of many women with ovarian
cancer. The development of novel detection strategies
for CA125 is a central concern in the Whelan
lab. Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy (SPR)
provides a means of detecting protein-protein
interactions in real time and without the need
for labels. One important application of SPR
is in the context of assays to detect proteins
that are biomarkers of disease. In this project,
an antibody molecule that recognizes the ovarian
cancer biomarker CA125 will be immobilized onto
the sensing surface of an SPR instrument, creating
a specific test for CA125. Other Interests: motorcycles
and vintage cars, playing trombone, EMS (Emergency
Medical Services), knitting, reading.
~~~~
Neil Cole-Filipiak
Ypsilanti, MI
Advisor: Robert Thompson
Winter Term Project: Analytical
Skills Videos
Videos were created of common
analytical laboratory techniques, such as how
to clean and use the volumetric flask. The videos
will be used as a resource for students in the
analytical courses, made available through Blackboard
and downloadable to video iPods and the like.
Other Interests: LEGOs, photography,
Star Trek
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Hadley Iliff ‘09,
Greensboro, NC
Advisor: Catherine Oertel
Winter Term Project: Inorganic
Chemistry Lab Development: Constructing a Dye-Sensitized
Solar Cell
Traditional solar cells use silicon semiconductors
to generate positive and negative charge carriers
that can power an electrical device or charge
a battery. Single-crystalline silicon is costly,
and the requirements for its purity are demanding.
Dye-sensitized solar cells, first produced by
Michael Grätzel, employ low-cost materials
in generating charge carriers. Starting from
a published procedure (Smestad, G.P.; Grätzel,
M. J. Chem. Ed. 1998, 75, 752), we tested and
optimized construction of dye-sensitized cells
for an undergraduate laboratory setting. The
Grätzel cells use either organic indicators
or natural dyes (e.g. berry juice) to absorb
visible light, producing an excited electron
that is transferred to the conduction band of
TiO2, an inexpensive semiconductor. A series
of accompanying reactions regenerate the reduced
dye, allowing the cell to have an extended lifetime.
We tested a series of different indicators and
dyes and experimented with alternative methods
of assembling the cell. A typical cell can be
constructed within a three-hour lab session and
produces voltage when exposed to sunlight or
an intense indoor light source. This lab, which
is new to Oberlin, will be used in Chemistry
213 beginning in Spring 2008.
Other Interests: Other than
chemistry, good movies, good food, my friends,
and working together with my roommate to fill
our room with sock yarns and other wonderfully
woolly things.
~~~~
 Isaac
Nelson-King ‘08
Woodinville, WA Advisor: Jason Belitsky
Winter Term Project: Palladium-Catalyzed
Methods for the Synthesis of Indole Oligomers
Related to the Human Pigment, Eumelanin
Eumelanin is the black to brown pigment in humans
and our primary photoprotective agent. It is
an unusual nano-structured biomaterial, with
many fascinating chemical properties that influence
its biology and its role in skin cancer. Long
thought to be a high molecular weight polymer,
recent advances have shown that eumelanin is
instead an assembly of relatively short heterogeneous
oligomers of dihydroxyindoles. The ability to
study the properties, self-assembly, and resulting
nano-structures of well-defined synthetic oligomers
will advance our knowledge of natural eumelanin.
We are developing a novel approach to the synthesis
of dihydroxyindole oligomers, based on palladium-catalyzed
chemistry such as the Suzuki reaction, starting
with indole-indole Suzuki couplings as a model
system. While exploring the Suzuki reaction of
indoles, we found an unexpected variation of
the reaction itself (homo-dimerization of aromatic
boronic acids), which we are pursuing as to its
substrate scope and optimized reaction conditions.
The refined methodology will be an excellent
addition to the basic Suzuki reaction for our
long-term goal of oligomer synthesis.
Other interests: linguistics,
history, guitar, and cartooning.
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Amelia Hadler ’08
Atlanta, GA
Advisor: Catherine Oertel
Winter Term Project: Synthesis
of Inorganic-Organic Network Materials Based
on Lead Tungstate
In recent years, there has been increased interest
in synthesis of hybrid inorganic-organic network
compounds, in which single metal atoms or metal
clusters are linked by organic ligands. Some
compounds have been prepared using transition
metal cations, organic ligands, and complex metallate
anions including molybdate (MoO42–) and
tungstate (WO42–). In the resulting structures,
both the organic ligands and the metallate anions
act as bridges between metal centers.
We are applying this strategy to the main-group
Pb2+ cation. Because of the stereochemically
active 6s2 electron pair on Pb2+, asymmetric
coordination of the metal center is often observed.
This system could therefore produce low-symmetry
materials with the potential for non-linear optic
(NLO) or piezoelectric properties. We are using
solvothermal synthesis in aqueous and non-aqueous
solvents to promote crystal growth. We are using
powder X-ray diffraction as a primary means of
product characterization, with the goal of using
single-crystal X-ray diffraction to determine
structures of new network compounds.
Other Interests: Baseball, religion,
playing the French horn, books, the Civil War,
Pakistan, old movies, and unpretentious music.
~~~~
 Robert
Hartley ‘08
Seattle, WA Advisor: Manish Mehta
Winter Term Project: Computational
Studies of Peptide-Solvent Interactions.
As the available computing power continues to
increase, computer models of chemical systems
are becoming more and more important and informative.
I am performing molecular dynamics simulations
(which use pre-calculated atom, bond and angle
properties to simulate molecular motion) and
quantum chemical calculations (which numerically
solve the Schrödinger equation) to study
the effects of solvation on simple di and tripeptides.
We are performing these simulations using desktop
machines and Oberlin’s 70-node supercomputer.
Our computational studies complement experimental
NMR measurements, made locally by other members
of the Winter Term group, and provide a more
detailed view of the structure and dynamics of
model proteins in various solvent environments.
Our ultimate goal is to apply what we learn about
these small peptides to larger ones and to the
secondary structure of biologically significant
proteins.
Other Interests: Coming of Age
Movies from the ‘80s, Novel Computing,
EMS, Ice Cream, Diet Pepsi, Wandering Aimlessly.
~~~~
Christa Wagner ‘08
Wayne, PA
Advisor: Catherine Oertel
Winter Term Project: Synthesis
of Hybrid Inorganic-Organic Compounds Using Amino
Acid Ligands
In recent years, there has been increased interest
in synthesis of hybrid inorganic-organic network
compounds, in which single metal atoms or metal
clusters are linked by organic ligands. Of particular
interest are structures that lack centers of
symmetry. These low-symmetry materials have useful
applications because they can interact selectively
with chiral guest molecules or behave as non-linear
optic (NLO) or piezoelectric materials. Use of
chiral molecules as linking ligands can promote
formation of non-centrosymmetric solids.
We are using room temperature and hydrothermal
methods to grow inorganic-organic network compounds
with the potential for non-centrosymmetric structures.
In particular, we are using the amino acids cysteine,
aspartic acid, and glutamic acid – naturally
occurring chiral ligands – to coordinate
first-row transition metals. We are using powder
X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis
as the primary means of product characterization,
with the goal of using single-crystal X-ray diffraction
to determine structures of new non-centrosymmetric
networks.
Other Interests: Baking, running,
traveling, knitting, playing instruments, and
exploring botanical gardens..
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Edwin Takahashi ’09
Mililani, HI
Advisor: William Fuchsman
Winter Term Project: Assaying
Hydrogen Peroxide in the Presence of NADH and
NADPH
Previous experimental studies on
the oxidase-like catalytic behavior of hemoglobin
and related oxygen-carrying proteins have illustrated
the problem of trying to use spectrophotometric
methods to measure hydrogen peroxide concentrations
in the presence of the biological reducing agents
NADH and NADPH. I am examining several different
spectrophotometric methods for assaying hydrogen
peroxide in order to establish whether they are
partly or completely inhibited by NADH and NADPH,
and if so, whether strategies of prior removal
of NADH or three-dimensional calibration curves
that take into account concentrations of NADH
and NADPH will work to circumvent the inhibition.
The information gained will allow more accurate
determination of the ratio of NADH (or NADPH)
consumed and hydrogen peroxide produced when
hemoglobin (or related proteins) catalyzes the
reaction of NADH (or NADPH) with oxygen.
Other Interests: Track and field,
football, and long walks on the beach.
~~~~
Guozhi “Edward” Huang ’10
Nanjing, China
Advisor: Catherine Oertel
Winter Term Project: Synthesis
Lab Development: Hydrothermal Synthesis of Porous
Materials
Hydrothermal synthesis, in which
a reaction mixture is heated in a sealed container
to above the normal boiling point of the solvent,
is very commonly employed in inorganic and materials
synthesis. This method has been especially fruitful
in synthesis of crystalline network compounds,
which typically have very low solubilities under
ambient conditions. Hydrothermal synthesis involves
inexpensive materials and is ideally suited to
the undergraduate laboratory setting, but it
is not currently included in Oberlin chemistry
coursework. Based on published procedures, we
explored this method for synthesis of porous
germanium sulfide compounds and preparation of
oxide-based zeolites. Products were characterized
using powder X-ray diffraction. An experiment
involving synthesis of one of these types of
compounds will be introduced in Chemistry 327
in Fall 2008.
Other Interests: badminton,
biking, traveling, Lost, piano, history and eating.
~~~~
 Joseph
Thome ’10
Middleburg Heights, OH
Advisor: Rebecca Whelan
Winter Term Project: Adapting
immunoblotting methods to the characterization
of a cancer biomarker mimic
Current efforts in the Whelan lab focus on the
use of CA125, the most widely assayed and best
validated biomarker of ovarian cancer. We are
currently preparing a mimic of this biomarker
by solid-phase peptide synthesis. The goal
of this Winter Term project was to develop
simple immunostaining (or “dot-blot”)
assays that may be used to characterize the
interaction between CA125 and its antibodies,
or between the peptide mimic and antibodies
specific for CA125.
Other Interests: playing piano,
singing, learning languages, tennis, volleyball,
and swing dancing.
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 Shalini
Saha ‘08
Kolkata, India
Advisor: William Fuchsman
Winter Term Project: Assaying
Hydrogen Peroxide in the Presence of NADH and
NADPH
Previous experimental studies on
the oxidase-like catalytic behavior of hemoglobin
and related oxygen-carrying proteins have illustrated
the problem of trying to use spectrophotometric
methods to measure hydrogen peroxide concentrations
in the presence of the biological reducing agents
NADH and NADPH. I am examining several different
spectrophotometric methods for assaying hydrogen
peroxide in order to establish whether they are
partly or completely inhibited by NADH and NADPH,
and if so, whether strategies of prior removal
of NADH or three-dimensional calibration curves
that take into account concentrations of NADH
and NADPH will work to circumvent the inhibition.
The information gained will allow more accurate
determination of the ratio of NADH (or NADPH)
consumed and hydrogen peroxide produced when
hemoglobin (or related proteins) catalyzes the
reaction of NADH (or NADPH) with oxygen.
Other Interests: Right now,
I am absorbed by my book, An American Tragedy,
but in general, I enjoy, jewelry making, animal
rights, piano, biology, chemistry, baseball,
crime shows, and reading.
~~~~
 Lee
Moore ‘08
Durham, NC
Advisor: Rebecca Whelan
Winter Term Project: Solid-phase
peptide synthesis as a route to preparing a cancer
biomarker mimetic
CA125 is an important biomarker,
widely used in the diagnosis and monitoring of
ovarian cancer. Recent structural elucidation
of the protein revealed that it contains a large
number of tandem repeat units, each 156 amino
acids long, and within that repeat domain is
a highly conserved 21-mer bounded on each end
by cysteine residues. All known antibodies with
affinity for CA125 bind to one of two unique
sites within this 21-mer, suggesting that this
relatively simple peptide could serve as a mimic
for the intact protein during the development
of CA125 assays. We have used solid-phase peptide
synthesis to prepare the 21-mer peptide and are
currently optimizing preparative HPLC conditions
for its purification. Upon validation that the
correct sequence has been prepared and purified,
the peptide will be used as the target in an
aptamer selection process, to complement the
ongoing work in selecting an aptamer that recognizes
intact CA125.
Other interests: bike rides
and mechanics, emergency medicine, music.
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David Tran ’10
Philadelphia, PA
Advisor: Jason Belitsky
Winter Term Project: Organic
Dyes: Interaction with Synthetic Eumelanin and
Development of a Decolorization Reaction as a
Kinetics Laboratory Experiment
Organic dyes are readily observable models for
environmental pollutants, and in some cases,
such as the effluent from textile plants, pollutants
themselves. We are investigating the interactions
between organic dyes and synthetic eumelanin,
as part of an on-going project to develop this
material as an environmental remediation agent.
Natural eumelanin is the black to brown pigment
in humans and our primary photoprotective agent.
It is an unusual nano-structured biomaterial,
known to bind a range of metals and organic compounds.
Previous Winter Term in our lab has demonstrated
that polymeric discs coated with synthetic eumelanin
produced by a biomimetic enzymatic route, can
effectively sequester lead and certain organic
dyes from aqueous solutions. We are further optimizing
and characterizing the organic dye-binding capability
of these materials.
In a new project, we addressing a organic dye
waste product closer to home. Gel electrophoresis,
a technique that is used in multiple biochemistry
(Chem 374) teaching labs, typically generates
large volumes of “waste solution” containing
the dye Coomassie Blue. We have wondered whether
we could take this waste product from one lab
and use it for another teaching lab experiment.
In fact, the dye can be decolorized and/or completely
degraded by a variety of chemical, enzymatic,
and photochemical means, and the kinetics of
decolorization can be easily followed by UV-Vis
spectroscopy. We are currently investigating
the decolorization of the “waste solution” by
reaction with N-bromosuccinimide as a potential
introductory kinetics lab experiment for Chem
102.
Other Interests: cycling, bicycle
mechanics, notebook keeping, social psychology,
handwriting, poetry, Mandarin, reading, and new
gadgets
~~~~
 Zach
Berman ’10
Westlake Village, CA
Advisor: Jason Belitsky
Winter Term Project: Organic
Dyes: Interaction with Synthetic Eumelanin and
Development of a Decolorization Reaction as a
Kinetics Laboratory Experiment
Organic dyes are readily observable models for
environmental pollutants, and in some cases,
such as the effluent from textile plants, pollutants
themselves. We are investigating the interactions
between organic dyes and synthetic eumelanin,
as part of an on-going project to develop this
material as an environmental remediation agent.
Natural eumelanin is the black to brown pigment
in humans and our primary photoprotective agent.
It is an unusual nano-structured biomaterial,
known to bind a range of metals and organic
compounds. Previous Winter Term in our lab
has demonstrated that polymeric discs coated
with synthetic eumelanin produced by a biomimetic
enzymatic route, can effectively sequester
lead and certain organic dyes from aqueous
solutions. We are further optimizing and characterizing
the organic dye-binding capability of these
materials.
In a new project, we addressing a organic dye
waste product closer to home. Gel electrophoresis,
a technique that is used in multiple biochemistry
(Chem 374) teaching labs, typically generates
large volumes of “waste solution” containing
the dye Coomassie Blue. We have wondered whether
we could take this waste product from one lab
and use it for another teaching lab experiment.
In fact, the dye can be decolorized and/or completely
degraded by a variety of chemical, enzymatic,
and photochemical means, and the kinetics of
decolorization can be easily followed by UV-Vis
spectroscopy. We are currently investigating
the decolorization of the “waste solution” by
reaction with N-bromosuccinimide as a potential
introductory kinetics lab experiment for Chem
102.
Other Interests: Baseball, Exercising,
Economics.
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Israel Ukawuba U.
Lagos, Nigeria
Advisor: Robert Thompson
Winter Term Project: Experiments
in Environmental Chemical Analysis
Experiments in environmental chemical analysis
were tested. The level of total phosphorus in
surface water was determined, and the amount
of copper in several soil samples was measured.
A method was developed to determine the trace
concentration of benzene in cranberry juice using
the technique of single drop microextraction
and gas chromatography.
Other Interests: Environmental
Studies/Engineering Program
~~~~
 Laura
Russo '08
The United States (in general)
Advisor: Cortland Hill
Winter Term Project: Behavioral
Ecology of the Red Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta)
This winter term project took place in Tallahassee,
Florida under the direction of myrmecologist
Dr. Walter Tschinkel of Florida State University.
It was comprised of multiple small projects,
including an experiment of recruitment in artificially
designed foraging tunnels, surveys of ant colony
gyne, and casts of foraging tunnels. In addition
to these projects, it involved aiding Dr. Tschinkel
in the creation of several nest casts of two
other ant species (Pogono-myrmex badius and
Pheidole morrissi), plotting experimental ant
trap coordinates using a GPS unit, and performing
censuses of ant nests.
Other Interests: Ecology, Biology,
Invasion Biology
Extracurricular: hiking, camping, running, swimming,
biking (triathlons), birding, exploring, being
outside, scientific illustration, writing, reading,
cooking.
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 Malcomb
Rosenthal ’09
New York, NY
Advisor: Cortland Hill
Winter Term Project: Analysis
of Bioremediation for Drycleaning Solvent Cleanup
PCE is a toxic solvent used in drycleaning
that often contaminates groundwater. Bacteria
can break it down in specific chemical environments
during reductive dechlorination. We worked with
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
and analyzed data from 64 dry cleaning sites
in Broward County in an attempt to discover why
reductive dechlorination works at some sites
and not at others. The first part of this task
was to assess each site’s remediation and
come up with a system for deciding whether reductive
dechlorination was occurring. The second part
was to use the data we collected on each site
to discover what factors differed between successful
and unsuccessful sites.
~~~~
 Madeline
Logowitz ’10
Newton, MA
Advisor: Cortland Hill
Winter Term Project: Various
Fire Ant Research Projects
These projects were a continuation of Oberlin
College's strong partnership with Dr. Walter
Tschinkel. Dr. Tschinkel is best known for
his work on Fire Ants and is one of the world's
leading myrmecologists. To study the foraging
behavior of fire ants within their colonies,
our group set up an experiment in a Florida
State University lab to observe the response
of colonies to added food sources. We also
cast colonies’ foraging tunnels, and
assisted with ongoing projects by surveying
different populations of ant colonies and studying
the distribution of different ant species within
their nests.
Other Interests: Outdoor activities,
especially backpacking and kayaking..
~~~~
 Garrison
Loope ‘09
Lincoln, NE
Advisor: Cortland Hill
Winter Term Project: Analysis
of Bioremediation for Drycleaning Solvent Cleanup
PCE is a toxic solvent used in drycleaning that
often contaminates groundwater. Bacteria can
break it down in specific chemical environments
during reductive dechlorination. We worked
with the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection and analyzed data from 64 dry cleaning
sites in Broward County in an attempt to discover
why reductive dechlorination works at some
sites and not at others. The first part of
this task was to assess each site’s remediation
and come up with a system for deciding whether
reductive dechlorination was occurring. The
second part was to use the data we collected
on each site to discover what factors differed
between successful and unsuccessful sites.
Other Interests: Rocks, backpacking,
maps, and Bananafest
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Joshua Greenfield '11
Toledo, OH
Advisor: Cortland Hill
Winter Term Project: Foraging
Behavior in Fire Ants and Nest Architecture
This Winter Term project focused on the study
of Fire Ants with FSU’s Dr. Walter Tschinkel,
one of the world’s leading myrmecologists.
The first project involved the capture and
relocation of wild fire ant colonies into model
colonies, where the movement and behavior of
foraging workers were studied. The second project
involved making aluminum casts of ant nests
in the Appalachicola National Forest, including
those of the Pogonomyrmex badius and Pheidole
morrissi, as well as making zinc casts of the
foraging tunnels of fire ants, Solenopsis invicta.
Other Interests: Bird watching,
field herpetology, martial arts, and fixing things
whether they need it or not.
~~~~
 Sameul
Alfiler ‘08
Kaapa, HI
Advisor: Cortland Hill
Winter Term Project: The Pharmacokinetics
of HIV Medications
The objective of this internship
was to gain a deeper understanding of the scientific
techniques involved in the development, approval,
and administration of antiretroviral therapy
for HIV. The research team at the UNC-Chapel
Hill Clinical Pharmacology and Analytical Chemistry
Laboratory demonstrated their methods for analyzing
the drug concentration in different bodily fluids
and tissues and guided study on relevant drug
interactions, metabolic pathways, and other factors
affecting drug efficacy. Infectious disease conferences
and visits to the clinic increased appreciation
for the social—as well as the scientific—concerns
surrounding the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Other Interests: Music, Piano,
soccer, surfing, the outdoors, and good food.
~~~~
 Sam
Slowinski ‘10
Brattleboro, VT
Advisor: Cortland Hill
Winter Term Project: Foraging
Behavior in Fire Ants and Nest Architecture
This Winter Term project focused on the study
of Fire Ants with FSU’s Dr. Walter Tschinkel,
one of the world’s leading myrmecologists.
The first project involved the capture and
relocation of wild fire ant colonies into model
colonies, where the movement and behavior of
foraging workers were studied. The second project
involved making aluminum casts of ant nests
in the Appalachicola National Forest, including
those of the Pogonomyrmex badius and Pheidole
morrissi, as well as making zinc casts of the
foraging tunnels of fire ants, Solenopsis invicta.
Other Interests: Jazz piano,
vegetable farming, reading, speaking Spanish,
cooking, white-water canoeing.
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