We believe that participation in independent research is one of the most valuable educational opportunities a chemistry or biochemistry major can experience during college. Not only does research require you to integrate many of the things you have been learning, it teaches invaluable laboratory skills and independent problem solving. Faculty in the department have ongoing projects in which students can be a participant. Beginning in the sophomore year, students can take course credit for CHEM 222, 322 or 422, Independent Research. Three credits of research can count towards the free elective required for the chemistry major. CHEM 393, Research Methods, can be taken in the junior year to provide the background for a project during the senior year.

Ryan Edwards (Chemistry with Teaching major, Class of 2008) presents his research on  "The Yield and Stoichiometry of Copper Oxides from a Glow Discharge Plasma" in collaboration with Dr. Richard Schaeffer, Associate Professor of Chemistry.		Anna Beiler (Biochemistry major, Class of 2008) presents her research on  "Phytoremediation: Accumulation of Nickel in Arabidopsis Thaliana" in collaboration with Dr. Richard Schaeffer, Associate Professor of Chemistry.
Jonathan Stoltzfus (Biochemistry major, Class of 2008), presents his research on "Effects of Plasmodium falciparum Genotypic Variability of MSP-1 and MSP-2 on Malarial Disease Severity Using Nested PCR Technology" in collaboration with Dr. Phil Thuma, Macha Zambia.		Rosanne Feister (Chemistry with Teaching major, Class of 2008), presents her research on "Biocatalytic Reduction of Imines to Amines by Daucus Carota" in collaboration with Dr. Roseann Sachs, Professor of Chemistry.

Off-Campus Research

Many students also take advantage of our proximity to Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, and do research there under the direction of a scientist on site. These projects can also be used for research credit at Messiah College, provided a Messiah college faculty member supervises the writing of the project proposal, final report, and oral presentation.

Cullen Schmid (Biochemistry major, Class of 2005) presents her work done at the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine in Hershey.
		Joshua Olsen (Biochemistry major, Class of 2005) presents his work done at the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine.

In addition to this, there are many opportunities for summer research at major universities across the country. A binder of these opportunities is updated and kept in the Departmental Office, Kline 311, for your perusal. Many of the applications for these programs are due in early February of each year.