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 SCIE 422, Independent Research. Three credits of research can count towards the free elective required for the chemistry major. SCIE 393, Research Methods, can be taken in the junior year to provide the background for a project during the senior year, but is not required prior to beginning research.
Zoe is next to our microwave reactor, where she is developing more environmentally friendly methods of performing chemical reactions to support our Green Chemistry initiative in the department. The reactions she is developing will be used in the organic chemistry teaching laboratory as a way to produce less hazardous waste here at Messiah University.
Dr. Seth Burkert instructing Shelby Wendling and Abigail Barnes on how to control vacuum and inert gas pressure at the Schlenk line in the fume hood.
Abigail Barnes and Allie Focht presenting their resesarch results to legistlators at the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Their medical chemistry research was performed at Messiah under the mentorship of Dr. Anne Reeve.
Worked with Dr. Reeve on the synthesis and analysis of novel PTP1B inhibitors. Inhibiting this cell signaling enzyme could lead to treatments for diabetes, obesity, and some cancers. Sarah was funded by the Steinbrecher Summer Research award.