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2012 Summer Research in Chemistry

 


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Much of our research program is supported by the National Science Foundation REU program.

General Information for Summer 2012 Program:
The research program begins tentatively May 21 - July 27, 2012, and runs for ten weeks (May 28 and July 4 are holidays). Participants will receive a stipend (depending on class year).  Harvey Mudd College is a private, undergraduate college of science and engineering located in Claremont, California, about one hour east of Los Angeles. Click here for FAQs.  Other questions should be directed to: Karl_Haushalter@hmc.edu


ONLINE APPLICATION FOR VISITING STUDENTS  
ONLINE APPLICATION FOR HMC STUDENTS

 

Application Process is Open
Application Deadline is February 17, 2012
Status Notification (accepted, wait list, declined) is March 2, 2012
Summer Research begins May 21, 2012
Summer Research ends July 27, 2012

Our Summer Research Gang - 2011 Summer 2011
Professor Maloney and students km2001
Professor Van Rysywk, Professor Daub, and students vhbd2011
Professor Johnson and students aj
Professor 2012 Brief Research Titles
Extra information
William Daub The [2,3] Wittig rearrangement

Choice lab development:  Lead levels in soil
 Email Dr. Daub for more information
Karl Haushalter Optimizing the sequence of tRNA-shRNA chimeras for anti-HIV gene therapy

The long-range goal of this project is to develop a gene therapy approach to treating HIV-AIDS.  As an intermediate goal, students in the Haushalter lab will synthesize and characterize variants of a tRNA-shRNA chimera molecule that can be delivered to and expressed in target cells.  By performing site-directed mutagenesis of the acceptor stem of the tRNA portion of the molecule, students will investigate the effect of perturbations in the structure of the tRNA acceptor stem on the processing and downstream activity of the short-hairpin RNA, as measured by dual-luciferase functional assays. 

Email Dr. Haushalter for more information
Lelia Hawkins

Characterization of light absorption and total organic carbon content of amine-aldehyde secondary organic aerosol

The Hawkins lab has a sampling system to collect atmospheric aerosol particles (like smog), measure the UV/vis absorption spectrum of discrete samples, and measure the total organic carbon content of the particles. To better characterize atmospheric samples, laboratory generated aerosol particles should be tested. Specifically, we need to examine laboratory aerosol that simulates the colored component of smog particles. Student(s) will prepare samples, atomize and measure particles in the sampling system, and compile the results. A literature-based research project will support the analysis process to aid in understanding how brown carbon aerosol forms.

Developing chemical force microscopy for analyzing atmospheric aerosol particles 

Single-particle morphology and composition for atmospheric aerosol measurements require special facilities off-campus. In lieu of this resource, students will (1) develop an automated sampler for collecting CFM samples (with the machine shop), (2) develop a method to apply chemical force microscopy to atmospheric samples, and (3) analyze atmospheric particles with the newly modified technique

 Email Dr. Hawkins for more information.
Kerry Karukstis Phase diagrams of green surfactants (joint with Professor Van Hecke)

Projects seek to determine temperature – composition phase diagrams for systems that consist of water and alkyl glucosides that are green surfactants.  These systems exhibit multiple phases including several of which are liquid crystalline.  Some of the liquid crystal phases are under consideration as drug delivery systems.  The techniques we use in these studies include polarized light microscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy

 Homepage information is found here.
Research information is found here.
Gerald Van Hecke Several projects are possible depending on student interest including:  synthesis of new liquid crystalline materials based on di-substituted fluorenes, using liquid crystals for vapor detection, experimental determination and theoretical modeling of binary phase diagrams of liquid crystalline mixture, and laser light scattering of liquid mixtures to measure liquid phase non-ideality

 Email Dr. Van Hecke for more information.
Hal Van Ryswyk Design, synthesis, and characterization of zinc porphyrin dyes for use on nanostructured zinc oxide photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells.

 Homepage information is found here. Email for more information
David Vosburg Biomimetic cyclizations in organic chemistry.
Syntheses of bioactive natural products using fascinating pericyclic cascades, microwave activation, and organocatalysis.

Developing innovative green chemistry experiments for undergraduate laboratories.
Including microwave activation, self-assembly, and solvent-free reactions.

 Homepage information is found here. Email Dr. Vosburg for more information.
Summer 2010 Pics