Hobart and William Smith Colleges

8 August 2003 Summer Chemistry Research at Hobart and William Smith Colleges

From quantum mechanics to E. coli, 16 undergraduates are searching to find answers to a variety of scientific questions.

Geneva, NY They may not be hanging out at the beach, but theyre investigating lake water bacteria and zebra mussels. They may not be slathering bug repellent, but theyre discovering how to keep insects from becoming resistant to it. Sixteen chemistry majors at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y., are foregoing the usual lazy days of summer to pursue science research projects. Thirteen are working with professors in the chemistry department, while two are working with professors in the geoscience department and one is doing research at the Cornell Experiment Station, also located in Geneva.

Aaron Coffin (Hobart 04) is researching new methods for synthesizing analogs of staurosporine.

Adam Lanious (Hobart '04) is conducting research on developing new synthetic methods for the preparation of nitrogen heterocycles.

Carrie Provenzano (William Smith '04) is conducting research with Sarah Bates, a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station located in Geneva, N.Y. She is investigating strategies to help delay/prevent the development of resistance in insects to insecticidal transgenic crops.

Rebecca Splain (William Smith '04) is investigating the effects of tautomerization in the Bergman cyclization of ten-membered enediyne anticancer warhead drugs.

Jeff Sullivan (Hobart 04) is investigating the effects of aromaticity in the Bergman cyclization of ten-membered enediyne anticancer warhead drugs.

Elina Tserlin (William Smith '04) is investigating new methodologies in synthesizing 3-pyrrolin-2-ones, which are precursors to biologically active compounds such as staurosporine.

Barbara Beckingham (William Smith 05) is researching potential sources of total coliform and E. coli bacteria into the Seneca Lake watershed.

Hilda Castillo (William Smith 05) is studying the effects of charge in the Bergman cyclization of ten-membered enediyne anticancer warhead drugs.

Angie Dann (William Smith '05) is conducting research on the preparation of ruthenium materials that may be candidates molecular wire electron transport.

Nicolette Guthrie (William Smith 05) is conducting research on the synthesis and reactions of 1,3-diisocyanoacetone.

Michael Liquori (Hobart 05) is working on the synthesis and reactions of N-Methyl-N-phenylisocyanoacetamide.

Clarence Rolle (Hobart 05) is researching the molecular design of molecular wire candidates containing carbonylcobalticinium units.

Gilbert Arbelaez (Hobart 06) is investigating the effects of aromaticity in the Bergman cyclization of ten-membered enediyne anticancer warhead drugs.

Max Macaluso (Hobart 06) is performing research on the electronic structure of anti cancer enediyne warhead drugs

Suzanne Opalka (Wiliam Smith '06) is conducting research developing a calcium budget of Seneca Lake to determine how quagga and zebra mussels affect the lake's hydrogeochemistry and sedimentology.

Pria Young (William Smith '06) is working on the synthesis of unique ferrocene containing materials that may be used in molecular devices.

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