2009 Student Research
Research Project: Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Polymer Electrolytes for 3-D Batteries
Graduate Mentor: Courtnie Sorrell
Faculty Mentor: Sarah Tolbert
UCLA Department: Chemistry & Biochemistry
School/Major: Virginia Military Institute/Chemistry
Bio:
I was born in Morehead City, NC, but as a military brat, I've spent my upbringing living
in a number of places, including Germany and South Korea. If I had to call anywhere
home, however, it'd be Virginia. I attended high school in northern Virginia, but moved
to western Virginia when I began college at the Virginia Military Institute. My love for
the physical sciences and literature have lead me to major in Chemistry with a
concentration in Biochemistry and a minor in English. I also pursue research in enzyme
kinetics during the school year with Dr. McCain. Aside from my studies, I am a
chemistry tutor, one of the school's four academic officers, president of the Philosophy
Club, vice-president of the Cadet Counseling Service, a euphist for the Regimental Band,
a member of the club basketball team and I have recently begun running with the
Lexington Rescue Squad as an EMT. The little free time that these and my other
academic and military obligations leave me is generally spent in the gym, reading or
simply unwinding with friends. One of my most fervent passions, however, is travel.
Thanks to my father's military career, I had already seen the likes of the Greek
archipelago and the ice caps of Iceland before I'd ever left my parents' care. So, naturally,
travelling has stayed in my blood, and as a college student I have studied in New
Zealand, Oxford, and now Los Angeles. Perhaps this is why I hope to spend a year
working with Doctors Without Borders in Cameroon immediately following graduation.
Of course, this is not my ultimate career aspiration. It is my ultimate intent to attend
graduate school or medical school and then enter into chemical research, biomedical
research or medical practice.
Poster | Abstract
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Jacob Cox
Virginia Military Institute/
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Research Project: Treatment of Wastewater Using Carbon Aerogels
Graduate Mentor: Jonathan Fang
Faculty Mentor: Bruce Dunn
UCLA Department: Materials Science & Engineering
School/Major: Emory University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences/Chemistry, Film Studies
Bio:
My name is Calvin Hu. I attend Emory University, graduating class of 2010. My hobbies
include following and playing most sports, watching movies and television, listening to
music, collecting headphones, playing poker, and playing foosball. At Emory, my major
fields of study include chemistry and film studies. In the chemistry department, I am
assisting Dr. Michael Heaven in physical chemistry research, and I am working as an
undergraduate teaching assistant for organic chemistry lab. I hope to earn a doctorate in
chemistry and possibly a doctorate of medicine for a career in research.
Poster | Abstract
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Calvin Hu
Cal State Polytech, Pomona
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Research Project: Efficient Computational Design of Catalysts
Graduate Mentor: Scott Johnson
Faculty Mentor: Kendall Houk
UCLA Department: Chemistry & Biochemistry
School/Major: Louisiana Tech University/Nanosystems and Electrical Engineering
Bio:
My name is Divya Kashyap. I am an undergraduate student at Louisiana Tech University
double majoring in Nanosystems Engineering and Electrical Engineering, expecting to
graduate in May 2011. I am particularly interested in nanoscale electronic devices, such
as single electron transistors, and other semiconductor technology. At Louisiana Tech, I
am a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Advertising
Manager of its subcommittee, the Student Professional Awareness Conference (SPAC). I
am also part of the Society of Nanosystems Engineering Students. My hobbies are
sewing, knitting, and other arts and crafts, which I taught myself through books and the
Internet. I also enjoy photography, photo-editing, and video-editing. I am fond of
traveling and exploring new places. At NanoCER, I am working on catalyst design using
computational chemistry under Scott Johnson and Dr. Kendall Houk.
Poster | Abstract
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Divya Kashyap
Louisiana Tech University
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Research Project: Solid-State Photodecomposition of Adamantylideneadamantane 1,2-Dioxetane: A Quantum Chain Process in
the Triplet Excited-State
Graduate Mentor: Gregory Kuzmanich
Faculty Mentor: Miguel Garcia-Garibay
UCLA Department: Chemistry & Biochemistry
School/Major: UC Berkeley/Molecular & Cellular Biology, Emphasis on Biological Chemistry
Bio:
My Name is Elan Katz. I attend the University of California at Berkeley, Go Bears!. Fall
2009 will be my last year there. My major is Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with
an emphasis on Biological Chemistry and some psychology and organic chemistry on the
side. I would like to attend graduate school after college, but I am not sure in what focus
yet. Some of my hobbies include Frisbee, Basketball and Tennis. I am a lover of music,
movies, naps and food.
Poster | Abstract
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Elan Katz
UC Berkeley
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Research Project: Fabrication of sub-10 nm Porous Anodic Alumina (PAA) Films for 1-D Stacking of Magnetic Nanoparticles
Graduate Mentor: Richard Farrell
Faculty Mentor: Sarah Tolbert
UCLA Department: Chemistry & Biochemistry
School/Major: Trinity College/Chemistry
Bio:
My name is Jack Love. I am going into my senior year at Trinity College in Hartford, CT.
I love to, cook, be outdoors, to snowboard and play sports. I am passionate about sailing
and being on the water. I am the captain of the sailing team at Trinity and sail in the
summers across New England. I am a chemistry major and love to be involved in the
process of discovery that comes from research. I have done research in synthetic organic
and organo-metallic chemistry at Trinity but am also interested in engineering and
materials science. This summer, I have been working with nanoscale particles, studying
their magnetic properties, and incorporating them into porous materials. I hope to some
day apply my chemistry and engineering background to create new technologies that help
to solve the problems of today.
Poster | Abstract
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John Love
Trinity College
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Research Project: Nanofabrication by Imprint Lithography
Graduate Mentor: Hee Kun Park
Faculty Mentor: Yong Chen
UCLA Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
School/Major: UCLA/Mechanical Engineering
Bio:
My name is Romulo Magallanes, and I attend the University of California, Los Angeles
majoring in mechanical engineering. After getting my Bachelor's degree, I plan to attend
graduate school for my Master's in mechanical engineering. In the future I see myself
working for an engineering company where I can learn new things everyday, work on
projects where I can grow personally and professionally. When I am not in school or
during my free time, I like to go to the beach, hiking, exercise, watch a movie along with
good food and company of friends.
Poster | Abstract
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Romulo Magallanes
UCLA
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Research Project: Freestanding Films of Organic Conductors
Graduate Mentor: Julio D'Arcy
Faculty Mentor: Richard Kaner
UCLA Department: Chemistry & Biochemistry
School/Major: University of Texas at El Paso/Chemistry
Bio:
My name is Noe Perez. I attend the University of Texas at El Paso. I majored in
chemistry because of an early interest in high school. Our science teacher would stay
after hours showing us interesting reactions that we would then present to elementary and
other middle schools in the county. Today my future goals involve a probable chemistry
degree studying nanotechnologies, particularly and hopefully, in space applications or in
the solving of our current energy crisis. Although academics is a major part of my life I
also have many personal goals. I rock climb, do gymnastics, and free run; all sports that
challenge the mind as they do the body. As a student it is very difficult to juggle an
educational career, hobbies, and maintain strong and loving relationships with friends and
family. I am slowly coming to understand that life is a balance between the many things
one is capable of doing, the many interests one can pursue, and the impact one can have
on people around me. Life is increasingly becoming better as everyday I reach and meet
new goals and begin to set new ones with encouragement and support from those around
me.
Poster | Abstract
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Noe Perez
University of Texas at El Paso
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Research Project: Chain Transfer to Photodegradable Moieties
Graduate Mentor: Danny Dodson
Faculty Mentor: Andrea Kasko
UCLA Department: Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering
School/Major:
Bio:
My name is Alicia Sawdon and I'm a biochemistry major at Oakland University in
Michigan. I am a senior and will be graduating next summer. My future plans are to go to
graduate school for biomedical engineering. I would really like to end up in California for
graduate school just because the weather is so nice. In my free time, I like to read and
listen to music. I also hang out with my friends, every week we have either a movie night
or a game night. I really enjoy tango and salsa dancing and have been taking dancing
lessons this summer which have been a blast.
Poster | Abstract
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Alicia Swadon
Oakland University
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Research Project: Method Optimization Proteomic Analysis on a Droplet Based Microfluidic Device by MALDI-MS
Graduate Mentor: Debalina Chatterjee
Faculty Mentor: Robin Garrell
UCLA Department: Chemistry & Biochemistry
School/Major: University of Kentucky/Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry
Bio:
My name is Becky Schneider. Currently I attend the University of Kentucky with a major
in Mechanical Engineering. I am interested in pursuing a career in Biomedical
Engineering. I am also a Combat Medic in the Kentucky Army National Guard. My
academic interests lie in soft tissue regeneration as I have seen many possible
applications, and ways that would improve the quality of life of another person, using that
technology. In my free time I like to run, read, and play the guitar.
Poster | Abstract
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Becky Schneider
University of Kentucky
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Research Project: Encapsulation Efficiencies and Release Rates from Waterin-Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsions
Graduate Mentor: Jarrod Hanson
Faculty Mentor: Tim Deming
UCLA Department: Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering
School/Major: Tufts University/Chemical and Biological Engineering
Bio:
I am a chemical engineering undergraduate from Tufts University in Boston. I.m
originally from Massachusetts, and I went to high school in Connecticut. Like most from
the Northeast I.ve developed a love for skiing, sailing and the beach. I have always been
fascinated by chemistry, and I was instantly attracted to an engineering degree from the
moment I discovered they did not carry a foreign language requirement. I.ve been doing
research for the past few years in an attempt to find which area interests me the most.
Over the years I.ve tried tissue engineering, recombinant protein production, and most
recently nanotechnology. Although I.ve found each of these fields intriguing, the search
continues.
Poster | Abstract
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Peter St. John
Tufts University
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Research Project: Green Energy Production by Bioluminescent Algae
Graduate Mentor: Matthew Allen
Faculty Mentor: Richard Kaner
UCLA Department: Chemistry & Biochemistry
School/Major: University of San Diego/Mechanical Engineering
Bio:
I am a mechanical engineer at the University of San Diego. My academic interests
include machine design and mechanics of materials. I plan to a career focusing on design.
I was born in Texas, but I am definitely enjoying the warm weather and beaches in
California. My hobbies include softball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, surfing, drawing,
and oil painting.
Poster | Abstract
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Averi Thomas
University of San Diego
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Research Project: Computational Design of an Enzyme Catalyst for a Diels-Alder Reaction
Graduate Mentor: Seonah Kim
Faculty Mentor: Kendall Houk
UCLA Department: Chemistry & Biochemistry
School/Major: Pacific University/Chemistry with Biochemistry Emphasis
Bio:
My name is Anthony Tran. I am a Hawaii resident. I am an incoming 4th year student at
Pacific University of Oregon. I am a chemistry major with a biochemistry emphasis. I am
also a biology minor. After undergraduate, I am deciding between PharmD and/or Ph.D
in Chemistry. My hobbies are watching tv, playing games, going to the movies, reading
books, hanging out with friends, hiking, and going to the beach. I hope to work in a lab
after graduate school.
Poster | Abstract
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Anthony Tran
Pacific University
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