News
Professor Receives National Institute of Standards and Technology Grant
Dr. Carrigan Hayes, professor of physical chemistry, was award a grant of more than $16,000 from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for her research project titled Calculating Thermochemical and Kinetic Reference.
Dr. Hayes' research focuses on the chemistry of lignocellulosic biofuels; these are biofuels that are derived from non-edible plant material (and so are not otherwise involved in the food chain). Lignin and cellulose both have large structures consisting of several interconnected rings; these complex stuctures make their chemistry complicated. Dr. Hayes is interested in examining the component individual rings present in lignin and cellulose, with the ultimate goal of better understanding the larger, interconnected systems. To this end, she and her research students use computational chemistry to calculate the energies and explore the reactions of these monocyclic (one-ring) compounds.
Professor Receives National Science Foundation Grant
Dean Johnston, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, received more
than $199,000 grant award from the National Science Foundation for his
project Experimental Determination of Chemical Structure. The key goals
of this project are to:
-
Develop a new model for integration of structural methods into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum;
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Assess student engagement and learning when working with experimental structural data;
- establish a local PUI user group to broaden the incorporation of X-ray
diffraction methods and resources into the undergraduate curriculum;
and
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create interactive web-based materials for teaching crystallographic symmetry.
Science for the 21st Century
Otterbein University recently received a renewable grant of $60,000 from
the Merck Institute for Science Education to fund a new program for
science students called Student Scholars for the 21st Century.
The grant will fund four undergraduate research experiences annually, as
well as ancillary programs designed to engage all summer research
students in an enriched experience and expose them to possible career
paths.
Faculty Receive Grant Award
Joan Esson, Chemistry, and Brian Sell, Physics and Astronomy, were
awarded $482,992 from the National Science Foundation to support
scholarships and enhance programming for Otterbein students.
In their proposal, Esson and Sell wrote: "Our objective is to provide a
significant scholarship and exceptional academic and co-curricular
experience to at least 30 students who are planning on majoring in
chemistry, biochemistry or physics. Together with the Office of
Admissions, academically talented students demonstrating financial need
will be aggressively recruited from Ohio schools with high percentages
of women and minorities and/or an emphasis on STEM education.
After selecting the students based on academic performance and an essay
about career goals, they will participate in an active learning
community with activities including a week-long summer immersion
experience, programming at the Center for Career Planning, residence in a
living/learning house, a year-long seminar program focusing on career
options, and mentoring through a triad consisting of the scholar, an
upper-level student, and alum."