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Student Researchers

Karen Ragan:
Cholesteric Liquid Crystals that Provide Optical Signals for Chemial Sensors of Biomolecules
The general purpose of this research is to develop new chemical sensors for biomolecules. In particular, I want to develop chemical sensors that use optical signals, which are changes in chemical properties that are apparent to the naked eye. An optical signal could be a change in color or a change in light intensity within a specific system. My specific research goal is to investigate the binding of the protein Avidin by the compound Biotin in a cholesteric liquid crystal system.

Ryan Hawk:

Sarah Angell:

Following the Effect of Variation in Organic Derivatives of Polyoxometalates on Langmuir-Blodgett Thin Films

Under the tutelage of Professor Chambers, I have been synthesizing alkyl derivatives of polyoxometalates in the interest of organizing the polyoxometalate species on a molecular level; ultimately I hope that this research will assist in the development of an optical transistor. When not working in chemistry, I enjoy spending time in the outdoors, especially on the farm with my family of ten in New York. Outside of my Advanced Inorganic textbook, I believe that the best book in the world is the Brothers Karamazov from which comes a plethora of wisdom including the great quote: "Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing, compared with love in dreams."

Greg :