Research in Chemistry

During the January term students will learn how to read scientific journal articles and design experiments.  In the spring semester, students will write a literature review on their individual topic of interest as well as a research proposal.  Concurrently students will learn advanced chemistry researching techniques, both in the laboratory and computationally, and begin their research.  In the fall semester students will complete their research, and produce a research paper, poster and oral presentation, the three main methods scientists use to communicate their work.

Students in this program should be passionate about chemistry and able to work independently.  They should have good time management and strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.  Research can be frustrating as there is often no “right” answer.  A strong interest in what you are studying will go a long way to help you during those periods when your experiments are not going as you planned.  This class is designed to teach you how to go through the entire process of research from formulating a hypothesis to presenting your findings.  No prior research experience is required!  Only a passion for chemistry! 

Materials Chemistry

• Polymeric carbon nitride films for photoelectrocatalytic hydrogen production

• Metal organic frameworks for enhanced capture of NO2 from the atmosphere

• Nitrogen-doped Graphene Quantum Dots for Increased CO2 Reduction Efficiency and Hydrocarbon Selectivity

Environmental Chemistry

• Sesamol as a Novel Redox Mediator for the Electrochemical Separation of Carbon Dioxide from Flue Gas

• Development of Integrated Ionic Liquid System for Simultaneous Pretreatment and Biomass Saccharification of Fermentable Sugars

• Optimization and Determination of Goethite-impregnated Powder Activated Carbon (GPAC) Desorption and Regeneration for Bisphenol A (BPA) Adsorption

• Repurposing Carbon Black Nanoparticles for Use in Crude Oil Spills

• Beta-Cyclodextran Polymers Crosslinked with Organic Chelating Agents for the Adsorption of Heavy Metal and Organic Pollutants

Organic and Biochemistry

• Computational Design of a Novel Oral Dual Topoisomerase II/Hsp90 Inhibitor for Cancer Therapies

• Computational Analysis of Nonpeptide Small Molecules as Potent Inhibitors of Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3

• Design and Synthesis of a Novel Dual IDO/TDO Inhibitor for Cancer Immunotherapy

• Investigation of Phytoestrogens as Treatments for Estrogen Receptor Negative Breast Cancer

• Polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum as Novel Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Agents

• Synthesis of a Tau Aggregation Inhibitor in Relation to Alzheimer’s Disease

• The development of a novel chitin-based, biodegradable hydrogel used for the sustained release of aspirin into the colon

Electrochemistry and Batteries

• Hybrid Polyacrylonitrile Membranes and their Application in Redox Flow Batteries

• Improving the Efficiency of Glucose/O2 Biofuel Cells with Redox Dyes as a Mediator

CH4922 Research Chem III (*R*)

Prerequisite(s): Final grade of B or higher in Research in Chemistry II, or successful participation in a summer research program and permission of the Dean of Science.

Corequisite(s): None

Graduation Requirements Met: One STEM credit

Schedule Requirements Met: One of five courses required each semester

Meeting Times: Seven periods per week and three labs

Students continue work on their previous research to produce additional data and conduct statistical analysis, as needed. They may research extension questions based on their original work. Students write a formal research paper and prepare a formal presentation. Students are required to present their results at the NCSSM Research Symposium in the spring and are encouraged to present their research at the North Carolina Student Academy of Science competition and other competitions. This course includes a significant research component.