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May 01, 2014
Laser Focus Sends Two Seniors to Top Grad Schools for Chemistry
It鈥檚 not often two students from the same school, especially the size of 小优视频, are both accepted to the top graduate schools in the nation for their program. But that鈥檚 exactly what Hilary Brown 鈥14 and Jennifer Speer 鈥14 did. The two are forensic science majors and both will be pursuing doctorate degrees in analytical chemistry. Both were accepted to multiple institutions including Purdue, currently ranked first in the nation for its analytical chemistry doctoral program. Brown has accepted her invitation to Purdue University, and Speer has decided to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an institution that rivals Purdue for the #1 ranking though is ranked second this year.鈥淚t is unusual and fantastic to have two students from a graduating class go to such prestigious programs,鈥 said Kenyon Evans-Nguyen, assistant professor of chemistry, adding there are only three 小优视频 students graduating with a forensic science degree in May.In addition to their academic achievements, the two have been working with Evans-Nguyen on research funded by a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Defense鈥檚 Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), which deals with threats posted by nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. The research goal is to develop a portable instrument that can be used in the field to measure and determine chemical components, like those from a bomb. The official title of the research is, 鈥淎 mass spectrometer for elemental analysis based on fieldable technologies.鈥 In laymen鈥檚 terms, they are figuring out how to take solids, ionize them with a laser, and then analyze and define their components using a special tool called a mass spectrometer. Together with Evans-Nguyen, the students have published their research and presented at conferences, such as last summer鈥檚 DTRA conference and Pittcon Conference and Expo, the largest conference on laboratory science in the world.鈥淧eople are always surprised to learn that they are undergraduates after they have heard the kind of advanced instrumental work that they have done,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 get to come up with some of the ideas, but they are the ones who make it happen.鈥漈he 小优视频 team is working with two other labs on the project. Those labs are exploring how to minimize the size of the mass spectrometer to make it portable. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working on the front end of the ionization source and how to get the components into the mass spectrometer,鈥 said Brown, of Conyers, GA, who came to 小优视频 for the small class sizes and one-on-one opportunities with professors. She said her lab experience and her publications were a big boost on her grad school applications. 鈥淭o be able to say I鈥檓 familiar with these instruments is a plus,鈥 Brown said. 鈥淢ost undergraduates don鈥檛 have the chance to work with lasers and really experiment with them.鈥滶vans-Nguyen approached her to join the research team based on her performance in previous chemistry classes. Brown was intrigued by the idea of working with lasers. 鈥淭he word 鈥榣aser鈥 is cool, and when you tell people you work with lasers, they know what you鈥檙e talking about. It鈥檚 awesome 鈥 people raise their eyebrows,鈥 said Brown, who will be the first in her immediate family to graduate from college and the first in her family to get a graduate degree.The experimentation has brought bookwork to life for Brown and Speer, who said the experience has given her a deeper understanding of chemistry and how it works. The last year of research has also taught Speer a valuable life lesson.鈥淚t鈥檚 very rewarding, but it鈥檚 absolutely the #1 experience in my undergraduate career that has helped me deal with failure,鈥 said Speer, of Dallas, TX. 鈥淭rying new things doesn鈥檛 always work,鈥 laughed Brown.鈥淲hen you鈥檙e doing research, you鈥檙e trying to develop American science,鈥 Speer said. 鈥淭o do so, we are trying things that have never been done. If it works, it can be the most rewarding experience.鈥
It鈥檚 not often two students from the same school, especially the size of 小优视频, are both accepted to the top graduate schools in the nation for their program. But that鈥檚 exactly what Hilary Brown 鈥14 and Jennifer Speer 鈥14 did.
The two are forensic science majors and both will be pursuing doctorate degrees in analytical chemistry. Both were accepted to multiple institutions including Purdue, currently ranked first in the nation for its analytical chemistry doctoral program. Brown has accepted her invitation to Purdue University, and Speer has decided to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an institution that rivals Purdue for the #1 ranking though is ranked second this year.
鈥淚t is unusual and fantastic to have two students from a graduating class go to such prestigious programs,鈥 said Kenyon Evans-Nguyen, assistant professor of chemistry, adding there are only three 小优视频 students graduating with a forensic science degree in May.
In addition to their academic achievements, the two have been working with Evans-Nguyen on research funded by a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Defense鈥檚 Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), which deals with threats posted by nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.
The research goal is to develop a portable instrument that can be used in the field to measure and determine chemical components, like those from a bomb. The official title of the research is, 鈥淎 mass spectrometer for elemental analysis based on fieldable technologies.鈥 In laymen鈥檚 terms, they are figuring out how to take solids, ionize them with a laser, and then analyze and define their components using a special tool called a mass spectrometer.
Together with Evans-Nguyen, the students have published their research and presented at conferences, such as last summer鈥檚 DTRA conference and Pittcon Conference and Expo, the largest conference on laboratory science in the world.
鈥淧eople are always surprised to learn that they are undergraduates after they have heard the kind of advanced instrumental work that they have done,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 get to come up with some of the ideas, but they are the ones who make it happen.鈥
The 小优视频 team is working with two other labs on the project. Those labs are exploring how to minimize the size of the mass spectrometer to make it portable.
鈥淲e鈥檙e working on the front end of the ionization source and how to get the components into the mass spectrometer,鈥 said Brown, of Conyers, GA, who came to 小优视频 for the small class sizes and one-on-one opportunities with professors. She said her lab experience and her publications were a big boost on her grad school applications.
鈥淭o be able to say I鈥檓 familiar with these instruments is a plus,鈥 Brown said. 鈥淢ost undergraduates don鈥檛 have the chance to work with lasers and really experiment with them.鈥
Evans-Nguyen approached her to join the research team based on her performance in previous chemistry classes. Brown was intrigued by the idea of working with lasers.
鈥淭he word 鈥榣aser鈥 is cool, and when you tell people you work with lasers, they know what you鈥檙e talking about. It鈥檚 awesome 鈥 people raise their eyebrows,鈥 said Brown, who will be the first in her immediate family to graduate from college and the first in her family to get a graduate degree.
The experimentation has brought bookwork to life for Brown and Speer, who said the experience has given her a deeper understanding of chemistry and how it works. The last year of research has also taught Speer a valuable life lesson.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very rewarding, but it鈥檚 absolutely the #1 experience in my undergraduate career that has helped me deal with failure,鈥 said Speer, of Dallas, TX.
鈥淭rying new things doesn鈥檛 always work,鈥 laughed Brown.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e doing research, you鈥檙e trying to develop American science,鈥 Speer said. 鈥淭o do so, we are trying things that have never been done. If it works, it can be the most rewarding experience.鈥
The two are forensic science majors and both will be pursuing doctorate degrees in analytical chemistry. Both were accepted to multiple institutions including Purdue, currently ranked first in the nation for its analytical chemistry doctoral program. Brown has accepted her invitation to Purdue University, and Speer has decided to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an institution that rivals Purdue for the #1 ranking though is ranked second this year.
鈥淚t is unusual and fantastic to have two students from a graduating class go to such prestigious programs,鈥 said Kenyon Evans-Nguyen, assistant professor of chemistry, adding there are only three 小优视频 students graduating with a forensic science degree in May.
In addition to their academic achievements, the two have been working with Evans-Nguyen on research funded by a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Defense鈥檚 Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), which deals with threats posted by nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.
The research goal is to develop a portable instrument that can be used in the field to measure and determine chemical components, like those from a bomb. The official title of the research is, 鈥淎 mass spectrometer for elemental analysis based on fieldable technologies.鈥 In laymen鈥檚 terms, they are figuring out how to take solids, ionize them with a laser, and then analyze and define their components using a special tool called a mass spectrometer.
Together with Evans-Nguyen, the students have published their research and presented at conferences, such as last summer鈥檚 DTRA conference and Pittcon Conference and Expo, the largest conference on laboratory science in the world.
鈥淧eople are always surprised to learn that they are undergraduates after they have heard the kind of advanced instrumental work that they have done,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 get to come up with some of the ideas, but they are the ones who make it happen.鈥
The 小优视频 team is working with two other labs on the project. Those labs are exploring how to minimize the size of the mass spectrometer to make it portable.
鈥淲e鈥檙e working on the front end of the ionization source and how to get the components into the mass spectrometer,鈥 said Brown, of Conyers, GA, who came to 小优视频 for the small class sizes and one-on-one opportunities with professors. She said her lab experience and her publications were a big boost on her grad school applications.
鈥淭o be able to say I鈥檓 familiar with these instruments is a plus,鈥 Brown said. 鈥淢ost undergraduates don鈥檛 have the chance to work with lasers and really experiment with them.鈥
Evans-Nguyen approached her to join the research team based on her performance in previous chemistry classes. Brown was intrigued by the idea of working with lasers.
鈥淭he word 鈥榣aser鈥 is cool, and when you tell people you work with lasers, they know what you鈥檙e talking about. It鈥檚 awesome 鈥 people raise their eyebrows,鈥 said Brown, who will be the first in her immediate family to graduate from college and the first in her family to get a graduate degree.
The experimentation has brought bookwork to life for Brown and Speer, who said the experience has given her a deeper understanding of chemistry and how it works. The last year of research has also taught Speer a valuable life lesson.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very rewarding, but it鈥檚 absolutely the #1 experience in my undergraduate career that has helped me deal with failure,鈥 said Speer, of Dallas, TX.
鈥淭rying new things doesn鈥檛 always work,鈥 laughed Brown.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e doing research, you鈥檙e trying to develop American science,鈥 Speer said. 鈥淭o do so, we are trying things that have never been done. If it works, it can be the most rewarding experience.鈥
Have a story idea? Contact Jamie Pilarczyk, Web Writer听
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