The Division of Chemistry at the National Science Foundation recently awarded a grant of $38,685 to Victoria D. Moore, Karl D. Sienerth and Kathryn M. Matera.
Moore, assistant professor of chemistry, is the Principal Investigator for the project, titled “Acquisition of a Multimode Spectrophotometer by ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ to Enhance Undergraduate Research and Teaching in Chemistry and Biochemistry.”
The award will be used to purchase a multimode spectrophotometer, a microplate reader which will enhance research capabilities and open the door for new lab experiences in biochemistry and chemistry courses. It will be used immediately in research labs at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ to support and enhance faculty and student research involved with the study of basic science principles such as peptide aggregates, protein-protein binding, biochemical changes to mitochondria during apoptosis and quantitative measurements of environmental and explosive compounds. Students such as Andrew Fischer and Cecilia Smith , ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College Fellows and Lumen Prize winners, and Kelsey Van Dalfsen, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College Fellow, Lumen Prize winner and recipient of a Goldwater scholarship, will be able to advance their research and undergraduate research experience by utilizing state-of-the-art fluorescence and luminescence technology. Additionally, chemistry and biochemistry faculty will be able to integrate the spectrophotometer into hands-on experiences in a variety of courses. In general, the acquisition of this multimode spectrophotometer will introduce modern fluorescence and luminescence methods into the core biochemistry and chemistry curriculum, thereby enhancing both majors.