91ֱ�� to Offer Bachelor of Science Degree Beginning Fall 2026</h1> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� to Offer Bachelor of Science Degree Beginning Fall 2026</h1> <p>mreed — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 19:20:14 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� to Offer Bachelor of Science Degree Beginning Fall 2026</span> <span><span>mreed</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-10-16T15:20:14-04:00" title="Thursday, October 16, 2025 - 15:20">Thu, 10/16/2025 - 15:20</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The new degree gives students pursuing a wide range of eligible majors—from biochemistry and computer science to psychology and economics—the opportunity to graduate with either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS), depending on the balance of their coursework. Students who complete at least one BS-eligible major and 16 full courses carrying the Natural Science and Mathematics designation may choose to receive the BS degree.</p><aside class="pull obj-right"><div class="basic-box basic-box--light"><h2 class="small-headline">Majors Eligible for</h2><h2 class="small-headline">the Bachelor of Science:</h2><ul class="list--clean"><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="5124b507-99df-4595-9104-bdb9c6a22310" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Chemistry and Biochemistry">Biochemistry</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="5954f263-77c8-4106-80db-2cb993408d8a" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Biology">Biology</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/business/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8ad7fc7e-532c-4cd8-9b35-8391defc685b" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Business">Business</a></li><li><a href="/biochemistry" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="755c73bb-f2ba-4bbe-bfb4-8fc57b94dd7c" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Biochemistry">Chemistry</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="b1e2c8e5-2a8b-4967-8a6d-f8ce5cea4476" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Computer Science">Computer Science</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/data-science/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="fe3d12fe-2a64-4438-b738-5fe696675b00" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Data Science">Data Science</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="30752c27-cce4-4efa-9ba3-c310d98b61a7" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Economics">Economics</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-science/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="66900a61-06bd-4aa7-9555-e85efa26654b" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Environmental Science">Environmental Science</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/finance/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="6911f8f3-bb76-4a72-a710-9869a094b462" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Financial Economics">Financial Economics</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/geosciences/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="0a12379d-58d4-489b-a75d-68d46edd4214" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Geosciences">Geosciences</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/global-health" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="cf90288b-047f-4d2f-ac3a-91691901fde1" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Global Health">Global Health</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="50eb3820-b9e6-4a08-b060-92ebf3b1a4eb" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Mathematics">Mathematics</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8e28996c-7931-4f76-912f-28f4ec621121" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Neuroscience">Neuroscience</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/physics-and-astronomy/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="d36e1693-1165-4e42-ac58-9f9bfb1b9a0d" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Physics and Astronomy">Physics</a></li><li><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology/curriculum" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="2655a549-4d67-4820-a808-9a7fb471e11f" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Academic Program in Psychology">Psychology</a></li></ul></div></aside><p>“This is an important evolution for 91ֱ��,” says David Kamitsuka, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “The Bachelor of Science degree reflects the strength of our existing programs and the multidisciplinary nature of scientific work today. It gives our students new ways to signal the depth of their scientific training. For example, in all of the eligible majors, undergraduates routinely co-author with their faculty mentors in scholarly peer-reviewed scientific journals.”</p><p>Kamitsuka noted that several programs outside traditional STEM areas—such as economics, business, and psychology—also qualify for the BS. “That reflects how today’s problems are solved,” he says. “Understanding markets, managing complex organizations, and studying human behavior all require the same analytical and evidence-based thinking we teach in the natural sciences. The BS degree captures that spirit of interdisciplinary inquiry grounded in the liberal arts tradition that is at the heart of an 91ֱ�� education.</p><p>The new degree will also broaden 91ֱ��’s appeal to prospective students. Across U.S. higher education, more than half of all international students pursue <a href="/arts-and-sciences/sciences-at-oberlin" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="6b83b150-0f8e-435b-9594-08382bdb4e2f" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Sciences at 91ֱ��">degrees in STEM or science-related fields</a>—a trend that makes 91ֱ��’s new BS degree especially attractive to global applicants.</p><p>For people like Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Jason Belitsky, the degree represents a way to better acknowledge the work many students already do.</p><p>“Our students in chemistry, physics, biology, and related disciplines already engage in extensive lab work, data analysis, and scientific problem-solving that meet the expectations of a Bachelor of Science education,” Belitsky says. “This new degree formally recognizes that rigor and affirms the quality and breadth of scientific preparation our students bring to graduate study and professional work.”</p><p>Belitsky emphasizes that the BS option doesn’t change 91ֱ��’s approach to teaching—it enhances it. “What’s exciting is that students will be able to show both sides of their education: deep technical and analytical expertise, and the creativity and communication skills that come from a liberal arts environment.”</p><p>The degree was endorsed by the college’s Educational Plans and Policies Committee earlier this year and approved by the College Faculty. The Bachelor of Science will be available to students beginning in fall 2026.</p><hr><h3>How to Qualify for the BS Degree</h3><p><em>To earn a Bachelor of Science at 91ֱ��, students must:</em></p><ol><li>Declare at least one major from the list of BS-eligible programs.</li><li>Notify the Office of the Registrar of their intention to convert their Bachelor of Arts degree to a Bachelor of Science.</li><li>Complete at least 16 full courses designated as Natural Science and Mathematics.</li></ol><p><em>Students who meet the criteria may choose to graduate with either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science—but not both.</em></p><hr></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The new degree option expands academic pathways in the sciences, social sciences, and interdisciplinary fields. </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-10-16T12:00:00Z">Thu, 10/16/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p> 91ֱ�� will begin offering a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/bachelor-of-science" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="122754f5-47f5-4c43-a02d-0fce89dcb008" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Bachelor of Science (BS) at 91ֱ��">Bachelor of Science</a> degree option to students in the<a href="/arts-and-sciences" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="c6983a98-0d9e-4cc8-b7f9-ba6f11fa4cbb" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="College of Arts and Sciences"> College of Arts and Sciences</a>, expanding pathways in the natural sciences, social sciences, and emerging interdisciplinary fields. Students may elect to pursue the BS program beginning in fall 2026.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4112">New Programs</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25246">Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=187731">Business</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25321">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=415031">Data Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25341">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=468171">Financial Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25366">Geosciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25401">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4861">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25411">Physics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25286">Psychology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/business" hreflang="und">Business</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science" hreflang="und">Computer Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/data-science" hreflang="und">Data Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-science" hreflang="und">Environmental Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/finance" hreflang="und">Financial Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/geosciences" hreflang="und">Geosciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/global-health" hreflang="und">Global Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/physics-and-astronomy" hreflang="und">Physics and Astronomy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/psychology" hreflang="und">Psychology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Mike Crupi</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Building Blocks</h1> <p>awillia2 — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 22:50:18 +0000</p> <span>Building Blocks</span> <span><span>awillia2</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-03-05T17:50:18-05:00" title="Wednesday, March 5, 2025 - 17:50">Wed, 03/05/2025 - 17:50</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Those goals may be within reach for Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry <a href="/node/253486" target="_blank">Shuming Chen</a>. </p> <p>Harnessing the computing power available through 91ֱ��’s supercomputing cluster, she uses quantum chemistry software to program computational models, creating virtual experiments and chemical reactions that in the past required extensive laboratory testing. She and her students build up complex molecules on a screen like virtual Legos and manipulate them in different ways to test out hypotheses just like experimentalists do on a lab bench. </p> <p>“It’s still a challenge to predict the outcomes of chemical reactions,” Chen said. “It’s something we increasingly want to phase out because experimentation takes a lot of human and energy resources, along with environmental costs. The holy grail we’re working toward is replacing those initial exploratory experiments with simulated reactions.” </p> <p>Chen caught the chemistry bug early in her undergraduate career at Grinnell College, when she learned about valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory as a model to predict molecular structures. “VSEPR theory made me realize that molecules actually have characteristic three-dimensional shapes,” explained Chen. “If you know the number of electrons and bonds connected to central atoms, you can even predict the twists and sheets of something as complex as proteins, the bases of life.”</p> <p>Chen’s fascination with molecular architecture led her to study the potential of manipulating those structures. Slight variations in molecules can make a drug safer and more effective—or, potentially, deadly—but as she noted, chemistry experiments are often a matter of serendipity with a lot of trial and error involved. Chemical reactions can require a significant amount of energy, and many reagents and solvents essential for chemical experimentation pose severe environmental or health hazards.</p> <p>One focus of Chen’s lab is using metals as chemical catalysts. This has important real-world implications. For example, platinum and other metals in catalytic converters react with car exhaust to reduce harmful emissions. Biological organisms—including humans—also use metals in their bodies to enable basic metabolism and detoxification.</p> <p>But metals can also catalyze reactions that wouldn’t normally take place in nature, leading to the creation of novel molecules that treat diseases. After using computational chemistry to identify chemical reactions of interest, scientists can use lab experiments to refine the most desirable molecules and manufacture better drug candidates.</p> <p>For example, Chen recently published a paper in <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.orglett.4c03130" target="_blank"><em>Organic Letters</em></a> with undergraduate biochemistry and clarinet performance major Marisa Ih ’25 on using iron as a more sustainable catalyst to create amino acids that don’t occur in nature; this approach can be used to develop antibiotics that mimic the body's natural defenses against pathogens. “Unnatural amino acids allow us to make interesting modifications to protein structures that can dramatically alter their functions,” said Chen. “They actually underpin a lot of new and exciting developments in biological chemistry.”</p> <p>Chen’s contributions to pharmaceutical development also include a recent project to synthesize rauvomine B, a molecule produced by the poison devil’s-pepper plant (<em>Rauvolfia vomitoria</em>). Total synthesis is an area of chemical research that focuses on assembling simpler, smaller building blocks to make larger and more complex molecules that already exist in nature. Through total synthesis, natural molecules that hold promise as new pharmaceutical drugs can be made in virtually any quantity on demand. In addition to facilitating pharmaceutical development, this also prevents the natural sources of such molecules—often vulnerable plant or animal populations—from being overexploited for global drug supplies. </p> <aside class="pull obj-right"> <div class="basic-box basic-box--light"> <h2 class="small-headline">Student Researchers</h2> <ul class="list--clean"> <li>Sofia Bielinski Leitão ’25</li> <li>Zachary Cheng ’25</li> <li>Olivia Coyle ’27</li> <li>Sam Guarino ’26</li> <li>Shuxiu Jiang ’27</li> <li>Lilly Kramer ’26</li> <li>Brielle Lam ’25</li> <li>Namu Makatiani ’26</li> <li>Andrea Muliawan ’26</li> <li>Gabriel Negrao de Morais ’25</li> <li>Aurora Wildes-Payne ’27</li> <li>Lucas Zimmer ’27</li> </ul> </div> </aside> <p>For a paper published in the <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.4c07669" target="_blank"><em>Journal of the American Chemical Society</em></a>, Chen and undergraduate chemistry student Gabriel Negrao de Morais ’25 collaborated with Myles Smith and colleagues at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to synthesize rauvomine B. </p> <p>The 91ֱ�� team contributed by conducting quantum chemical computations to reveal the key to making the ambitious synthetic endeavor work. Insights from these computations showed that the clever attachment of what chemists call a “protecting group” to a critical part of the molecule had the effect of directing the molecule to take its final, desired shape. Now, scientists can test rauvomine B’s potential to fight inflammation and pathogens while sparing the poison devil’s-pepper. </p> <p>“So many useful drugs already come from the plant family the devil’s-pepper is part of,” Chen explains. “If we can create more molecules like rauvomine B and even tweak their structures to make them more effective, we could produce them in much larger quantities and for a lower price than if they were extracted from the plants themselves.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">How Shuming Chen uses virtual chemistry to develop real-world solutions</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-03-21T12:00:00Z">Fri, 03/21/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jen DeMoss</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>What if chemists were able to speed up the creation of new medications using computer-simulated experiments? Or foster lab processes with fewer environmental impacts?</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4292">91ֱ�� Research Review</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25246">Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/shuming-chen" hreflang="und">Shuming Chen</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-cte-images field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yes (Individual Images)</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Matt Chase</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-40340" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <hr> <p><em>Shuming Chen’s research leverages the synergy of computation and experiments to discover what drives chemical selectivity. The insights generated in turn aid the design of reactions that are more selective, efficient, and environmentally friendly. She earned her PhD at Yale University.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div class="field field--name-field-bio-card-el-biography field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="biography-card"> <figure> </figure> <div class="biography-card__content"> <h2><span>Shuming Chen</span> </h2> <ul class="item-list list--clean" style="margin-top: 0px;"> <li class="professional-title">Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry</li> </ul> <a class="view-more" href="/shuming-chen">View Shuming Chen’s biography</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-40376" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <h2 class="small-headline" style="margin-top: 1.25rem;">About the Illustration</h2> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right" data-cte style="margin-bottom: 1.75rem;"> <figcaption><em>Click the image to expand</em></figcaption> </figure> <p class="subhead" style="margin-bottom: 0; color: var(--darkgray);">Illustrator: Matt Chase</p> <blockquote data-add-quotes data-no-attribution> <p>Quantum chemical computation isn’t something that an illustrator (generally) knows much about. Hence my relief at DeMoss analogizing the process to LEGOs, which as a child held a near monopoly on my interest, and which I often used as prototypes for things I would later build with other materials. The digital molecule here acts in much the same way: a blueprint for its future, real-world counterpart.</p> </blockquote> <p class="icon-text"><span aria-label="Phone" class="icon-text__icon fas fa-fw fa-link" style="color: black;"></span><a href="https://chasematt.com/" target="_blank">chasematt.com</a></p> <p class="icon-text"><span aria-label="Instagram" class="icon-text__icon fas fa-brands fa-instagram"></span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/doble_entendre" target="_blank">@doble_entendre</a></p> <hr class="hr--light" style="clear: both; margin: 1.25rem 0;"> <p><a class="view-more" href="/node/488025">Return to <em>91ֱ�� Research Review</em></a></p> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-40341" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p class="header-tag no-show" id="header-tag">91ֱ�� Research Review</p> <style> .no-show { display: none } </style> <script> (function() { var header = document.querySelector(".story-header"); var headerTag = document.getElementById("header-tag"); header.insertBefore(headerTag, header.firstElementChild); headerTag.classList.remove("no-show"); })(); </script>  <script> (function() { var credit = document.querySelector(".top-combo__figure .figure__credit"); credit.innerText = credit.textContent.replace("Photo credit","Image credit"); })(); </script>  <style> aside .list--clean li { margin-bottom: 0.25rem; } aside ul.list--clean { margin-top: .5rem; font-family: var(--font-sans-serif); font-size: 0.875rem; } aside .basic-box { margin: .5rem 0; max-width: 240px; } aside .basic-box .small-headline { font-size: 1rem; } </style> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Chemistry Professor Shuming Chen Receives $550,000 NSF Award</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:51:25 +0000</p> <span>Chemistry Professor Shuming Chen Receives $550,000 NSF Award</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-04-25T10:51:25-04:00" title="Thursday, April 25, 2024 - 10:51">Thu, 04/25/2024 - 10:51</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="/node/253486">Shuming Chen</a>, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at 91ֱ�� College, has received a prestigious NSF CAREER award from the National Science Foundation. The award will provide $550,000 in support of the integration of research and education over a five-year period for Chen’s project, “Understanding and Directing Selectivity in Functionalizations of Strong Covalent Bonds Utilizing Coordination-Sphere Effects.”</p> <p>NSF CAREER is the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious program for early-career faculty. It is awarded to junior teacher-scholars “who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.”</p> <p>Chen completed a PhD at Yale University in 2016 and has been a member of the 91ֱ�� faculty since 2020.</p> <p>The CAREER program is highly competitive, and proposals come from both research universities and primarily undergraduate institutions. As a result, it is unusual for a faculty member at a liberal arts college to receive a CAREER award. “Shuming’s receiving this award illustrates the caliber of research that goes on in her lab and that is possible at 91ֱ��,” says professor Catherine Oertel, chair of the <a href="/node/3336">Chemistry and Biochemistry Department</a>.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Provided over five years, support fuels ongoing faculty-student research as well as education-access initiatives.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-04-25T12:00:00Z">Thu, 04/25/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25246">Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/shuming-chen" hreflang="und">Shuming Chen</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/catherine-oertel" hreflang="und">Catherine Oertel</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Professor Shuming Chen (left) works with a student in 91ֱ��’s chemistry labs. A newly secured grant from the National Science Foundation will support ongoing student research opportunities and initiatives that support access to STEM education.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Mike Crupi</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-32139" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class data-text-color-red data-text-size-giant data-add-quotes> <p>It is an immense honor and a wonderful springboard into the future for my lab,” Chen says of the award. “It enables us to do what we are passionate about: involving more students in the incredibly empowering act of creating new knowledge.</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-27988" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Shuming Chen (photo by Mike Crupi)</figcaption> </figure> <p>In her CAREER-funded project, Chen and her students will use computational models to help understand and steer selectivity in transition-metal-catalyzed reactions that can yield usefully functionalized compounds with potential as pharmaceutical drug candidates, as well as other applications.</p> <p>In addition, the project includes initiatives intended to foster involvement in science research among students from underrepresented backgrounds, bolstering 91ֱ��’s deep commitment to increasing access to STEM education.</p> <p>As with most faculty labs at 91ֱ��, Chen’s research involves substantial student participation. The NSF CAREER award will allow for the contributions of an even greater number of students and support wages for students conducting summer and academic-year research. It will also fund the creation of a workshop that enables 91ֱ��’s first-year chemistry and biochemistry students to engage in authentic research.</p> <p>“It is an immense honor and a wonderful springboard into the future for my lab,” says Chen. “91ֱ��’s chemistry and biochemistry faculty have an extremely strong track record for securing competitive grants and awards. It enables us to do what we are passionate about: involving more students in the incredibly empowering act of creating new knowledge.”</p> <p>Learn more about the award on the <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2338438&HistoricalAwards=false">NSF website</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Five Faculty Earn Excellence in Teaching Honors</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:48:43 +0000</p> <span>Five Faculty Earn Excellence in Teaching Honors</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-03-14T10:48:43-04:00" title="Thursday, March 14, 2024 - 10:48">Thu, 03/14/2024 - 10:48</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Five 91ֱ�� faculty members have been recognized with Excellence in Teaching Awards for the 2022-23 academic year.</p> <p>Presented annually, the awards recognize faculty in the college and conservatory who have demonstrated sustained and distinctive excellence in the classroom and beyond.</p> <p>Though they approach their teaching across widely varied disciplines, the honorees are united by several key characteristics, says <a href="/node/4921">David Kamitsuka</a>, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences:</p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">“All of them are beloved and visionary teachers, they are deeply admired by their colleagues, they do a superb job connecting their area of expertise to its importance in real life, and they find great joy and meaning in the growth of their students.”</p> <p>A dinner reception was held March 11 at the home of President Carmen Twillie Ambar. The honorees (pictured above at the reception) are as follows:</p> <p><strong><a href="/node/6671">Jay Ashby</a><br> Associate Professor of Jazz Studies<br> Teacher of Jazz Composition and Trombone<br> Director of the Division of Jazz Studies</strong></p> <p>Dean of the Conservatory <a href="/node/49511">Bill Quillen</a> praises Jay Ashby’s commitment to students, his stewardship of the <a href="/node/3231">Division of Jazz Studies</a>, and his development of the Performance and Improvisation program, as well as his ongoing ties to 91ֱ�� athletics as co-chair of the General Faculty Athletics Committee.</p> <p>“Jay Ashby has played a leading role in continuing the legacy of jazz studies at 91ֱ��, and he works tirelessly in support of our students,” Quillen says. “He has expanded the realm of jazz studies and created opportunities not just for our jazz students, but for students across our campus.”</p> <hr> <p><strong><a href="/node/6761">Jonathan Moyer</a><br> David S. Boe Associate Professor of Organ<br> Chair of the Organ Department</strong></p> <p>“Jonathan Moyer is one of the most outstanding organ performers and pedagogues in America,” Quillen says. “He stands out not only for his artistic excellence, but also for his deep-seated care for his students. He has continued 91ֱ��’s rich tradition of organ study and placed the students and their needs at the heart of everything he does.”</p> <p>Quillen praises Moyer for his commitment to creating immersive learning experiences in organ centers across Europe and fostering career connections for his students throughout Northeast Ohio and around the world.</p> <hr> <p><strong><span id="cke_bm_37257S" style="display: none;"> </span>Lynn Powell<br> Emerita Assistant Professor of Creative Writing<br> Director of 91ֱ�� Writers in the Schools</strong></p> <p>Kamitsuka cites Lynn Powell’s extraordinary and longstanding commitment to the <a href="/node/3221">Creative Writing Department</a> and the community. For more than two decades, she provided visionary leadership to 91ֱ��’s <a href="/node/178921">Writers in the Schools</a> program, a collaboration between the college and 91ֱ�� public schools. “It’s truly unimaginable how much work Lynn has put into this labor of love,” Kamitsuka says of Powell, who retired in summer 2023.</p> <p> </p> <hr> <p><strong><a href="/node/5706"><span id="cke_bm_37257E" style="display: none;"> </span></a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="/node/5261">Lisa Ryno</a><br> Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry</strong></p> <p>“What is so impressive about Lisa Ryno is her incredible efforts and success in involving students in every facet of her research,” says Kamitsuka. “No one has done more than Lisa to ensure that all students thrive.” Kamitsuka notes that Ryno spearheaded—while on sabbatical—implementation of the Chemistry Climate Survey, which was intended to assess students’ sense of belonging and engagement with the department.</p> <p>Ryno’s many student collaborations are evidenced in the great number of student researchers who participate with <a href="/undergraduate-research">91ֱ�� Undergraduate Research</a> and present at departmental symposiums—and also in the contingent of five students who will present alongside Ryno at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology conference this month in San Antonio.</p> <p>“Nothing is better than watching someone gain confidence in the lab and take ownership of their project,” Ryno says.</p> <hr> <p><strong><a href="/node/5706">Md Rumi Shammin</a><br> Professor of Environmental Studies<br> Director of the Environmental Studies Program</strong></p> <p>“Rumi Shammin models genuine modesty and humility as the foundation of all learning,” says Kamitsuka.</p> <p>Shammin is regarded among students and fellow faculty as a master of group projects and collaborative work, including his National Science Foundation-funded project “Perspective-Taking and Systems-Thinking for Complex Problem Solving.” Shammin founded <a href="/node/3196">Environmental Studies</a>’ Career Day, which offers a highly successful model for forging professional connections.</p> <hr> <p><strong>About the Excellence in Teaching Awards:</strong> Each year, College of Arts and Sciences faculty are selected for consideration through nominations presented to the College Faculty Council, which are then reviewed by a faculty committee. An award is presented in each division of the college: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and natural sciences and mathematics. The conservatory dean recommends a number of conservatory faculty to the Conservatory Faculty Council for consideration, and together they review and narrow the recommendations to two recipients.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Annual awards celebrate distinguished and sustained leadership across the college and conservatory.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-03-14T12:00:00Z">Thu, 03/14/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=34896">Jazz Composition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=34691">Jazz Performance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25351">Environmental Studies and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25326">Creative Writing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25246">Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=28886">Historical Performance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=40211">Historical Keyboard Instruments</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=32966">Organ</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jay-ashby" hreflang="und">Jay Ashby</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jonathan-william-moyer" hreflang="und">Jonathan William Moyer</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/lisa-ryno" hreflang="und">Lisa Ryno</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/md-rumi-shammin" hreflang="und">Md Rumi Shammin</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/jazz-studies" hreflang="und">Jazz Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/historical-performance" hreflang="und">Historical Performance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/keyboard-studies" hreflang="und">Keyboard Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/creative-writing" hreflang="und">Creative Writing</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">91ֱ��’s 2022-23 Excellence in Teaching honorees (from left): Jonathan Moyer, Lisa Ryno, Rumi Shammin, Lynn Powell, and Jay Ashby.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Scott Shaw</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Students Present Research at Chemical Society Conference</h1> <p>eburnett — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 13:11:34 +0000</p> <span>Students Present Research at Chemical Society Conference</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-04-11T09:11:34-04:00" title="Tuesday, April 11, 2023 - 09:11">Tue, 04/11/2023 - 09:11</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ�� chemistry and biochemistry students and faculty traveled to the American Chemical Society’s National Meeting in Indianapolis in late March to present posters on their research and learn about cutting-edge science.</p> <p>Seven students took part in the conference, along with professors <a href="/node/52501">Will Parsons</a> and <a href="/node/5261">Lisa Ryno</a>.</p> <p>“We are proud to be 91ֱ�� chemists!” says Ryno (pictured far right; Parsons far left).</p> <p>Following are the students who participated and the subjects of their research:</p> <p><strong>Cassie Davies ’24:</strong> Competitive activity-based protein profiling of RHBDL2 and RHBDL4 for inhibitor discovery</p> <p><strong>Anna Francis ’23:</strong> <a href="/undergraduate-research/our-featured-researchers/anna-francis-23">Transcriptomic analysis of rhamnose treatment on E. coli planktonic and biofilm cells</a></p> <p><strong>Jenna Frizzell ’23:</strong> Influence of RpoH and RpoF overexpression on quinolone, macrolide, and glycopeptide antibiotic tolerance and biofilm growth in E. coli</p> <p><strong>Ellie Ko ’25:</strong> Influence of overexpression of the phosphodiesterase YhjH on E. coli biofilm formation and composition</p> <p><strong>Allison Lupatkin ’24:</strong> Development of whole-cell sensors for low concentration antibiotic detection</p> <p><strong>Kyogo Nagashima ’24:</strong> Exploring the influence of environmental lactose on Biofilm formation and composition in E. coli</p> <p><strong>Ryan Taylor ’23:</strong> Changes in tolerance of amphenicol and tetracycline antibiotics with stress-responsive transcription factor overexpression in E. coli</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Areas of focus include antibiotic resistence and protein profiling.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-04-11T12:00:00Z">Tue, 04/11/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25246">Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/lisa-ryno" hreflang="und">Lisa Ryno</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/will-parsons" hreflang="und">William (Will) Parsons</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Seven students, joined by professors Will Parsons (far left) and Lisa Ryno (far right), presented research at the American Chemical Society's March conference.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Lisa Ryno</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>2022 Winter Term Recap</h1> <p>ygay — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 20:25:19 +0000</p> <span>2022 Winter Term Recap</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-03-11T15:25:19-05:00" title="Friday, March 11, 2022 - 15:25">Fri, 03/11/2022 - 15:25</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ��’s <a href="/winter-term/about" target="_blank">Winter Term</a> allows students to participate in on- or off-campus intensive group projects offered by faculty and staff. Students may develop independent study or research projects, complete internships, or undertake rigorous personal development projects. This year, from January 25 to February 17, group projects included such offerings as Practicum in Museum Education to Exploring Marginalized Music to Congressional and hospital internships.</p> <p>In this video we recap some of the projects students explored. Visit <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/oberlin/collections/72157720412304151/" target="_blank">91ֱ��’s Flickr page</a> for more photos and videos.</p> <hr> <p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-03-11T12:00:00Z">Fri, 03/11/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>More than 2,290 students explored projects and research opportunities outside of their normal course of study during Winter Term. In this wrap-up gallery we look back at some of the group projects students performed.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3515">Dance</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3797">Sonny Rollins Jazz Ensemble</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4861">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25246">Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=32971">Opera Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25441">Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=34691">Jazz Performance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/matt-elrod" hreflang="und">Matthew (Matt) Elrod</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/maureen-peters" hreflang="und">Maureen Peters</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/gunnar-kwakye" hreflang="und">Gunnar Kwakye</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/nancy-darling" hreflang="und">Nancy Darling</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/caroline-jackson-smith" hreflang="und">Caroline Jackson Smith</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/mike-moore" hreflang="und">Michael (Mike) Moore</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/rebecca-landell" hreflang="und">Rebecca Landell</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/kj-cerankowski" hreflang="und">KJ Cerankowski</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/ann-cooper-albright" hreflang="und">Ann Cooper Albright</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/jazz-studies" hreflang="und">Jazz Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/theater" hreflang="und">Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/dance" hreflang="und">Dance</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Students in biology professor Mike More’s lab undertake a plant systematics project during Winter Term.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id class="o-flex--video-embed"> <h2>Winter Term 2022</h2> <div class="video-embed-field-provider-vimeo video-embed-field-responsive-video"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Student Pair Creates Science Education Initiative for Kids</h1> <p>hhempste — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 15:19:11 +0000</p> <span>Student Pair Creates Science Education Initiative for Kids</span> <span><span>hhempste</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-08-03T11:19:11-04:00" title="Monday, August 3, 2020 - 11:19">Mon, 08/03/2020 - 11:19</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>After the cancelation of children’s in-person summer camps and educational experiences due to the pandemic, fourth-year neuroscience and biology double-major Victoria Fisher and third-year chemistry and biochemistry double-major Becca Fenselau saw a need for alternative forms of science education for kids. The pair cofounded the <a href="https://discovery-crew.com/">Discovery Crew</a>, an initiative that offers at-home STEM exploration videos for young learners. </p> <p>We asked Fisher and Fenselau about the Discovery Crew and their plans for its future. Read our Q&A with the pair.</p> <p><strong>Why did you create the Discovery Crew, and how did it come together? </strong></p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Courtesy of Tori Fisher ‘21</figcaption> </figure> <p>This project began when we were discussing our summer plans. Many of the opportunities for summer research and internships were no longer available to us. We also knew that the majority of summer programming for kids was also canceled. Because we knew that a lot of very talented STEM, film, and art majors would be projectless and there were going to be a lot of bored kids out there, making STEM videos for kids followed fairly naturally. </p> <p><strong>Can you explain how the program works?</strong></p> <p>For the summer, we chose five topics: animals, oceans, colors, space, and engineering. We assigned a group of individuals to write, film, create art for, and edit the final video on a subtopic within each of those fields. From there, it took about four to five weeks of Zoom meetings, working and reworking the content, and then finally posting the videos to YouTube. Our hope is that kids, parents, and educators will be able to follow the videos and activities to learn about the topic in a virtual, safe, and interactive environment.</p> <p><strong>Who are the students that make up the Discovery Crew? </strong></p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Courtesy of Becca Fenselau ‘22</figcaption> </figure> <p>Coming from a school like 91ֱ�� there is no shortage of incredibly talented individuals. We also serve as editors-in-chief of the <a href="http://www.synapsemagazine.org/"><em>Synapse</em></a>, which gives us unique access to individuals who have strong STEM and art backgrounds. So, we reached out to the majority of our network, both at 91ֱ�� College and beyond, and let anyone who was interested join. The group continued expanding, and our team now includes students from all over the country and abroad. </p> <p><strong>How have you been getting the word out about the program?</strong></p> <p>We have a dedicated subteam of contributors who are working on our social media platforms. It’s all about the personal connections. So, we’ve been communicating with our old middle and elementary schools, spreading the word on Facebook in parent groups, and talking to different places, such as camps and libraries. </p> <p><strong>What's been the most memorable experience in this process?</strong></p> <p>We had the opportunity to meet with Jordan Matter, a professional YouTuber, to get his feedback on our project early on in its development. The conversation completely shifted our perspective, helping us to recognize that, for children, the video needs to be just as entertaining as it is educational. </p> <p><strong>What are your hopes for the young learners who participate? </strong></p> <p>We hope that young learners who watch this get really excited about science, but not just because it’s really interesting material. We want them to feel like this is something they can be involved in no matter their background—which is why we emphasize easy at-home activities they can do with their families. </p> <p><strong>What's next for the Discovery Crew? Will the program continue?</strong></p> <p>We are currently in the process of figuring out what we plan to do. We are hoping to continue making fun, educational science videos as we move out of the summer. If anyone—student or staff alike—are interested in joining the project, feel free to contact us at <a href="mailto:summerofscience2@gmail.com">summerofscience2@gmail.com</a>.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-08-03T12:00:00Z">Mon, 08/03/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Hillary Hempstead</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2410">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4861">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25246">Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Discovery Crew</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id class="o-flex--video-embed"> <div class="video-embed-field-provider-youtube video-embed-field-responsive-video"> </div> <p>Watch the Discovery Crew video, "Climate Change and the Ocean."</p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Goldwater Scholarship Winner: Yanni Sarrimanolis</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 20:05:52 +0000</p> <span>Goldwater Scholarship Winner: Yanni Sarrimanolis</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-04-08T16:05:52-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 8, 2020 - 16:05">Wed, 04/08/2020 - 16:05</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Yanni Sarrimanolis, a second-year biochemistry major with aspirations of being a researcher and an internal medicine doctor, has been awarded a <a href="https://goldwater.scholarsapply.org/2020-scholar-press-release/">Goldwater Scholarship</a> <span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-external-link"></span>.</p> <p>One of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate awards for students pursuing research in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics, the Goldwater Scholarship supports college sophomores and juniors with up to $7,500 for tuition and expenses. Those who receive the award in their sophomore year will receive funding for two years.</p> <p>Sarrimanolis works in the lab of Professor <a href="/matt-elrod">Matt Elrod</a>, where he conducts research on atmospheric chemistry.</p> <p>“I am currently studying the nucleophilicity of sulfate reactants with various secondary organic aerosols. I am also investigating the substitution preferences of the sulfate species in organic substitution reactions. We use NMR Spectroscopy to determine which organosulfate products are formed in reactions.”</p> <p>A native of Fairbanks, Alaska, Sarrimanolis also has conducted research on Antarctic icefish with Professor of Biology Kristin O’Brien at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. </p> <p>‘‘More specifically, I am investigating the functionality of Antarctic fish species’ molecular response to hypoxia. I aim to elucidate how mutations in the fish species’ HIF-1α transcription factor, which is instrumental in hypoxia response in many species, affects the functionality of HIF-1α. Knowledge of hypoxia response mechanisms is also useful in cancer research. I was named coauthor on a paper currently in the process of being submitted for publication.”</p> <p>Sarrimanolis says he is honored to be chosen for the Goldwater Scholarship. </p> <p>“No matter what kind of graduate studies I pursue, the Goldwater Scholarship will verify my capabilities as a scientist before engaging in those studies. The scholarship will also allow me to save money for graduate school,” says Sarrimanolis, noting that he is interested in pursuing a combined PhD/MD with the goal of practicing internal medicine, possibly with a specialty in cardiology or gastroenterology.</p> <p>“I will have the opportunity to help those in need both by propagating medical science in the lab and by interacting with patients on the front lines,” he says.</p> <p>Outside of academics, Sarrimanolis is captain of the club ice hockey team, contributes to the <em>Synapse</em>, 91ֱ��’s science journal; and is a member of the Student Honor Committee. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-04-10T12:00:00Z">Fri, 04/10/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Yanni Sarrimanolis is one of 91ֱ��’s three recipients of the Goldwater Scholarship, a competitive award program that supports students in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2367">Science & Math</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25246">Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/matt-elrod" hreflang="und">Matthew (Matt) Elrod</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Second-year Yanni Sarrimanolis</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Yanni Sarrimanolis</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Departments Across Campus Donate Personal Protective Equipment to Local Health Care Workers</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 18:24:10 +0000</p> <span>Departments Across Campus Donate Personal Protective Equipment to Local Health Care Workers</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-03-26T14:24:10-04:00" title="Thursday, March 26, 2020 - 14:24">Thu, 03/26/2020 - 14:24</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>91ֱ��’s Student Health Services and faculty and staff in the Science Center recently donated their inventory of medical supplies to Mercy Health—Allen Hospital and Welcome Nursing Home to help protect health care workers dealing with the <a href="/news/corona-virus-updates">COVID-19</a> outbreak.</p> <p>In the past week, Mercy’s emergency department received a substantial donation of N-95 face masks, surgical masks, face shields, gloves, disposable lab coats, and safety glasses from Student Health Services and the <a href="/node/3346">biology</a>, <a href="/chemistry">chemistry</a> and <a href="/biochemistry">biochemistry</a>, and <a href="/neuroscience">neuroscience</a> departments.</p> <p>Aimee Holmes, an advanced practice registered nurse in Student Health, said the staff felt compelled to donate because they knew there was a need. </p> <p>“Every time I saw nurses and doctors on the news desperate for personal protective equipment, I knew we had to do something. With so few students on campus, we knew we would not need all the equipment that we had. We felt it should be with the medical staff on the front lines,” Holmes said.</p> <p>Student Health made an initial donation of 100 N-95 masks and 25 face shields to Mercy, and 80 N-95 masks and 25 face shields to Welcome Nursing Home. </p> <p>“After the initial donation, we decided to take another look at our inventory when we heard that the hospital was still in need,” Holmes said. Student Health donated an additional 100 gowns, 16 deluxe protection kits and 3,000 gloves. </p> <p>Forrest Rose, the building manager for the <a href="/science-center">Science Center</a>, coordinated a donation of protective equipment from the teaching and research labs, which included 108 boxes of gloves, 14 boxes of disposable lab coats, 25 N-95 masks, 360 surgical masks, and a small quantity of face shields and safety glasses.</p> <p>“Since most of our labs will be conducted remotely for the remainder of the semester, we do not have an urgent need for the stock of supplies we keep on hand to keep students and staff safe in the lab setting,” Rose said. “We couldn't sit by and let our supplies sit in cabinets or on shelves when the hospital could use them to help save lives. That’s why we donated—to save lives.”</p> <p>Scott Jasko in 91ֱ��’s transportation department helped Science Center staff load a 6x3 flat cart piled four feet high with supplies, and they were delivered to Mercy’s ER the next morning. After their donation, Rose said the hospital informed him that they could use all of the nitrile gloves the labs can spare. “We are going to rise to the challenge,” he said.</p> <p>“We appreciate everything that local health care providers are doing to take care of this community, and we want to make sure that they are staying safe,” Holmes said. “Although what we have given is not much compared to what is needed, if the supplies that we give can protect one person for one more day, then it’s worth it.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-03-26T12:00:00Z">Thu, 03/26/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2385">Community</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2362">Health and Wellness</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2764">Science Center</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25246">Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4861">Neuroscience</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">A large cart of personal protective equipment from the 91ֱ�� Science Center labs was delivered to Mercy Allen Hospital emergency room.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Forrest Rose</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>PERSIST: Intro to Research Project Helps Students Envision Themselves as Scientists</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 21:04:17 +0000</p> <span>PERSIST: Intro to Research Project Helps Students Envision Themselves as Scientists</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-01-30T16:04:17-05:00" title="Thursday, January 30, 2020 - 16:04">Thu, 01/30/2020 - 16:04</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A new mentoring program for underrepresented students in the sciences offered a Winter Term course that informed students about undergraduate research opportunities both at 91ֱ�� and off campus and prepared them for what to expect once they begin working in a research lab.</p> <p>Led by Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry <a href="/lisa-ryno">Lisa Ryno</a>, the PERSIST: Intro to Research Winter Term group learned how to read primary literature, use scientific search engines, and communicate and present scientific ideas. The overarching goal was to catalyze students’ research experiences and give them the tools they need to find a laboratory in which they can contribute. </p> <p>Each week, 91ֱ�� faculty in STEM demonstrated interesting lab techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy with Associate Professor of Geology <a href="/zeb-page">Zeb Page</a>, meta-learning at the Allen Memorial Museum of Art with Associate Professor of Biology <a href="/taylor-allen">Taylor Allen</a>, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry <a href="/will-parsons">Will Parsons</a>. Topics covered include lab safety, searching databases for literature and review articles, building a resume and personal statement, how and when to apply for summer research fellowships, best practices in making figures, and how to give a successful oral presentation.</p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Photo credit: Dale Preston ’83</figcaption> </figure> <p>The course required students to choose a STEM topic to research in depth, construct an annotated bibliography, and give an oral PowerPoint presentation on their findings.</p> <p>PERSIST, or PeERS in STem, supports underrepresented students through mentoring and networking, providing a welcoming and inclusive community, and helping students build confidence in science courses and combat impostor syndrome. PERSIST is the focus of the educational component of Ryno's <a href="https://rescorp.org/cottrell-scholars">Cottrell Scholar Award</a> from Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement.</p> <p>“One of the primary goals of the PERSIST program is to help students build their science identity—the internal conceptualization of who a person believes themselves to be with regards to their interest and involvement with science,” Ryno says. “Through the lab experiences this winter term, students have had one-on-one interactions with six different faculty members from several STEM disciplines, using some of the most sophisticated instrumentation we have on campus. The purpose of this is two-fold. First, students see that faculty are just regular people who are incredibly excited about their area of study, and second, it demonstrates that students routinely use and interact with delicate, amazing instruments, and they collect meaningful scientific data. I hope that students leave the program, thinking, ‘I can be a scientist.’”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-01-24T12:00:00Z">Fri, 01/24/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25246">Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25306">Chemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25366">Geosciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/lisa-ryno" hreflang="und">Lisa Ryno</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/geosciences" hreflang="und">Geosciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Assistant Professor Lisa Ryno, right, leads the PERSIST: Intro to Research Winter Term program.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Dale Preston '83</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="field field--name-field-bio-card-el-biography field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <div class="biography-card"> <figure> </figure> <div class="biography-card__content"> <h2><span>Lisa Ryno</span> </h2> <ul class="item-list list--clean" style="margin-top: 0px;"> <li class="professional-title">Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry</li> <li class="professional-title">Chair of Chemistry and Biochemistry</li> </ul> <a class="view-more" href="/lisa-ryno">View Lisa Ryno’s biography</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </main></body></html>