Research is our thing! There were 16 published articles/abstracts by chemistry faculty with chemistry undergraduates during 2008. Supported by NPURC, BRIN,EPSCoR,  NASA, ARAF and NSF funding, most students complete their research requirement during a 10-week summer research program or during J-term.

Closely mentored by faculty, each student works on an individual project. Results are presented at the Chemistry Seminar and outside the department in a variety of venues including the SD Academy of Science and at local, regional and national ACS meetings.

In 2009, the department sponsored 17 undergraduate chemistry majors to present at the Regional ACS meeting in Kearney, Nebraska.

In 2010, the department sponsored 18 undergraduate chemistry majors to present at the Regional American Chemical Society meeting in Wichita, KS and in March 2011 the department sponosred 11 students to present at the National ACS meeting in Anaaheim, CA.

National ACS Meeting -- 2011 -- Annaheim, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thirty students conducted research in chemistry during the summer of 2011

 

Adrian, Seth, senior, Marion, SD. Majors: Biology, Chemistry. Mentor/adviser: Barrett Eichler. Project Description: “DNA Functionalization of Core-Shell Quantum Dots.” Funding: Augustana Viste Fellowship & Abbot Labs Grant. Location: Augustana College.

 

Amolins, Michael, PC, Sioux Falls, SD. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/Adviser: Jared Mays. Funding: Abbott Labs Grant. Location: Augustana College.

 

Amundson, Mathew, junior, Sioux Falls, SD. Major: Biology. Mentors/advisers: Gary Earl & Duane Weisshaar. Project Description: “Synthesis of deuterated analogs of butylmethyl pyrrolidinium based ionic liquids.” Funding: Augustana Chemistry Department and Abbott Labs Grant. Location: Augustana College.

 

Arens, Erica, senior, Sioux Falls, SD. Major: Chemistry. Mentors/advisers: Gary Earl & Duane Weisshaar. Project Description: “Develop an anion chromatographymethod to follow the anion methathesis of methyl acrobonate quaternary ammonium compounds.” Funding: NSF NPURC. Location: Augustana College.

 

Benoy, Jennifer, junior, Saint Croix Falls, WI. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/adviser: Jetty Duffy-Matzner. Project Description: Greening the Suzuki reaction using TiO2-based nanoparticle catalysts (Pd-TiO2, Fe-TiO2, Ni-TiO2).” Funding NSF EPSCoR. Location: SUNY Binghamton University.

 

Drenkow, Jared, senior, Sioux Falls, SD. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/adviser: Barrett Eichler. Project Description: “Synthesis and Characterization of Nitrogen-containing Siloles for Applications in Organic Light-emitting Diodes.” Funding: NSF EPSCoR PANS. Location: Augustana College.

 

Edgington, Marcus, senior, Sioux City, IA. Major: Engineering Physics. Mentor/adviser: Bijoy Dey. Project Description: “Developing quantum propagator for studying quantum dynamical phenomena involving coupled electronic surfaces.” Funding: NSF NPURC. Location: Augustana College.

 

Erickson, Jeremy, PC, Lincoln, NE. Majors: Chemistry, Physics. Mentor/Adviser: Barrett Eichler. Project Description: “Synthesis and Characterization of Nitrogen-containing siloles for Applications in Organic Light-emitting Diodes” Funding: NSF EPSCoR PANS. Location: Augustana College.

 

Gardner, Evan, junior, Sioux Falls, SD. Majors: Chemistry, Spanish. Mentor/Adviser: Barrett Eichler. Project Description: “Syntehesis and Characterization of Hydophobic and Hydrophilic Siloles for Cytotoxicity Studies and Applications in Printable Radio frequency Antennas.” Funding: NSF EPSCoR PANS. Location: Augustana College.

 

Gregerson, Neal, senior, Sioux Falls, SD. Majors: Chemistry, Physics. Mentor/Adviser: Clint Boerhave. Project Description: “Quality control processes for engineered films.” Funding: Raven Industries. Location: Raven Industries, Sioux Falls, SD.

 

Hanson, Coral, junior, Andover, MN. Major: Communication Disorders. Mentor/Adviser: Bijoy Dey. Project Description: “Exploring quantum mechanical softwares to determine intrinsic reaction coordinate of various reactions.” Funding: Augustana Chemistry Department and Abbott Labs Grant. Location: Augustana College.

 

Jackson, Bailey, junior, Sioux City, IA. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/Adviser: Barrett Eichler. Project Description: “ Synthesis and Characterization of a Wide-range of Differing Electronegative Groups on Siloles for Applications in Organic Light-emitting Diodes.” Funding: NSF EPSCoR PANS. Location: Augustana College.

 

Jacobson, Kai, senior, Champlin, MN. Majors: Biochemistry, Physics. Mentors/Advisers: Gary Earl & Duane Weisshaar. Project Description: “Anion Methanathesis of methyl carbonate quaternary ammonium compounds by reaction with an acid: How weak can the acid be and still react quantitatively with the methyl carbonate?” Funding: NSF NPURC. Location: Augustana College.

 

Jamison, Sarah, senior, Sioux Falls, SD. Major: Biochemistry. Mentors/Advisers: Gary Earl & Duane Weisshaar. Project Description: “Develop an anion chromatography method to follow the anion methathesis of methyl carbonate quaternary ammonium compounds.” Funding: NSF EPSCoR. Location: Augustana College.

 

Kapsch, Taylor, senior, Sioux Falls, SD. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/Adviser: Rong Liang. Funding: NIH BRIN. Location: Sanford Research.

 

Keppen, Joseph, junior, Sioux Falls, SD. Major: Biochemistry. Mentor/adviser:  Jared Mays. Project Description: “Synthesis of pyridyl glucosinolates and  isothiocyanates.” Funding: NIH BRIN. Location: Augustana College.

 

Lensing, Cody, senior, Mounds View, MN. Majors: Biochemistry, Philosophy.  Mentor/Adviser: Peter Vitiello. Project Description: “Thioredoxin Modulation of         Sulforaphane-Dependent Nrf2 Activation.” Funding: NIH BRIN. Location: Sanford         Research.

 

 Letcher, Austin, PC, Brandon, SD. Major: Chemistry. Mentors/Advisers: Gary  Earl & Duane Weisshaar. Project Description: “Synthesis of deuterated analogs  of butylmethyl pyrrolidinium based ionic liquids.” Funding: NSF NPURC.  Location: Augustana College.

 

Parsley, Ben, senior, Flandreau, SD. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/Adviser: Melissa Reis. Project Description: “HPLC method development for analysis of oligosaccharides.” Funding: POET. Location: POET.

 

Pfeifle, Annie, senior, Rapid City, SD. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/Adviser: Jetty Duffy-Matzner. Project Description: “Investigating the Synthesis/Photoactivity of a Fluorescent Chemosensory napthyl-Polymer.” Funding: NSF EPSCoR. Location: SUNY Binghamton University.

 

Rogers, Hannah, senior, Plymouth, MN. Majors: Chemistry, Mathematics, &  Physics. Mentor/Adviser: Mark Claussen. Project Description: “Very long  baseline array observations of water masers in the water fountain pre-planetary  ebula IRAS 6342-3814.” Funding: National Radio Astronomy Observatory.  Location: Socorro, NM.

 

Sveiven, Nicholas, freshman, St. Paul, MN. Majors: Chemistry, Biology.  Mentors/Advisers: Gary Earl & Duane Weisshaar. Project Description: “Anion  Methathesis of methyl carbonate quaternary ammonium compounds by reaction  with an acid: How weak can the acid be and still react quantitatively with the  methyl carbonate?” Funding: NSF NPURC. Location: Augustana College.

 

Swanson, David, senior, St. James, MN. Majors: Chemistry, Mathematics,  Physics. Mentor/Adviser: Mauricio Terrones. Project Description: “Attaching  nanoparticles to nitrogen doped graphitic nanoribbons using wet Chemistry  methods.” Funding; NSF REU. Location: Penn State Center for Nanoscale  Science, State College, PA.

 

Timmons, Katie, senior, Overland Park, KS. Majors: Chemistry, Spanish.  Mentor/Adviser: Matt Jorgensen and Brad Johnson. Project Description:  “Building a library of standards of ignitable fluids in both their neat and wathered  forms. Specifically when working arson cases, the library will enable the forensic  chemists to confirm the presence of particular accelerants at a crime scene.”  Funding: Sioux Falls Police Department Crime Lab. Location: Sioux Falls.

 

Tornberg, Elle, freshman, Harrisburg, SD. Major: Biology. Mentor/Adviser:  Biochemistry. Project Description: “Synthesis and evaluation of electron- withdrawing isothiocyanates.” Funding: Abbott Grant Labs and Augustana College. Location: Augustana College.

 

Truex, Nathan, senior, Sioux Falls, SD. Major: chemistry. Mentor/Adviser:  Biojoy  Dey. Project Description: “Computing potential energy surfaces for chemical reaction dynamics.” Funding: NSF NPURC. Location: Augustana  College.

 

Vastenhout, Kayla, senior, Dell Rapids, SD. Major: Chemistry.   Mentor/Adviser: Jared Mays. Project Description: “Synthesis of non-natural   glucosinolates and evaluation of their hydrolysis using HPLC.” Funding: NIH BRIN. Location: Augustana College.

 

Weaver, Lucinda, junior, Rapid City, SD. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/Adviser: David Pearce. Project Description: “The yeast model for Batten disease.” Funding: SPUR. Location: Sanford Research.

 

Weber, Emily, sophomore, Sioux City, IA. Major: Nursing. Mentors/Advisers: Gary Earl & Duane Weisshaar. Project Description: “Cyclic voltammetry investigation to determine the oxidation and reduction potentials of substitued siloles.” Funding: NSF EPSCoR. Location: Augustana College.

 

 

 

Research 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jared Drenkow '12, Evan Gardner '13, Jeremy Erickson '11, Bailey Jackson '13 and
Dr. Barrett Eichler

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rob Fick '11, Taylor Kapsch '12, Dr. Bijoy Dey, Nathan Truex '12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin Zogg '13, Ben Parsley '12 and Dr. Duane Weisshaar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Amolins, Cody Lensin '12, Dr. Jared Mays, Jordan Clark '11 and Kayla Vastenhout '12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Huy Nguyen '11, Annie Pfeifle '13, Dr. Jetty Duffy-Matzner, and Coral Hanson '13

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twenty-six chemistry major conducted research during the summer of 2010

• Mathew Amundson, junior, Sioux Falls. Majors: Biochemistry, Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Grigority Sereda and Randall Koodali. Funding: Northern Plains Undergraduate Research Center. Location: University of South Dakota, Vermillion, S.D.
• Trent Anderson, senior, Lake Benton, Minn. Majors: Math, Chemistry, Physics. Mentor/advisor: Martha Gregg. Funding: South Dakota Space Grant and Augustana Wagner Award. Location: Augustana.
• Elliot Bloom, senior, Rapid City. Majors: Biology, Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Pete Vitiello. Funding: Sanford Program for Undergraduate Research. Location: Sanford Research.
• Jordan Clark, senior, Byron, Illinois. Majors: Chemistry, Music. Mentor/advisor: Jared Mays. Funding: National Institutes of Health and Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network. Location: Augustana.
• Jared Drenkow, junior, Sioux Falls. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Barrett Eichler. Funding: National Institutes of Health and Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network. Location: Augustana.
• Jeremy Erickson, senior, Lincoln, Neb. Majors: Chemistry, Physics. Mentor/advisor: Barrett Eichler. Funding: National Science Foundation and Northern Plains Undergraduate Research Center. Location: Augustana.
• Robert Fick, senior, Shenandoah, Iowa. Majors: Chemistry, Biology. Mentor/advisor: Bijoy Dey. Funding: National Science Foundation and Northern Plains Undergraduate Research Center. Location: Augustana.
• Evan Gardner, sophomore, Sioux Falls. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Barrett Eichler. Funding: Chemistry Department. Location: Augustana.
• Justin Grassmeyer, senior, Fremont, Neb. Majors: Chemistry, Biology. Funding: Medical Scientist (MD/PhD) Training Program. Location: University of Iowa.
• Neal Gregerson, junior, Sioux Falls. Majors: Physics, Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Eric Wells. Funding: National Science Foundation. Location: Augustana.
• Coral Hanson, sophomore, Andover, Minn. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Jetty Duffy Matzner. Funding: National Institutes of Health and Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network. Location: Augustana.
• Rachel Hurley, senior, Canton. Major: Chemistry, Biology. Mentor/advisor: Mayo Clinic faculty. Location: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
• Bailey Jackson, sophomore, Sioux City, Iowa. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Barrett Eichler. Funding: National Science Foundation and Northern Plains Undergraduate Research Center. Location: Augustana.
• Taylor Kapsch, junior, Sioux Falls. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Bijoy Dey. Funding: National Science Foundation and Northern Plains Undergraduate Research Center. Location: Augustana.
• Connor Lamberson, senior, Marshall, Minn. Major: Chemistry. Location: Vanderbilt University.
• Cody Lensing, junior, Mounds View, Minn. Majors: Chemistry, Biology. Mentor/advisor: Jared Mays. Funding: Sanford Program for Undergraduate Research. Location: Augustana.
• Huy Nguyen, senior, Vietnam. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Jetty Duffy Matzner. Funding: Sanford Program for Undergraduate Research. Location: Augustana.
• Ben Parsley, junior, Flandreau. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Duane Weisshaar. Funding: Chemistry Department. Location: Augustana College.
• Anne Pfeifle, sophomore, Rapid City. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Jetty Duffy Matzner. Funding: National Institutes of Health and Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network. Location: Augustana.
• Hannah Rogers, junior, Plymouth, Minn. Majors: Physics, Math, Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Drew Alton. Funding: State of South Dakota. Location: Augustana.
• Natalie Ronning, senior, Rapid City. Majors: Biology, Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Steve Matzner. Funding: U.S. Department of Agriculture and ARAF. Location: Augustana.
• David Swanson, junior, St. James, Minn. Majors: Math, Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Drew Alton. Funding: Research Corp. Location: Augustana.
• Kenan Tokmic, senior, Sioux Falls. Majors: Chemistry, Physics. Mentor/advisor: Aaron Wright. Funding: National Science Foundation and Northern Plains Undergraduate Research Center. Location: Pacific Northwest National Labs.
• Nathan Truex, junior, Sioux Falls. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Bijoy Dey. Funding: Augustana Viste Fellowship. Location: Augustana.
• Kayla Vastenhout, junior, Dell Rapids. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Jared Mays. Funding: National Institutes of Health and Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network. Location: Augustana.
• Kevin Zogg, sophomore, Albert Lea, Minn. Major: Chemistry. Mentor/advisor: Duane Weisshaar. Funding: Chemistry Department. Location: Augustana College.