Colleen's summer: Chemistry at Cornell
Sophomore Colleen Murrett’s summer plans don’t include lifeguarding or working in a fast-food restaurant. Instead, goggles and a lab coat will be part of her summer wardrobe.
Colleen, a chemistry major from Lakewood, has been accepted into the prestigious Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Cornell University’s Center for Materials Research. Colleen is the first Heidelberg student chosen to participate in the REU, which is funded by the National Science Foundation. She was accepted into the program based on her academic standing and faculty recommendations.
Participants will receive a stipend and live in campus housing. They’ll also take part in an organized program of lectures, mini-courses and recreational activities.
During her 10 weeks at Cornell, in upstate New York, Colleen will work with a research team led by Dr. Paul Chirik, an award-winning chemistry professor there. All students are assigned to a research project; her team will work on the project “Environmentally Benign Iron Catalysts.”
“They gave me a couple of reactions to familiarize myself with, but I think I’m going to be surprised,” she said.
According to Cornell’s website, here’s what Colleen’s team project involves: “Transition metal catalyzed reactions are at the core of chemical synthesis. Typically these transformations rely on expensive and toxic heavy metals like platinum to be effective. The group is currently exploring several classes of new iron compounds to serve as inexpensive, environmentally compatible replacements for traditional catalysts. Specifically, they are investigating hydrosilation reactions to prepare silicone polymers as well as polymerization of simple hydrocarbons such as ethylene and propylene. In the latter case, they hope the studies will allow more efficient use of dwindling petroleum feedstocks.”
While she still has two years of undergraduate study to complete, the Cornell experience will get Colleen a step closer to her next goal: graduate school in chemistry, eventually leading to a Ph.D.
“I’d like to be a professor at a research institution,” she said. “Research would be a big part of it, but it would be nice to teach, too.”
Speaking of teaching, it was Colleen’s high school chemistry teacher, Dr. Sydney Peterson, who inspired her to pursue her studies in the predominantly male field.
“She put so much effort and enthusiasm into the class and made chemistry interesting to me,” Colleen said of her teacher. “A lot of people are turned off by chemistry because it is hard. But when you have someone help you learn the basics, it comes easier.”
While Colleen hasn’t yet decided on a specialty within the chemistry field, she thinks her Cornell experience will help clarify that choice. Having recently completed a year of organic chemistry at Heidelberg, she said, “I want to get a feel for analytical and physical chemistry before deciding.”
Forty hours of exposure in a top-notch lab each week for 10 weeks should do the trick.
Posted on May 7, 2008