Fall 2024 Undergraduate Research

Faculty

Areas

Minimum Credit Hours

Prerequisites

Year Level

Research Projects

Auerbach, Scott
@email

Physical

2 credits
(6-8 hrs in lab)

GenChem I & II, PChem I

3^rd year, with multi-semester commitment preferred

Studying how nanoporous zeolite catalysts steer reactions based on the size and shape of the nanopore, using density functional theory to compute key steps (reactants, products, intermediates, and crucially, transition states) for processes involved in making biofuels.

Chen, Jianhan
@email

Computational

1 credit
(3-4 hrs in lab)

GenChem I & II, PChem I, Calc I & II, Physics I

Any level, with multi-semester commitment preferred

Computational modeling of biomolecules and biomaterials; specific projects will depend on student interest and background. Visit the lab website to see the range of ongoing projects. https://people.chem.umass.edu/jchenlab/

Chen, Min
@email

Nanotechnology, Biosensing, Bioimaging

2 credits
(6-8 hrs in lab)

GenChem I & II, Orgo I & II

3^rd year, multi-semester commitment possible

Engineering new nanopores for improving the accuracy of DNA/RNA sequencing

DuChene, Joe
@email

Inorganic Materials

3 credits
(9-12 hrs in lab)

none

2^nd year, multi-semester commitment possible

1. Nearly all undergraduate projects involve the synthesis of nanomaterials for catalysis

2. Computational modeling of electrochemical systems for understanding materials growth

Farkas, Michelle
@email

Organic Synthesis and Chemical Biology

1 credits
(3-4 hrs in lab)

GenChem I & II, Orgo I & II

Also Bio 423 if bio project

3^rd year, with multi-semester commitment preferred

1. Bio -- generation of new luciferase reporters for tracking circadian rhythms. Project utilizes molecular cloning techniques and will eventually lead to monitoring in cellular environments.

2. Synthesis -- chemical synthesis of cleavable linkers and/or sensors to be used in cell-based delivery.

He, Haoze
@email

Analytical

1 credits
(3-4 hrs in lab)

GenChem I & II

2^nd year, multi-semester commitment possible

Beta-testing. Fort River water chemistry research. Technique labs and design individual own research.

Martin, Craig
@email

Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Enzymology

3 credits
(9-12 hrs in lab)

GenChem I & II, Calc I & II, Physics I

3^rd year, multi-semester commitment possible

1. Conduct general studies of enzyme function in the RNA polymerase system

2. Work with chemical engineers on fluidics systems

3. Character RNA-Seq (big data) results, using packages available in Python

Paradise, Ruthanne
@email

Analytical

2 credits
(6-8 hrs in lab)

none

any

Studying extracts from coffee that are used for developing black and white film.

Thompson, Lynmarie
@email

Nanotechnology, Biosensing, Bioimaging

3 credits
(9-12 hrs in lab)

GenChem I & II

1^st year, with multi-semester commitment preferred

1. DNA-protein conjugation for DNA-mediated assembly of functional bacterial chemotaxis signaling complexes.

2. Understanding how molecular crowding promotes assembly of functional bacterial chemotaxis signaling complexes

Walsh, James
@email

Inorganic Materials

3 credits
(9-12 hrs in lab)

none

2^nd year, multi-semester commitment possible

Synthesis of 2D quantum materials, with characterization using Raman spectroscopy and high-pressure crystallography

Faculty Not Accepting Undergraduate Researchers for Fall 2024

Rotello, Vince

Taffet, Elliot

Vachet, Richard

Wu, Chris

You, Mingxu