The Undergraduate Research Poster Session for Chemistry took place on April 25th in the atrium of the Integrated Sciences Building (ISB). Seventeen students showcased their posters to faculty, staff, and fellow students.
The Dr. Uche Anyanwu Memorial Fund was established to acknowledge the top three research posters presented at the Department of Chemistry Undergraduate Research Poster Session. This fund was initiated by Dr. Ucheoma O. Akobundu in memory of her late husband, Dr. Anyanwu, who was the inaugural member of the D. Venkataraman (DV) group, earning his PhD in 2005. This year's awardees are Owen Ball, Avantika Manikandan, and Chris Walsh.
Suppressed Phase Segregation in 2D Mixed-halide Perovskites Using CuI
Owen Ball '26 (DV group): My research focuses on the stability of 2D mixed-halide perovskite solar cells that were layered with a copper iodide and Poly(bis(4-phenyl)(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine (PTAA) hole transport bilayer. Mixed-halide perovskites degrade very quickly under sunlight due to "phase segregation" that creates pockets of iodide- or bromide-rich zones in the material. My experimental data showed the CuI/PTAA bilayer prevented this segregation and retained the stability of the 2D perovskite layer.
Investigating Protein Higher-Order Structure Using Covalent Labeling Mass Spectrometry with ABUC Reagent
Avantika Manikandan '26 (Vachet group): My research explores Covalent Labeling Mass Spectrometry (CL-MS) using α β- Unsaturated Carbonyl (ABUC) scaffold as a tool to study higher-order structure of proteins involved in amyloid formation. This technique enables precise mapping of protein surfaces by selectively modifying or ‘labelling’ exposed amino acid side chains. During sequencing, reducing agents used to break disulfide bonds also remove the ABUC label, hindering analysis. To overcome this, strategies such as adding capping reagents are being evaluated.
Exploring the High-Pressure Phase Spaces of Vandium and Titanium Carbides
Chris Walsh '26 (Walsh group): My research focuses on using computational modeling and high-pressure synthetic techniques to discover novel vanadium and titanium carbides. Using high throughput density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we modeled thousands of random structures at various pressures, predicting the emergence of pressure-stabilized phases. These calculations allowed us to perform targeted experiments at pressures between 3 and 10 GPa, during which we synthesized and recovered new and unique vanadium and titanium carbide phases.