Welch Summer Research Program
Since 1985, the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department has received a research grant from the Robert A. Welch Foundation that helps provide equipment and stipends for students conducting research during the summer.
Each Welch scholar works closely with the faculty mentor for an eight week period over the summer. These projects provide research opportunities in the areas of medicinal, organic, analytical, environmental, inorganic and biochemistry. Students often continue working on these projects the following year and use this research experience as the basis for their Chemistry and Biochemistry capstone. In addition, Welch scholars have the opportunity to present their results the following year at national meetings.
Summer activities
The summer activities have been carefully designed to engage students in a scientific learning community composed of students and faculty, to aid in their development of necessary skills, and to create awareness of important scientific issues and career choices. Past activities have included training sessions on preparing scientific posters and giving oral presentations, informal presentations on research projects, and discussions on ethical issues in science.
Conclusion of the program
Each student will be required to write a technical report which outlines the background and significance of the research project, experimental design and methodology, and results. During the first weeks of school in the following Fall semester, the department will host a poster symposia in the Fondren-Jones Science building where students will showcase their research posters to the campus community.
Application process
During the spring semester, the department hosts an information session about the available research opportunities supported by The Welch Foundation. Interested Students should meet with the professors to further discuss the research projects and submit an application to the department chair (FJS 317). Students will be accepted based on the strength of their application, interview with the faculty member, research interests, training, and course work. Approximately ten to twelve students participate in the summer program each year.
We will be accepting applications for the 2012 Welch Summer Research Program during the spring semester. Application due dates will be announced at a later time. For more information, contact Dr. Maha Zewail Foote: email or 512.863.1626
Welch Summer Research Program: Areas of Research
Dr. Nikos Bentenitis: I am using computational techniques to study the structure and dynamics of synthetic and biological polymers and to elucidate. My goal is the atomic-level modeling of protein aggregation and my primary tool is molecular dynamics. In order to accurately describe several functional groups in peptides and in proteins, I am using the Kirkwood-Buff theory of solutions in order to fit the parameters of our force fields to available thermodynamic data. I am also interested in the mechanism by which ions transfer across the interface of two immiscible liquids. Ion transfer permeates many areas of applied research in the petroleum field including phase transfer catalysis and the electric-field induced coalescence of “water-in-oil” emulsions, and it is important for drug delivery and the modeling of biological membranes.
Dr. Kerry Bruns: We are working on a variety of projects in the lab, including projects related to synthesizing peptides that have biological activities. Recently, we synthesized a nucleic acid mimic (a peptide nucleic acid or PNA) that bind specifically to a defined DNA gene promoter sequence; this PNA has been coupled to a molecule that intercalates into DNA (an anthrapyrazole), and we are studying the interactions of this compound with double-stranded oligonucleotides. Other projects involve studying synthetic antimicrobial peptides and a project based on a student’s discovery that the over-expression of a gene implicated in metastasis of cancer cells (in virally transformed cultured mouse cells) might result from changes in the cells’ chromatin structure.
Dr. Maha Zewail-Foote: In general, my research focuses on the interaction of anti-cancer and cancer-causing compounds with DNA and their effect on biochemical and biological processes. Students in my laboratory are evaluating the molecular mechanisms involved in DNA damage of photoactivated daunomycin, a well-known anti-cancer drug, and the role of oxygen in this process. This project is being expanded to examine the DNA damage process and role of oxygen in other DNA interactive compounds, such as metal complexes and organic molecules that target DNA
Dr. Frank Guziec: Our current research involves a number of projects. One relates to the design and preparation of a series of novel anti-cancer drugs — the anthrapyrazoles. Another involves novel approaches to designer estrogens related to the cancer prevention agent tamoxifen and its metabolites. We’re also investigating new methods in organic synthesis, particularly twofold extrusion reactions and deamination processes and their application to complex molecule synthesis.
Dr. Lynn Guziec: The work in my group has concentrated on the design and synthesis of possible medicinal compounds: an antibacterial selenium derivative of Dapsone as well as various new anti-cancer anthrapyrazoles and benzoquinone mustards.
Dr. Emily Niemeyer: Plant polyphenols are naturally-occurring antioxidants and their radical scavenging capabilities are thought to play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer. My research seeks to answer a fundamental scientific question: are there simple methods which can induce plants to produce increased levels of polyphenolic compounds? Polyphenolic compounds are produced by plants throughout their development for a variety of reasons, and my current research focuses on understanding how macronutrient fertilization affects the expression of polyphenolic compounds within the culinary herb, basil (Ocimum basilicum L.).
Dr. Gulnar Rawji: The focus of my research is on metal complexes that can interact with DNA and thus have potential as diagnostic or therapeutic agents, as probes for structure and conformation, and as site recognition agents. Of particular interest are metallointercalators based on platinum(II) and (IV), copper(II), ruthenium(II) and (III) which are also photochemically and/or redox active. This involves syntheses and characterization of the complexes, and an investigation of their DNA binding and cleaving properties using a variety of methods. Some of this work is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Foote.
Dr. Willis Wiegand: We are currently developing novel compounds of copper (I) and cobalt (III) to determine their structure, reactivity and interaction with DNA. Another project in the group involves the environmental impact of metals such as chromium, lead and cadmium. We are especially interested in the presence of these metals in biosludge sold to consumers as soil amendment and the presence of these metals in the local flora and fauna.
