Biochemistry major Ian Rinehart and Simon Ewing, a Chemistry and Math major, were selected as the recipients of two summer research awards funded by the UO chapter of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS).
Simon Ewing, a sophomore from Springfield, Oregon, will be working in the Prell lab. The Prell lab’s research examines the structure of proteins at the nanoscale in order to understand the relationship between structure and function. Simon describes his research as computational and theoretical, and works to develop computational tools for use with ion mobility experiments. His interest in analytical chemistry began in high school, where his chemistry teacher was an analytical chemist. He enjoys looking in depth at molecular interactions to see how they affect the system as a whole. Simon’s post-graduate plans include earning his PhD and working in research, with the goal of someday having his own research lab.
Ian Rinehart is a junior from Portland, Oregon. He works in the Tyler lab on research that is seeking a solution for a problem confronting the natural gas industry – too much nitrogen in the wells. Purifying the gas by removing the unwanted nitrogen is difficult and expensive. The project Ian is working on endeavors to design a small molecule that can purify the natural gas at a cost-effective rate. Ian has known that he wanted to do science from an early age, and was particularly inspired by his organic chemistry studies. He sees both science and art in the opportunity chemistry offers to explore the laws of the universe, and then to create something new and see what happens. Ian plans to continue on to grad school to pursue a PhD after completing his undergrad degree. He has a strong interest in working in a national lab on small molecule synthesis.
This is the first time that UO SAACS has offered research awards for undergraduate researchers. The purpose of the awards is to support chemistry and biochemistry majors’ ability to engage in research during the summer term.