To honor his former mentor, Chemistry alum Dennis Beetham and his wife, Janet, have donated $1 million to the University of Oregon to launch the John Keana Graduate Student Fellowship Fund.
Mr. Beetham, one of the first students to do research in the Keana lab, received his Masters in Chemistry from the UO in 1967
Read about this remarkable gift in AroundtheO
Kira Egelhofer has been selected as the next recipient of the Rosaria Haugland Graduate Research Fellowship. The Fellowship, established by Dr. Rosaria Haugland in 2004, is awarded every three years by the UO Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to an outstanding graduate student in Chemistry. It covers the recipient’s stipend, tuition, and miscellaneous fees for a three-year period. Kira was selected from a pool of applicants by a faculty committee who were impressed by Kira’s science and her work to engage women and minorities in STEM.
Kira grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, with a passion for nature and outdoor learning. In high school, a tough-but-inspiring female science teacher sparked Kira’s interest in chemistry, and led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, with a thesis project in Environmental Chemistry.
Kira entered the UO chemistry PhD program in 2015, and jump-started her studies in solar energy by taking masters courses the preceding summer that were offered by the UO masters internship program, and taught by Fuding Lin, Benjamin Alemán, Jim Hutchison, and Mark Lonergan.
Now in her third year, Kira is a member of the Lonergan lab. Her research involves measuring the selectivity and recombination of contacts to solar cells. “We are interested in these parameters because they impact solar cell efficiency,” Kira explains. “More specifically, I seek to understand how and why very thin layers of semiconducting or insulating materials inserted between the bulk material and contact of the solar cell impact selectivity and recombination. This information helps us rationally design solar cells with improved characteristics, such as efficiency.”
In addition to her research, Kira has been a member of the UO Women in Graduate Sciences since her first term at the UO. The goal of WGS is to involve and retain more women in the sciences. Kira enjoys the opportunity to promote science with K-12 students, young adults, and the wider community through a variety of WGS outreach activities. She currently serves as the organization’s Fundraising Chair, and is looking forward to their hosting a visit from Astronaut Wendy Lawrence for WGS’s annual fundraiser in March.
As for what the future might hold after completing her doctoral degree, Kira has no firm plans, but a few possibilities appeal to her – such as writing for scientific journals with a focus on communicating science to the general public, or working in solar energy research and development, perhaps even for NASA or SpaceX.
– By Leah O’Brien
The UO Chemistry and Biochemistry department has announced the recipients of our 2017 undergraduate scholarships. Madi Scott was awarded the Faith Van Nice Scholarship, and Ashlee Vise received the Kuntz-Swinehart Memorial Scholarship, and Cyrus Waters was selected for the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS) Summer Research Award.
The Faith Van Nice Scholarship is dedicated to the memory of alumna Faith Van Nice, and recognizes exceptional UO undergraduate students majoring in Chemistry or Biochemistry. This year’s recipient, Madi Scott, is a Chemistry major beginning her sophomore year in the Clark Honors College. She grew up in Medford, Oregon, with a strong interest in math, science and medicine. Madi joined the Cathy Wong lab halfway through her freshman year, and is particularly interested in how physical chemistry research applications can be used to make medical devices more effective and affordable, allowing for greater access to people who need them. She was very surprised to be selected for the Faith van nice scholarship, and feels honored to have the opportunity to share in Faith’s legacy. Madi plans to pursue a PhD or MD after completing her B.S. in Chemistry.
The Kuntz-Swinehart Memorial Scholarship is meant to recognize and encourage academic excellence in our majors, and was established by former UO Chemistry students in honor of two professors whose instruction, influence and inspiration had a significant impact on their career paths. Our 2017 recipient, Ashlee Vise is from Scottsdale, Arizona, and a chemistry major entering her senior year. She has been conducting undergraduate research in the Shannon Boettcher lab since the fall of her sophomore year. Her research involves renewable energy, focusing on the development of catalysts to produce zero-emission hydrogen fuel. Ashlee’s passion for nature inspires her interest in green chemistry and sustainable practices, and she hopes to take that passion and apply it to her career. She got off to a good start this summer, as an intern for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Denver, Colorado. After completing her baccalaureate degree, Ashlee plans to take a gap year before pursuing an MS or PhD.
The SAACS Summer Research Awards are sponsored by the UO chapter of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society. Now in their third year, the annual awards seek to support chemistry and biochemistry majors’ ability to engage in research during the summer term. This year’s recipient, Cyrus Waters, is from Beaverton, Oregon. When choosing a university, Cyrus says it was a toss-up between UO and OSU, but in the end, the Ducks won out. A Biochemistry major in his senior year, he is making the most out of undergraduate research opportunities in the Ramesh Jasti lab. Cyrus’ research involves organic synthesis, designing molecules with properties that are applicable for use in solar cells. After completing his undergraduate degree, Cyrus is considering entering the UO Masters Industrial Internship Program, on the Polymer Science track.
– by Leah O’Brien
Last June, the UO Chemistry and Biochemistry department selected the recipients of our undergraduate scholarships for the 2016-17 academic year. Ainsley Taylor was awarded the Faith Van Nice Scholarship, and Brian Drury received the Kuntz-Swinehart Memorial Scholarship. Continue reading “Meet our 2016 Chemistry and Biochemistry Scholarship Recipients – Ainsley Taylor & Brian Drury”
When the National Science Foundation announced the 2016 awardees and honorable mentions for their Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), the University of Oregon Chemistry and Biochemistry Department had plenty of reasons to celebrate. Five University of Oregon chemistry graduate students were among the fellowship award recipients – Micah Donor, Aurora Ginzburg, Mari Saif, Meredith Sharps and Andrea Steiger – and one more grad student, Lisa Eytel, received an honorable mention. In addition, two UO Chemistry and Biochemistry alumni also received awards, and a third alum received an honorable mention. Continue reading “6 Current UO Chemistry and Biochemistry Students & 3 Alumni chosen for 2016 NSF Awards and Honorable Mentions”
University of Oregon chemistry graduate students Susan Cooper, Brandon Crockett, and Adam Jansons are among 155 students from 47 higher education institutions that have been named University Innovation Fellows by the National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation (Epicenter). Epicenter is an NSF-funded national program that trains student leaders to create new opportunities for their peers to engage with innovation, entrepreneurship, design thinking and creativity. Continue reading “5 UO Students named University Innovation Fellows by NSF-funded Epicenter”
April Oleson and Muhammad Khalifa have been named as 2014 recipients of the UO Chemistry and Biochemistry department’s annual undergraduate scholarships. The Faith Van Nice Scholarship has been awarded to April Oleson, and the Kuntz-Swinehart Memorial Scholarship to Muhammad Khalifa.
The Faith Van Nice Scholarship is dedicated to the legacy of alumna Faith Van Nice, and recognizes exceptional UO undergraduate students majoring in Chemistry or Biochemistry. This year’s recipient, April Oleson, greatly admires women such as Faith, whose personal achievements and passion for science serve as an inspiration for others. April came to the UO’s Clark Honors College from Jacksonville, Oregon, four years ago, unsure of where her academic interests would lead her. She decided first on a major in Spanish, and added the Chemistry major in her junior year, influenced by her experience in the majors track organic chemistry labs. Now, two years into her chemistry coursework, she is looking forward to the opportunity to do chemistry research in either an organic or inorganic lab. She is especially interested in research that involves the creation of new compounds. April’s long- range plans include pursuing a PhD in Chemistry. Eventually she would like to teach in a community where her Spanish language skills could help break down barriers and encourage students to pursue their academic aspirations.
The Kuntz-Swinehart Memorial Scholarship, meant to recognize and encourage academic excellence in our majors, was established by former UO Chemistry students in honor of two professors whose instruction, influence and inspiration had a significant impact on their career paths. Our 2014 recipient, Muhammad Khalifa, found his future plans impacted by his experience here, as well. A Biochemistry major from Portland, Oregon, Muhammad’s intention was to begin pre-med studies at the UO and then transfer to another institution to finish his undergraduate degree. But after becoming involved in the campus community as a Resident Assistant in University Housing and a research assistant in the Haley Lab, he found it hard to imagine going anywhere else. The Haley Lab, in collaboration with the Berglund Lab, was exploring small molecule therapeutics against DM1, a type of muscular dystrophy. Specifically, the Haley Lab designed molecules, and the Berglund lab tested the molecules’ ability to combat DM1. As a result of his involvement in this work, Muhammad’s academic interests shifted from medical school to medical research, especially the puzzle-solving aspects of pharmaceutical research and the use of chemistry to tackle medical problems. After completing his bachelor’s degree this coming fall, he is hoping to first earn an MS degree abroad, and then return to the U.S. to complete his PhD and pursue a career in drug development research, either in industry or academia.
UO Chemistry major Loveprit Singh has been named as a 2014 recipient of the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.
The scholarship was was established in 1986 by Congress to honor Senator Barry Goldwater, whose career in the armed forces and the Senate spanned 56 years. The purpose of the award is to foster a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by supporting college students who intend to pursue research careers in these fields. Awards can cover the junior and senior years or just the senior year. Recipients receive up to $7,500 annually to help cover tuition, fees, books, room & board.
Loveprit, a junior at the UO, is pursuing a double-major in Chemistry and Mathematics. The Goldwater Scholarship will support his senior year of undergraduate study. He also was selected as a Beckman Scholar in 2013, a scholarship awarded to outstanding sophomores or juniors to pursue extensive undergraduate research projects in chemistry. Loveprit’s interest in organic chemistry led him to enroll in undergrad research in the Pluth lab, where he participates in research to develop fluorescent molecular probes for hydrogen sulfide detectors and donors – biocompatible tools which can aid in our understanding of the physiological roles of hydrogen sulfide.
After graduating from the UO, Loveprit plans to attend graduate school and pursue interests in green chemistry and environmental impacts while earning his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry.
The UO Chemistry and Biochemistry Department is currently accepting applications for the prestigious Beckman Research Scholarships for qualifying undergraduate research students.
The scholarship is awarded to outstanding undergraduates in sophomore or junior standing to pursue extensive undergraduate research projects in chemistry. The Beckman Research Scholarship awards a total $19,300.00 in scholarship funds.
In order to qualify, students must maintain a 3.7 GPA or higher, be able to work continuously the summer of 2014 (full time), part time through the 2014-15 academic year, and full time again through the summer of 2015 in one of the participating faculty research labs.
Strong preference will be given to those students planning on pursuing a PhD in Chemistry or a related field, and who show potential to be future leaders of their field. Finalists will be interviewed by the Beckman Scholars Board.
For more information and application instructions, visit http://pages.uoregon.edu/swb/Beckman.html
The application deadline is April 25th, 2014 at 5:00PM in the Chemistry Office (91 Klamath).
