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Fourteen of Elon’s chemistry and biochemistry majors presented at four regional and national conferences in the 2023-24 academic year.

Their research projects investigated a range of topics — from cancer treatments, to enzymes that affect insulin, to the transmission and behavior of nanoparticles and the properties of chemical elements.

Presentations this academic year included those at the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS) in Durham, North Carolina; the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) in San Antonio; the American Chemical Society (ACS) national meeting in New Orleans; and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Long Beach, California.

Conferences attended by chemistry and biochemistry students:

Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS)

Durham, North Carolina, October 2023

• 

  Genesis Tolbert ’24 (biochemistry), Ryan Kolaitis ’25 (chemistry), Associate Professor Justin Clar (research mentor)

Project: “Evaluation of CPSC Surface Wiping Methodology for Increased Applicability”

• Stephanie Land ’24 (biochemistry), Professor Kathryn Matera (research mentor)

Project: “An Investigation of Structural Effects on Aromatase Inhibition for the Treatment of Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer”

• Chris D’Inzeo ’24 (chemistry), Associate Professor Vickie Moore (research mentor)

Project: “Development of Chemoresistant Models of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Investigations into Collateral Sensitivity”

• Amaya Sheffield ’24 (biochemistry), Associate Professor Justin Clar (research mentor)

Project: “Utilizing Boron Nitride Nanomaterials for Water Remediation”

American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)

San Antonio, Texas, March 2024

• 

  Aoife Judge ’24 (biochemistry), Associate Professor Vickie Moore (research mentor)

Project: “Resisting Resistance: Developing Gemcitabine Resistance in HL-60 Cells to Uncover Collateral Sensitivities in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia”

• Chris D’Inzeo ’24 (chemistry), Associate Professor Vickie Moore (research mentor)

Project: “Development of Chemoresistant Models of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Investigations into Collateral Sensitivity”

American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting

New Orleans, Louisiana, March 2024

• 

  Marika Kassaris ’25 (biochemistry), Lauren Kennedy ’24 (chemistry), Professor Karl Sienerth (research mentor)

Project: “Quenching Behavior or explosive on organic luminescors in non-hazardous solvents”

• Ivan Nguyen ’25 (chemistry), Olivia DiGiovanni ’24 (biochemistry), Emma Puleo ’24 (chemistry), Professor Karl Sienerth (research mentor)

Project: “Synthesis and Characterization of polypyridyl-carbonyl complexes of Ir and Rh”

• Amaya Sheffield ’24 (biochemistry), Associate Professor Justin Clar (research mentor)

Project: “Utilizing Boron Nitride Nanomaterials for Water Remediation”

National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR)

Long Beach, California, April 2024

• 

  Katie Conover ’24 (biochemistry), Professor Kathryn Matera (research mentor)

Project: “Aggregation Effects of Amyloid Beta (1-42) and Insulin”

• Megan Liebig ’24 (biochemistry), Professor Kathryn Matera (research mentor)

Project: “Exploring the moieties of VER-155008: Targeting Hsp70 Inhibition for Breast Cancer Therapy”

• Genesis Tolbert ’24 (biochemistry), Foster Horton ’23 (biochemistry), Associate Professor Justin Clar (research mentor)

Project: “Examination of Trace Metal Content in Sparklers and Effect on Lungs Utilizing Synthetic Lung Fluid”