The Department of Chemistry hosted its second annual Undergraduate Research Conference for chemistry students from the region Feb. 18. The conference, organized by Professors Will Eckenhoff, Dhammi Muesse, Larryn Peterson, and Roberto de la Salud Bea, featured talks by 31 undergraduate students on their research performed at Rhodes, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, University of Memphis, Lane College, and Union University.
“Having an opportunity to talk about their research to a broad audience of chemists is an incredibly valuable experience for undergraduates, and so this type of conference, where they are the main attraction, is crucial,” says Prof. Mauricio Cafiero, chair of the Department of Chemistry. “We really appreciate Will, Larryn, Dhammi, and Roberto for putting this together.”
Six prizes were awarded for outstanding presentations. Two awards went to students from Union University—Vernon Stafford III and Angela Taylor. The other four went to Rhodes students. They were Al Zaravar ’18, who works in the lab of Prof. Shana Stoddard; Barry Rich ’18, who works in the lab of Profs. Kim Brien and Roberto de la Salud Bea; and Emma Selner ’18 and Madison Perchik ’19/Rachel Giampapa ’19 (combined presentation), who all work with Prof. Mauricio Cafiero.