Rhodes College chemistry majors Connor Bronze ’25 and Kathleen Modder ’26 were awarded top prizes in the undergraduate research poster competition held at The University of Memphis on April 24. Rhodes students Ella Petit ’25, Lilia Fernatt ’27, Josiah Zhang ’27, and Heath Seawright ’27 also presented their research.
The University of Memphis and Rhodes College’s joint poster session was in honor of science trailblazer Dr. Dorothy Phillips, who is the 2025 president of the American Chemical Society and the first African American woman to be elected to the role. She also was the first African American woman to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Vanderbilt University and with a Ph.D. in chemistry from The University of Cincinnati.
Bronze, who took first place, has worked in the research lab of Dr. Larryn Peterson, associate professor of chemistry, for two years. His research is on the synthesis of novel dopamine derivatives. “It was an incredible experience getting to share the research that my peers and I have been conducting in front of someone as esteemed and inspiring as Dr. Dorothy Phillips,” said Bronze. “I want to thank Dr. Peterson and my fellow lab members because their guidance and assistance made all of this possible.”
Modder took second place and has worked in the lab of Dr. William Eckenhoff, associate professor of chemistry, for almost two years and uses various lab techniques to synthesize a proton reduction catalyst for artificial photosynthesis.
"Presenting my research to Dr. Phillips and the professors at U of M was an incredible opportunity to represent Rhodes and Dr. Eckenhoff’s lab,” Modder said. “I received great feedback and ideas for future directions for the project.”
“I am very proud of Kathleen for doing such a good job,” said Eckenhoff. “I thought it was great to have this joint poster session with the students at The University of Memphis; hopefully we do this again in the future."
Dr. Shana Stoddard, associate professor of chemistry at Rhodes, initiated and coordinated Phillips’ visit to Memphis, TN, and Oxford, MS. “I was excited to bring this opportunity for our students, faculty, and administrators to meet with Dr. Phillips, hear her incredible story, and see the impact of her leadership in STEM. It’s great to actually meet people who were the first to ever do it,” said Stoddard.
On April 22, Phillips also visited the Rhodes campus, where she gave a presentation and met with President Jennifer Collins and faculty and students.
"We were honored to have Dr. Phillips visit campus, and grateful to be able to showcase the work of our students and faculty at the poster session," said Peterson.