The Appalachian Chemistry Summer Training and Research Initiative
**ChemSTAR**
The ChemSTAR initiative is an umbrella organization that unites the entire faculty and student cohort within the A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry that are performing research during the summer months. Individual and departmental grants fund the specific projects while the participants partake in weekly joint group meetings and training sessions. Both students and faculty are exposed to a wide breadth of intellectual endeavors by working not only on their specific projects but engaging in frequent discussions about all of the ongoing projects within the department. A summary of the 2006 ChemSTAR projects are listed below:
Example
ÒSynthesis and Toxicity of Pyridine DerivativesÓ
Dr. Nicole Bennett, Chemistry Department, and Dr. Mark Venable, Biology Department
Glenn Harris and Heather Martin, Students
Merck/AAAS
ÒOdor du Jour:
Galax urceolataÓ
Dr. John Tomlinson, Chemistry Department, and Dr. Howard Neufeld, Biology Department
Serena Heinz and Andrew Doub, Students
Merck/AAAS
ÒForm and Function of Trichomes and Characterization of
Anthocyanins in New Growth of Rhododendron maximumÓ
Dr. John Tomlinson, Chemistry Department, and Dr. Howard Neufeld, Biology Department
Serena Heinz and Andrew Doub, Students
Merck/AAAS
ÒVitellogenesis in Male Fish Induced by Estrogens in
Waste Water EffluentÓ
Dr. Carol Babyak, Chemistry Department, and Dr. Shea Tuberty, Biology Department
Erin Singer and Leigh Gibbons, Students
Merck/AAAS
ÒFinding Cyclic Diguanylate Regulated Signal Transduction
Pathways in Vibrio choleraeÓ
Dr. Claudia Cartaya-Marin, Chemistry Department, and Dr. Ece Karatan, Biology Department
L.Alex James and Jesse Marino, Students
Merck/AAAS
ÒCell Free Fuel EthanolÓ
Dr. Eric Allain, Chemistry Department
Drs. Rene Salinas and Eric Marland, Department of Mathematical Sciences
Brittainy Overfield, Kristi Bilotti, and Laurin Robertson, Students
Independent Research Project
ÒDevelopment of a Metal Cross-linked Poly(dimethylsiloxane)
ElastomerÓ
Dr. Al Schwab, Chemistry Department
Ryan Kincer, Student
CHE 4400: Senior Research
ÒChemical
Monitoring of Boone CreekÓ
Dr. Carol Babyak, Chemistry Department
Dr. Chris
Thaxton, Physics Department and Dr. William Anderson, Geology Department
William P. Benner, III, Student
Funding
from Appalachian State University, College of Arts and Sciences
ÒInvestigation
of Acid Mine Drainage from an Abandoned Copper Mine in West Jefferson, NCÓ
Dr.
Carol Babyak, Chemistry Department
Brandy Gartman, Student
CHE 4400:Senior Research
Research
and Analysis to Validate the Operation of a Scientific Device
Drs. Carol Babyak and Grant N. Holder, Chemistry Department
Rachel Philpott, Student
Independent
Research