Currently available projects for undergraduates
There are many opportunities for undergraduates to perform research in one of our School’s research groups. However, it sometimes takes a considerable amount of effort to find a project that is a good fit. In an effort to make this process a little more straightforward, we are encouraging our postdoctoral researchers, research scientists, and graduate students to advertise potential projects. Every project description that is listed has been approved by a School of Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty member but, as is typical of projects for beginning research students, the project will be supervised on a day to day basis by an active researcher in the faculty member’s group.If you would like to be considered for one of these projects, please contact the Undergraduate Research Coordinator. Please email a brief note describing why you would like to work on the project along with your resume.
See this link for setting up an UG research course (permit required)
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Bommarius Lab
Title of Research Project: Converting glucose dehydrogenase into alcohol dehydrogenase using protein engineering
Direct Mentor: Dr. Bettina Bommarius
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry, Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Converting glucose dehydrogenase into alcohol dehydrogenase using protein engineering
Direct Mentor: Dr. Bettina Bommarius
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry, Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Bommarius Lab
Title of Research Project: Optimization of Penicillin G Acylase for the Synthesis of B-Lactam Antibiotics
Direct Mentor: Patrick Harris
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry, Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Optimization of Penicillin G Acylase for the Synthesis of B-Lactam Antibiotics
Direct Mentor: Patrick Harris
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry, Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Bommarius Lab
Title of Research Project: Investigating the thermostability of an Amino Ester Hydrolase (AEH) enzyme
Direct Mentor: Colton Lagerman
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Investigating the thermostability of an Amino Ester Hydrolase (AEH) enzyme
Direct Mentor: Colton Lagerman
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. La Pierre's GroupTitle of Research Project: Lanthanide Photochemistry
Direct Mentor: Dr. La Pierre
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Inorganic
Research: Credit Only Initially
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. Wu's Group
Title of Research Project: Mass spectrometry-based protein analysis
Direct Mentor: Dr. Wu
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Biochemistry
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Mass spectrometry-based protein analysis
Direct Mentor: Dr. Wu
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Biochemistry
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Evans GroupTitle of Research Project: Think-aloud Studies of Student Use of an App for Organic Reaction Mechanisms
Direct Mentor: Michael Evans
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: CHEM 2311
Evans GroupTitle of Research Project: Optical Recognition of Hand-drawn Chemical Structures
Direct Mentor: Michael Evans
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: CHEM 2311
Fernandez Lab
Title of Research Project: Mass-spectrometry Instrumentation and Methods Development
Direct Mentor: Postdoc or graduate student TBD
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Rolling start dates
Required Courses: Quantitative Analysis, Instrumental Analysis desirable but not mandatory
Title of Research Project: Mass-spectrometry Instrumentation and Methods Development
Direct Mentor: Postdoc or graduate student TBD
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Rolling start dates
Required Courses: Quantitative Analysis, Instrumental Analysis desirable but not mandatory
Fernandez Lab
Title of Research Project: Mass-spectrometry-based Metabolomics
Direct Mentor: Postdoc or graduate student TBD
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Rolling start dates
Required Courses: Quantitative Analysis, Instrumental Analysis desirable but not mandatory
Title of Research Project: Mass-spectrometry-based Metabolomics
Direct Mentor: Postdoc or graduate student TBD
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Rolling start dates
Required Courses: Quantitative Analysis, Instrumental Analysis desirable but not mandatory
Kelly Lab
Title of Research Project: Growth and Characterization of Antibiotic-Producing Bacteria
Direct Mentor: Wendy L. Kelly
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry, Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: General Chemistry, and to be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Growth and Characterization of Antibiotic-Producing Bacteria
Direct Mentor: Wendy L. Kelly
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry, Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: General Chemistry, and to be discussed during interview.
Kretchmer Lab
Title of Research Project: Quantum Mechanical Simulation of H-Atom Scattering off of Surfaces
Direct Mentor: Dr. Kretchmer
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: Quantum Chemistry
Title of Research Project: Quantum Mechanical Simulation of H-Atom Scattering off of Surfaces
Direct Mentor: Dr. Kretchmer
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: Quantum Chemistry
Kretchmer Lab
Title of Research Project: Computational Modeling of Charge Transport in Perovskites
Direct Mentor: Dr. Kretchmer
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Computational Modeling of Charge Transport in Perovskites
Direct Mentor: Dr. Kretchmer
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Lieberman Lab
Title of Research Project: Biochemistry of intramembrane proteases
Direct Mentor: Yuqi Wu
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: General Chemistry
Title of Research Project: Biochemistry of intramembrane proteases
Direct Mentor: Yuqi Wu
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: General Chemistry
Peralta-Yahya Lab
Title of Research Project: Supporting the engineering receptors activated by synthetic ligands as neuroscience tools
Direct Mentor: Weldon Lane
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: Biochemistry I or Survey of Biochemistry
Title of Research Project: Supporting the engineering receptors activated by synthetic ligands as neuroscience tools
Direct Mentor: Weldon Lane
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2019
Required Courses: Biochemistry I or Survey of Biochemistry
Filled
Dr. Barry's Group - Filled by: Chichi Obi
Title of Research Project: Biological and Biometric Solar Energy Conversion
Direct Mentor: Dr. Barry
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry I
Title of Research Project: Biological and Biometric Solar Energy Conversion
Direct Mentor: Dr. Barry
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry I
Dr. El-Sayed's Group - Filled by: Jacky Zhu
Title of Research Project: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Direct Mentor: Crystal Bell
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry Lecture and Lab
Title of Research Project: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Direct Mentor: Crystal Bell
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry Lecture and Lab
Dr. Finn's Group - Filled by: Mark Garren
Title of Research Project: Dynamic Materials with azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane backbone based on anchimetric assistance
Direct Mentor: Zhishuai Geng
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2015
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry Lecture and Lab
Title of Research Project: Dynamic Materials with azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane backbone based on anchimetric assistance
Direct Mentor: Zhishuai Geng
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2015
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry Lecture and Lab
Dr. Finn's Group - Filled by: Alexis Jacobs
Title of Research Project: Chemical Modification of Pediatric Hospital Tubing to Reduce Infection
Direct Mentor: Jennifer Beveridge
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Summer 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Chemical Modification of Pediatric Hospital Tubing to Reduce Infection
Direct Mentor: Jennifer Beveridge
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Summer 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. France's Group - Filled by: Meghan White
Title of Research Project: Asymmetric Modular Total Synthesis of Bromophycolide Bio-Active Natural Products
Direct Mentor: Kymberlee Alana Osborne
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2015
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry Lecture and Lab
Title of Research Project: Asymmetric Modular Total Synthesis of Bromophycolide Bio-Active Natural Products
Direct Mentor: Kymberlee Alana Osborne
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2015
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry Lecture and Lab
Dr. Garg's Group - Filled by: David Fogg and Tyler Seladi
Title of Research Project: Title of Research Project: Metabolomics of microbial cultures
Direct Mentor: Dr. Neha Garg
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Title of Research Project: Metabolomics of microbial cultures
Direct Mentor: Dr. Neha Garg
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. Gutekunst's and Dr. McDaniel's Labs - Filled by: Katherine Leyden
Title of Research Project: Computational Descriptors for Bicyclic Lactam Reactivity
Direct Mentor: Dr. Gutekunst and Dr. McDaniel
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic, Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Computational Descriptors for Bicyclic Lactam Reactivity
Direct Mentor: Dr. Gutekunst and Dr. McDaniel
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic, Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. Gutekunst's Lab - Filled by: Owen McAteer
Title of Research Project: Revisiting Esterification Catalysts: Opportunities From Polymer Science
Direct Mentor: Dr. Gutekunst
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2017
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry Lecture and Lab
Title of Research Project: Revisiting Esterification Catalysts: Opportunities From Polymer Science
Direct Mentor: Dr. Gutekunst
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2017
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry Lecture and Lab
Dr. Jean-Luc Bredas' Group
Title of Research Project: Electronic Properties of Two-dimensional Covalent Polymer Networks
Direct Mentor: Dr. Hong Li
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: Physical Chemistry (Quantum)
Title of Research Project: Electronic Properties of Two-dimensional Covalent Polymer Networks
Direct Mentor: Dr. Hong Li
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: Physical Chemistry (Quantum)
Dr. Jean-Luc Bredas' Group
Title of Research Project: Organic electronic materials: Description of excited states
Direct Mentor: Dr. Veaceslav Coropceanu
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: None
Title of Research Project: Organic electronic materials: Description of excited states
Direct Mentor: Dr. Veaceslav Coropceanu
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: None
Dr. Kubanek's Group
Title of Research Project: Toxin Induction in Phytoplankton
Direct Mentor: Emily Schwartz
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Biochemistry, Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2017
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Toxin Induction in Phytoplankton
Direct Mentor: Emily Schwartz
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Biochemistry, Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2017
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. Lieberman's Group - Filled by: Moya Tomlin
Title of Research Project: Probing the Structure and Function of the Molecular Chaperone Grp94
Direct Mentor: Dustin Huard
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Summer 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Probing the Structure and Function of the Molecular Chaperone Grp94
Direct Mentor: Dustin Huard
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Summer 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. Liotta's and Dr. Pollet's Group - Filled by: Yusra AnwarTitle of Research Project: Conjoined DNA-Conducting Polymers
Direct Mentor: Dr. Pollet
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Organic, Physical
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Summer 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview
Dr. Liotta's and Dr. Pollet's Group - Filled by: Paul Gould, Lee Holden and Julianna ValeTitle of Research Project: Flow Chemistry
Direct Mentor: Dr. Pollet
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Biochemistry, Inorganic, Organic, Physical
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Fall 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. McDaniel's Group
Title of Research Project: Computational Design of Solid-State Electrolytes for Batteries
Direct Mentor: Dr. McDaniel
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit Only Initially
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Computational Design of Solid-State Electrolytes for Batteries
Direct Mentor: Dr. McDaniel
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit Only Initially
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. McDaniel's Lab
Title of Research Project: Computational Modeling of Electrode/Electrolyte Interfaces
Direct Mentor: Dr. McDaniel
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit Only Initially
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Computational Modeling of Electrode/Electrolyte Interfaces
Direct Mentor: Dr. McDaniel
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit Only Initially
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. Orlando's Group - Filled by: Katelyn Hawkins
Title of Research Project: Electron and Photon Induced Chemistry on Surfaces
Direct Mentor: Dr. Orlando
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: Principal Chemistry
Title of Research Project: Electron and Photon Induced Chemistry on Surfaces
Direct Mentor: Dr. Orlando
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: Principal Chemistry
Dr. Payne's Group - Filled by: Gregory WhyteTitle of Research Project: Nanoparticle-cell Interactions
Direct Mentor: Dr. Payne
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. Perry's Group - Filled by: Ruyi YangTitle of Research Project: Nanotechnology for Energy Storage
Direct Mentor: Mohan Kathaperumal
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Inorganic, Organic, Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: Principles of Chemistry I
Dr. Perry's Group - Filled by: Zhang DongTitle of Research Project: Organic Photonics
Direct Mentor: Johnny Park
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Organic, Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: Principles of Chemistry I
Dr. Reynolds' Group - Filled by: Nina LyowTitle of Research Project: Constructing Electrochromic Devices
Direct Mentor: Eric Shen
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: Principles of Chemistry 1
Dr. Sadighi's Group - Filled by: Sabrine Cyper and Kyle Mackey
Title of Research Project: New Copper Catalysts for Small Molecule Functionalization
Direct Mentor: Abe Jordan
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Inorganic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: Principles of Chemistry II
Title of Research Project: New Copper Catalysts for Small Molecule Functionalization
Direct Mentor: Abe Jordan
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Inorganic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: Principles of Chemistry II
Dr. Schuster's Group - Filled by: Jeffre AllenTitle of Research Project: Conjoined DNA-Conducting Polymers
Direct Mentor: Dr. Schuster
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Biochemistry
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Spring 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. Sherrill's Group - Filled by: Mike Zott
Title of Research Project: Computational Quantum Chemistry
Direct Mentor: Dominic Sirianni
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2016
Required Courses: Computer Programming or Quantum chemistry/Quantum mechanics
Title of Research Project: Computational Quantum Chemistry
Direct Mentor: Dominic Sirianni
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2016
Required Courses: Computer Programming or Quantum chemistry/Quantum mechanics
Dr. Stockton's Group - Filled by: Sam Holtzon
Title of Research Project: qPCR, Sequencing, and Small Molecule Analysis of Microbial and Chemical Environments over Various Scales in Icelandic Tephra and Geothermal Locations
Direct Mentor: Dr. Stockton
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Biochemistry
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Fall 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: qPCR, Sequencing, and Small Molecule Analysis of Microbial and Chemical Environments over Various Scales in Icelandic Tephra and Geothermal Locations
Direct Mentor: Dr. Stockton
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Biochemistry
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Fall 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. Wine's Group - Filled by: Miguel Baca-Balderas
Title of Research Project: Kinetic and Mechanistic Studies of Important Atmospheric Reactions
Direct Mentor: Mike Nocovich
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Summer 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Kinetic and Mechanistic Studies of Important Atmospheric Reactions
Direct Mentor: Mike Nocovich
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Physical
Research: Pay or Credit
Start Date: Summer 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Dr. Wu's Group - Filled by: Alexander Choi, Esther Hwang and Lindsey Ulmer
Title of Research Project: Mass spectrometry-based protein analysis
Direct Mentor: Johanna Smeekens and Haopeng Xiao
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Biochemistry, Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Title of Research Project: Mass spectrometry-based protein analysis
Direct Mentor: Johanna Smeekens and Haopeng Xiao
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Analytical, Biochemistry, Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Fall 2016
Required Courses: To be discussed during interview.
Prof. Hud's Research Group
Title of Research Project: Synthesis and study of Influence of nucleic acid intercalators on proto-nucleobase/nucleotide assemblies
Direct Mentor: Suneesh Karunakaran
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry
Title of Research Project: Synthesis and study of Influence of nucleic acid intercalators on proto-nucleobase/nucleotide assemblies
Direct Mentor: Suneesh Karunakaran
Traditional Chemistry Areas: Organic
Research: Credit
Start Date: Spring 2018
Required Courses: Organic Chemistry