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Niagara University Scientific Outreach for Chemistry (NUSOC)

Student Affiliate Group of the American Chemical Society
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Group Members

Prof. Priefer Research Group Members Publications and Presentations Awards & Honors NUSOC

2007-2008

Back row: Prof Priefer, James Gordon, Matt Pinto, Jeff St Denis, Justin Griffiths, Kyle Biegasiewicz

Front row: Rosalie Ferrari, Janelle Ludwig, Diandra Rudzinski, Natalie Hummel, Megan Baumler, Sarah Brodzik, Danielle Raymond,

Missing:Brittany Sumbler, Megan McGahan

Seniors  

Jeff St. Denis is a senior at Niagara University. He is double majoring in Chemistry (B.A) and Biology (B.Sc). His current research area is the Structure Activity Relationship (S.A.R) of para-substituted phenols and model gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The results from this study will lead to many more avenues to pursue in the formulation and synthesis of highly effective anti-microbial agents. He currently has presented at three conferences: 2006 Rochester Academy of Science Conference, 2007 National American Chemical Society Conference, and the 2007 East Coast Science Conference. After his time at Niagara University, Jeff has two ideas paths he could take, either going to get an M.D./Ph.D degree to be a medical scientist, or for his Ph.D in medicinal chemistry.

Natalie Hummel
Juniors  

Matthew Pinto is entering his sophomore year at Niagara University.   He is currently considering biochemistry as his major.  Matt has worked on the multilayering projects to date.  His areas have been considered to be at the "extreme" for the system.  He is currently working on testing new systems as antimicrobial coatings.

Megan Baumler is entering her sophomore year at Niagara. She is currently a chemistry major but still unsure of which area she would like to concentrate in. Megan is a 2005 graduate from Tonawanda High School. Working in the research lab since her freshman year, she is working on a project to generate anti-bacterial surfaces as well as other various experiments. After she receives her BS in Chemistry from NU, she plans on getting her PhD and becoming a research scientist. Meg has mad skills.

Sarah Brodzik
Sophomores  
James Gordon
DiAndra Rudzinski will be entering her sophomore year in the fall. She graduated from Lancaster high school in 2006. She began doing research for the multilayering project in spring of 2007. DiAndra is not exactly sure what she wants to do upon graduation, but with a major in chemistry and a minor in mathematics, she hopes to work in research.
Danielle Raymond
Brittany Sumbler

Kyle Biegasiewicz is entering his Junior year at Niagara University in the fall. He is working towards his BS in chemistry and has aquired a strong interest for Organic Chemistry. He is actively involved with research in Dr. Priefer's lab on the synthesis of a library of isoflavone derivatives as well as creating a new route to the synthesis of DDT, a commonly known pesticide. After receiving his BS at Niagara, he plans on attending graduate school for Organic Chemistry in pursuit of a PhD.

Justin Griffiths
Janelle Ludwig is entering her sophomore year at Niagara University. She is majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry. She graduated from Sweet Home High School in 2006. Janelle began work on Dr. Priefer’s multilayering project in the spring of 2007. After graduating from Niagara Janelle plans on going to medical school.
Rosalie Ferrari is entering her sophomore year at Niagara University in the fall. She is majoring in biology but plans on eventually double majoring in both biology and chemistry. She graduated from Cardinal Leger Secondary School in Brampton, ON, Canada. She began work on Dr. Priefer’s multilayering project in the spring of ’07. After graduating from NU, Rosalie plans on becoming a high school science teacher.
Freshman  

Megan McGahan

Past Group Members  
Vince Carroll is currently a senior at Niagara University. He is a chemistry major, who does extensive research in the Advanced Organic Laboratory. Most of the research involves synthesizing novel polymers in hopes of exhibiting antimicrobial properties. Vince is also a teacher’s assistant in the Intro Organic Chemistry Lab and is a tutor to freshmen for Intro to Chemistry. After Niagara, Vince plans on going into Organic Chemistry in graduate school and eventually into the pharmaceutical industry.  Vince is also a chemistry demonstration assistant for NUSOC.
Ryan McCloskey is currently in between his junior and senior years here at Niagara University.  Ryan graduate from Spencerport High School in Rochester, New York in 2003.  Ryan is a Biology major and Chemistry minor but enjoys working in an Organic research lab.  His research involves using a sulfur based intermediate in the formation of the antioxidant structural moiety, which has never been done before.  Ryan balances out academia with participation in intramural athletics, pick up basketball games, weightlifting and the occasional adult beverage.  Ryan is in the middle of applying to medical schools and hopes to pursue that endeavor when his undergraduate career at Niagara is complete. Ryan is also a chemistry demonstration assistant for NUSOC.
Jeanette Drapo is entering his junior year at Niagara University.   She is double majoring in Chemistry (B.A) and Biology (B.Sc).  Jeanette as worked on many projects to date.  She is the key contributor to the multilayering project and has developed the assay for determining the biological viability of the surfaces.  She will be starting her honors project this Fall on attempted to develop a catalytic McMurray coupling reaction. 
John Cadwalader is a junior at Niagara University. He is a chemistry major, and psychology minor. John graduated from Niagara Catholic High School in 2004. He began his work in the organic lab at the beginning of his sophomore year. The research he is involved in is creating potential antibacterial surfaces. He also tests compounds for antibacterial characteristics by using specific compound solutions on bacteria, and gauging the inhibition of bacteria growth. John balances school work with seeing his friends and family, studying music on the piano and guitar, and training brazilian jiu-jitsu / mixed martial arts. He plans on attending medical school, and focusing on orthopedics.
Michelle Ingalsbe will be entering her sophomore year at Niagara University in the fall.  She is currently a biology major and planning to minor in chemistry.  She graduated from Royalton-Hartland Central School in 2005 where she received the Outstanding Achievement Award in Biology.  She began working for the chemistry department here at NU in the spring of her freshman year and has worked on various projects.  Her most recent work involves measuring the inhibition of certain chemicals on bacteria.  In the fall, she will be a teacher's assistant in the General Biology Lab and a General Chemistry tutor.  After graduating from NU, Michelle plans on attending medical school and becoming an orthopeadic surgeon.
Mallory is a junior majoring in Chemistry and minoring in mathematics. She graduated valedictorian of LakeVille Memorial High School in 2005 and earned Outstanding Achievement awards in mathematics and science. In the winter of '06 she began to help with Dr. Priefer's research project of creating anti-bacterial surfaces. In the fall of '06 she began doing research on arterail plaque with Dr. McCourt and tutoring General Chemistry students. Currently, Mallory is focusing on quality structure-activity-relationship (QSAR) studies of para-substitued phenols with computational molecular modeling. After NU, Mallory hopes to attend graduate school to earn her PhD in chemistry. When not in the labs, she enjoys spending time with her sorority sisters of Alpha Sigma Alpha.
   

2006-2007

Back row: Prof Priefer, Brittany Sumbler, Ryan McCloskey, Jeff St Denis, Matt Pinto, Timothy Farfaglia

Middle row: Jeanette Drapo, Peter Davidow, Kyle Biegasiewicz, Mallory van Dongen, Vincent Carroll

Front row: Rosalie Ferrari, Janelle Ludwig, Michelle Ingalsbe, Danielle Raymond, Jennifer Novobilski, Megan Baumler, Diandra Rudzinski

Missing: John Cadwalader, Jaimie Rogemoser

 

2005-2006

Back row: Prof Priefer, Ryan McCloskey, John Cadwalader, Jeff St Denis, Matt Pinto, Nathan Tompkins

Middle row: Kirsten Incardona, Natalie Hummel, Jeanette Drapo, Vincent Carroll, Michael Putzer, Cara Lucas

Front row: Jennifer Yee, Michelle Ingalsbe, Mallory Van Dongen, Megan Baumler, Theresa Mihalic

 

Prof. Priefer Research Group Members Publications and Presentations Awards & Honors NUSOC

 

 

 

 

 

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