Research in Chemistry/Biochemistry
(Above) NU Biochemistry and Chemistry undergraduate students presented their original research at the Western New York American Chemical Society Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Research in Chemistry and Biochemistry
100% of our chemistry and biochemistry students engage in research under the supervision of a professor in the department.
Whether you think you'll go into research as a career or not, having an undergraduate research experience allows you to have more hands-on experience with lab techniques and state-of-the-art instrumentation, builds your communication skills, and enhances your problem-solving skills.
Our department's faculty do research in various fields:
Dr. McCourt created and trademarked a new product: CholestosomesTM for oral delivery of insulin, and is president of a start-up company to commercialize CholestosomesTM. She also conducts Alzheimer’s and breast cancer research.
Dr. Stoj works with metals in biology, specifically enzymes. He is particularly interested in how we incorporate metals into enzymes and proteins and how these metallo-proteins affect different disease states.
Dr. Goacher develops new analytical methods to study the break-down of both wood-polymer composites as novel bio-products, and wood itself to create biofuels. Her group also is working to identify forged documents for forensic analysis.
Dr. Sanchez synthesizes bio-active molecules and natural products from peptides. This synthesis is made “greener” and more economical by optimizing the reactions using design of experiments, and by using peptides as starting materials. Current targets include anti-malarial drugs.
How do I get into research?
You can get into research as early as you want. We have students who begin research as freshmen and others who do their research as seniors (and everything in between).
One of the best ways to get involved in research is to learn about what research is going on in the department, by talking to other students and to the faculty.
Perhaps you would like to volunteer or do a rotation in a lab to see what the experience is like, first.
When you're ready, you are matched to a research advisor, who can fill out the independent study paperwork for you to do research for class credit. The CHE 449L/CHE 250L research sequence is a total of 4 credits (2 each) while the CHE 403/CHE 404 honors research sequence is a total of 6 credits (3 each). Students who are part of the University Honors must do honors research, while other students who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher can elect to do departmental honors.