Get Involved in Research That Matters
Research allows you to pursue your interests, to learn something new, to hone your problem-solving skills and to challenge yourself in new ways.
Chemistry Research Opportunities
Undergraduate research is fun and beneficial to your career. Doing undergraduate research will give you the opportunity to work closely with a chemistry professor on an individual project. When registering for Undergraduate Research (CHEM 4950) it is expected that you will put in ~4 hours of research time in the laboratory a week. In addition, a presentation of your work is required usually in the form of a poster or seminar.
Below is a list of professors with a brief description of their research and the necessary skills/requirements to begin research in their laboratory. If you are interested in doing research with one of the following professors, please talk with them about your interest and the possible research projects available to you.
| Computational Biochemistry/Bioinformatics |
| Preferred Experience |
Completion of General Chem II (CHEM 1190/1194) |
| Research Description |
Our lab develops and applies computational methods, including computer simulations and
statistical learning algorithms, to solve biological problems. A general question in our research is how conformational
dynamics determine biomolecular functions |
| Contact |
Dr. Joe Yao |
| Organic/Material/Analytical Chemistry |
| Preferred Experience |
General Chem II and a preference for completion of Organic Chem (CHEM 2260/2274) |
| Research Description |
Our lab uses organic synthesis, molecular spectroscopy, and computational methods to develop new functional materials. Our research directions are: (1) design of fluorescent sensors for rapid bacterial pathogen diagnostics, (2) antibiotic nanoformulations for treatment of drug-resistant infections, and (3) synthesis of model compounds for studies of excited-state symmetry breaking. |
| Contact |
Dr. Denis Svechkarev |
| Chemical Education |
| Preferred Experience |
Taking or completed any of the following – General Chem II (CHEM 1190/1194), Organic Chem I (CHEM 225), any fundamental education or statistics classes. |
| Research Description |
Development of assessment tools in organic chemistry and exploring the difficulties faced when transitioning from general chemistry to organic chemistry. |
| Contact |
Dr. Sachin Nedungadi |
| Analytical/Environmental Chemistry |
| Preferred Experience |
Completed Quantitative Analysis (CHEM 2400/2404) |
| Research Description |
Our lab examines elemental cycling and contaminant fate and transport in natural and human impacted environmental systems. We are frequently colleting samples from local field sites including Glacier Creek Preserve and the wetland at Heron Haven. |
| Contact |
Dr. Andy Miller |
| Biochemistry |
| Preferred Experience |
General Chem II (CHEM 1190/1194) and a preference for completion of Organic Chem (CHEM 2260/2274) |
| Research Description |
Our lab uses absorbance spectroscopy to study the mechanistic details of flavoproteins involved in the biodegradation of aromatic compounds. |
| Contact |
Dr. John Conrad |
| Physical/Atmospheric Chemistry |
| Preferred Experience |
Organic Chem II Lab (CHEM 2274) and a preference for completion of Physical Chem II. |
| Research Description |
Our lab uses infrared spectroscopy to look at water uptake by and release from aerosol particles commonly found in the atmosphere. |
| Contact |
Dr. Joshua Darr |
| Analytical Chemistry/Spectroscopy |
| Preferred Experience |
Quantitative Analysis (CHEM 2400/2404) |
| Research Description |
Project 1 – Using Raman spectroscopy to study the transformation of pharmaceutical compounds. Project 2 – Analysis of contaminants in biodiesel using near-infrared spectroscopy. |
| Contact |
Dr. Alan Gift |
| Organic Chemistry |
| Preferred Experience |
CHEM 2260 & 2274 |
| Research Description |
We make potential drug candidates against Neglected Tropical Diseases such as schistosomiasis, Trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness), Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and malaria. Projects are collaborations with the UNMC College of Pharmacy Medicinal Chemistry Department and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Alternatively, students could develop new experiments for 2274 (e.g. polymer synthesis, comparative aromatic bromination, Diels Alder reactions, and others.)
|
| Contact |
Dr. Jim Hagen
|
| Organic Chemistry |
| Preferred Experience |
Organic Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 2274) |
| Research Description |
Our lab investigates the chemical properties of estrogen metabolites and how these metabolites can initiate cancer.
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| Contact |
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| Physical Chemistry |
| Preferred Experience |
General Chemistry II and Physics 2120, Physical Chemistry II preferred
|
| Research Description |
Our lab does computer modeling to look at changes in the electron density of molecules when influenced by intramolecular forces.
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| Contact |
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| Medicinal Chemistry/Computational Chemistry/Organic Chemistry |
| Preferred Experience |
Organic Chemistry I (CHEM2250) |
| Research Description |
Computational design and synthesis of protein kinase inhibitors; molecular dynamic simulations of macromolecule-ligand interactions; and sequence and structural analysis of influenza viruses. |
| Contact |
Dr. Andy Zhong |
