Student Research Opportunities

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of Biology
Erich K. Stabenau
Comparative animal physiology. Studies include: (1) examining the physiological effects of cocaine/hypoxic exposure on the rodent brain, (2) investigating the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on frog muscle contraction, and (3) examining regulatory cell volume changes in neurons, red blood cells, and myocytes. Students will be responsible to make solutions, perform perfusion experiments, and utilize fluorescence microscopy. Students must have one year of chemistry and biology, and must enjoy laboratory work and collaborative research. Student may work for research credit and summer employment may be possible after receiving research experience during the academic year.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Brad Andersh
Synthetic Organic Chemistry. Our research focuses on the development of new synthetic methods for the preparation of biologically significant molecules (ex. pharmaceuticals). Synthetic chemistry plays an important role in the development of pharmaceuticals, because it can be used to solve some of the problems (supply and side effects issues) that are often encountered during the commercialization of pharmaceutical agents. We are currently working on the synthesis and testing of a group of compounds that have both antifungal and analgesic properties. Students will be involved in all aspects of this research: synthesis of the compounds of interest, isolation of the products, and the identification of the products by spectroscopic methods. This research is on going and can conducted for credit during the academic year and possibly for a stipend during breaks (summer and interim). Students should have some prior knowledge of organic chemistry to participate.

Wayne B. Bosma
Physical Chemistry: Computational of molecular conformations of isolated molecules and small complexes. Calculations are performed using quantum mechanical methods (density functional theory) and molecular mechanics methods on the conformations of flexible ring systems and carbohydrate analogs, to determine the relative stabilities of different conformations. Similar calculations on complexes of these molecules with water elucidate the conformational changes expected on solvation. Student researchers are expected to be motivated and responsible, with a reasonably strong background in chemistry and an aptitude for working with computer programs.

Dean J. Campbell
Materials chemistry and chemistry education. Studies include: (1) production of nanoscale structures such as colloidal particles and photonic crystals (2) development of new laboratory experiments and demonstrations, involving chemical reagents and occasionally LEGO bricks. Students will be responsible for making solutions, synthesizing nanoscale structures, performing spectroscopic measurements, and possibly performing microscopy and diffraction characterization. Students must have taken at least one semester of chemistry at Bradley with a "C" or better in their chemistry courses. Students may work for research credit during the academic year, and summer employment may be possible during the summer following academic year research.

Kurt Field
The dehydration of alcohols to form alkenes is one of the fundamental laboratory operations performed by students enrolled in introductory organic chemistry. Traditionally, these processes have been promoted by a variety acids including concentrated sulfuric and 85% phosphoric acid. We are exploring the use of acidic resins as dehydrating agents in several processes, including Fischer esterifications and alcohol elimination reactions. A second area of study involves the development an experiment for undergraduate laboratories that will utilize the multinuclear capabilities of high-field NMR spectrometers. Specifically, we are investigating the effect of solvent [acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethyl formamide, dioxane, acetonitrile (MeCN), and tetrahydrofuran] on the position of the equilibrium and rate of the hydration of 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone. We are also examining the isotopic effect of H¬¬2O versus D¬2O on the rate of hydration. Finally, we are exploring new synthetic methods for the preparation of small ring nitrogen heterocycles. Students may work for research credit during the academic year; summer research opportunities may be available.

Edward Flint
My research is on coordination polymers, which contain both organic and
inorganic components. Students synthesize the starting components and
combine them together. Characterization of both reactants and products by IR, NMR, and UV-Vis spectroscopies together with X-Ray powder diffraction is conducted by the students here at Bradley. Samples may be sent off-site for other analyses (e.g. X-Ray, mass spectroscopy, etc.) Students may start any time in their academic career, and should be reliable and careful workers. Research can be conducted for academic credit during the school year and, depending on funding, for a stipend during the summer.

Michelle R. Fry
Our research focuses on membrane integrity; lipid metabolism; and cellular lipid and protein trafficking. Studies include: (1) characterization of the molecular interactions of yeast autophagy and (2) effect of lipid peroxides produced during oxidative stress on membrane integrity. These studies involve cell culture techniques, genetic manipulation of yeast, biochemical fractionation of cellular organelles, Western blot analysis, fluorescence microscopy, enzyme and protein assays, spectroscopy of model membrane systems, and the isolation and characterization of membrane lipids. Research students are involved in all aspects of the projects and must have excellent laboratory skills.

Kristi L. McQuade
Biochemistry. Our work involves the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone protein gp96. We are currently focused on characterizing the oligomeric state of gp96 and how it is affected by ligands in vitro and by growth conditions in vivo. Our long term goals include using site-directed mutagenesis to illuminate the structural origins of oligomerization.
Student researchers will participate at all levels, including experimental design, implementation and interpretation. Students must be dependable, must keep a detailed lab notebook and must be intellectually committed to the project.

Department of Psychology
Timothy E. Koeltzow
Behavioral Neuroscience: The goal of this research is to identify the neurobiological correlates of impulsive and addictive behavior. Projects include: 1) the effects of chronic methylphenidate (Ritalin) on impulsivity and cocaine self-administration in a rat model of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder; 2) the effects of environmental enrichment on impulsivity and reinstatement of extinguished cocaine-seeking in rats. Students will have the opportunity to participate in animal care, making solutions, and behavioral data collection and analysis. Course credit is available, and paid summer opportunities are available to motivated students that have acquired sufficient laboratory skills.

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