Chemistry Department Summer Research
Program Overview
The chemistry department consists of 12 faculty members and graduates approximately 10 students per year. Since 1992, the department has received $1,034,100 for educational, research, and instrumentation grants. A total of 186 students have taken the CHEM 375 and 376 courses, undergraduate research. Since 1992, approximately 25 undergraduate students have participated in summer research annually, in the last decade, 17 papers were co-authored with undergraduates.
The 12 faculty members in Bucknell's chemistry department conduct research in organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry. Interests include synthetic and mechanistic studies of organic, inorganic, and biochemical reactions; luminescence and photochemistry; x-ray crystallography; computer interfacing; mass spectrometry; and the analytical separation, identification, and study of biochemically important compounds.
Students can work with faculty on research projects beginning their first year at Bucknell. Research not only allows students to "do chemistry," but also provides real-life applications of the principles discussed in the classroom. During the summer, 20 to 30 students spend 10 weeks conducting grant-and university-sponsored research. A number of chemical companies provide support for summer research.
In the past five years, 82 of 131 chemistry majors have taken at least one research course for credit. Also, juniors are encouraged to participate in the honors program, which requires students to prepare research proposals and theses that must be defended.
The well-equipped laboratories in the Rooke Chemistry Building contain both conventional and microprocessor controlled instruments, including UV-Visible and IR spectrophotometers, gas and high-performance liquid chromatographs, capillary electrophoresis, NMR spectrometers, and an array of personal computers. Samples prepared by students are analyzed by staff specialists using an Extrel triple quadrupole GC/LC/Mass Spectrometer, a Siemens R3 X-Ray Diffractometer, and a Bruker 300 MHz NMR Spectrometer.
Application forms for summer research in chemistry are available in the Chemistry Department Office by early March. Pick up a form, fill it out making note of the faculty member(s) you most wish to work with, and return it to the office. All students, regardless of major or class year, are eligible to apply for these summer research positions. In general, one year of college chemistry coursework is a prerequisite for summer research.
In addition to free housing on campus, students receive a stipend of $2,500 (subject to appropriate withholding taxes). As the work is collaborative, no academic credit is offered the student, nor may the student be enrolled in academic course work during the project. Each student is expected to spend 10 weeks during the months of May, June, July and August engaged in research activities. The exact dates will be arranged with the particular faculty member involved.
For information about particular research projects, please contact any member of the Chemistry Department faculty.
Departmental Research Programs:
Other Programs:
