Students Participate in SURP Summer Program at UA

July 3, 2002 - Filed under: Uncategorized

The 2002 Summer Undergraduate Research Participation (SURP) Program in the chemistry department at The University of Alabama gives students an individual project to work on for 10 weeks with UA faculty, staff and graduate students. The National Science Foundation and the UA chemistry department sponsor this program.

Jo Ellen Fory of Hoover (left) is culturing cells that produce a chemical that could be used as an antibiotic for certain infections. Jason Spruell of Dothan (right) is researching organic donor-acceptor crystal growth and its use in future pharmaceutical and plastic engineering endeavors.
Jo Ellen Fory of Hoover (left) is culturing cells that produce a chemical that could be used as an antibiotic for certain infections. Jason Spruell of Dothan (right) is researching organic donor-acceptor crystal growth and its use in future pharmaceutical and plastic engineering endeavors.
Geoffrey Hudson of Jasper (left) is preparing imidiozolium salts for Strem Chemical Co. Nora Wang of Cullman (middle) is working to develop magnetic nanoparticles for detection of biological warfare agents. Chris Key of Decatur (right) is testing ways to make the platinum catalyst more effective and to find a cheaper alternative catalyst for the fuel cell, to eventually switch the internal combustion engine to fuel cells.
Geoffrey Hudson of Jasper (left) is preparing imidiozolium salts for Strem Chemical Co. Nora Wang of Cullman (middle) is working to develop magnetic nanoparticles for detection of biological warfare agents. Chris Key of Decatur (right) is testing ways to make the platinum catalyst more effective and to find a cheaper alternative catalyst for the fuel cell, to eventually switch the internal combustion engine to fuel cells.


Jay Wackerly of Godfrey, Ill. (left) is developing new tools for organic crystal synthesis, which will be useful in future crystal synthesis and polymer research. Robert Jilek of North Mankato, Minn. (right) is working on the synthesis of new fluorine-containing compounds that will be used in polymer formation.
Jay Wackerly of Godfrey, Ill. (left) is developing new tools for organic crystal synthesis, which will be useful in future crystal synthesis and polymer research. Robert Jilek of North Mankato, Minn. (right) is working on the synthesis of new fluorine-containing compounds that will be used in polymer formation.
Jami Heidtbrink of Independence, Mo. (left) is creating a compute database that a chemist can use to help determine if a fire was caused by arson. Uriah Kilgore of Rolla, Mo. (right) is synthesizing imidazdium salts and studying their hydrogen bonding. Shannon Audley of Irving, Texas (center) is re-engineering photosynthesis to destroy environmental pollutants and release non-toxic versions back into the environment.
Jami Heidtbrink of Independence, Mo. (left) is creating a compute database that a chemist can use to help determine if a fire was caused by arson. Uriah Kilgore of Rolla, Mo. (right) is synthesizing imidazdium salts and studying their hydrogen bonding. Shannon Audley of Irving, Texas (center) is re-engineering photosynthesis to destroy environmental pollutants and release non-toxic versions back into the environment.


John Wesley Smith of Ferriday, La. is researching nucleic acid chemistry that could lead to protein inhibitors that would lead to treatment of numerous diseases such as cancer and AIDS.
John Wesley Smith of Ferriday, La. is researching nucleic acid chemistry that could lead to protein inhibitors that would lead to treatment of numerous diseases such as cancer and AIDS.
Keith Green of Port Huron, Mich. (left) is creating new solvents to replace those currently used industry that can be harmful to the environment and atmosphere. Shanna Gillespie of Clifton, Va. (right) is researching a protein found in animals that may help in the treatment of Adult Onset Diabetes.
Keith Green of Port Huron, Mich. (left) is creating new solvents to replace those currently used industry that can be harmful to the environment and atmosphere. Shanna Gillespie of Clifton, Va. (right) is researching a protein found in animals that may help in the treatment of Adult Onset Diabetes.


Teachers Virginia Cole of Tuscaloosa (left), Anne Jones of Aliceville (middle) and Tameka Shamery of Tuscaloosa (right) are pictured with Dr. Wolfgang Bertsch, UA professor of chemistry. Teacher Felecia Briggins of Newbern also participated in the program. Cole, a science teacher at Central High School, is assisting with the study of modified DNA in base recognition of two-stranded DNA. Jones, a teacher at Aliceville High School, is preparing samples of different accelerants under various conditions and extracting accelerants from fire debris samples to determine which was used in a case of arson. Shamery, a teacher at Livingston High School, is designing a module for liquid-liquid solvent extraction.
Teachers Virginia Cole of Tuscaloosa (left), Anne Jones of Aliceville (middle) and Tameka Shamery of Tuscaloosa (right) are pictured with Dr. Wolfgang Bertsch, UA professor of chemistry. Teacher Felecia Briggins of Newbern also participated in the program. Cole, a science teacher at Central High School, is assisting with the study of modified DNA in base recognition of two-stranded DNA. Jones, a teacher at Aliceville High School, is preparing samples of different accelerants under various conditions and extracting accelerants from fire debris samples to determine which was used in a case of arson. Shamery, a teacher at Livingston High School, is designing a module for liquid-liquid solvent extraction.
Amanda Stewart of Lyons, Ga. (left) is studying carbon-14 labeled glucose uptake in cancerous liver cells and if the uptake is accelerated by the presence of specific compounds. Ashlie Wrenne of Murfreesboro, Tenn. (right) is testing the reactions of a complex to new environmentally friendly liquids that could be used as less harmful solvents for industrial and experimental inorganic procedure.
Amanda Stewart of Lyons, Ga. (left) is studying carbon-14 labeled glucose uptake in cancerous liver cells and if the uptake is accelerated by the presence of specific compounds. Ashlie Wrenne of Murfreesboro, Tenn. (right) is testing the reactions of a complex to new environmentally friendly liquids that could be used as less harmful solvents for industrial and experimental inorganic procedure.




The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is experiencing significant growth in both enrollment and academic quality. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.

CONTACT: Kristen Smith or Linda Hill, Office of Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu
SOURCE: Dr. Lowell Kispert, 205/348-5954

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