Report of the Undergraduate Student Research Grants
Committee for 2009-2010
January 2010
Requests for proposals for the Rochester Academy of Science Undergraduate
Student Science Research Grants went out to all area colleges and
schools in September, 2009. Fourteen proposals were received. The
purpose of these grants is to pay for consumable supplies and basic
research expenses. Money for these grants is provided by interest
from the Grants Fund created with a gift from Grace Murray.
The following awards were made:
1. The largest award went to Jessica G. Greger Shum at Hobart &
William Smith Colleges for her proposal "Novel synthesis of 3,4-diaryl-3-pyrrolin-2-ones
and staurosporinone." The grant of $450 will be sent to her advisor,
Dr. Erin Pelkey in the Chemistry Department at Hobart & William
Smith Colleges. Jessica's research expects to improve methods for
preparing biologically active 3,4-disubstituted-3-pyrrolin-2-ones;
these chemicals have potential as anticancer agents.
2. David Koplin, a student at the University of Rochester was awarded
partial support for his proposal, "Defining contacts between
proteins required for anti-viral defense." The Biochemistry &
Biophysics Department at the University of Rochester received a grant
of $350 sent to his advisor Dr. Harold Smith. David's research will
investigate proteins that are part of anti-viral defense mechanisms.
3. Michelle Scotland, a student at Nazareth College, was awarded partial
support for her proposal, "Fate of dipicolinic acid released
from Bacillus subtilis during spore germination." The Chemistry
Department at Nazareth College received a grant of $300 sent to her
advisor Dr. Alicia Carroll. Michelle will investigate the role of
dipicolinic acid released from spores and how it is used by the bacterium.
This grant includes the generous donation of $100 to the grants fund
by Karen Wolf.
4. Kelin Wheaton, a student at Keuka College was awarded partial support
for his proposal, "Does a reduction in heat shock protein expression
increase ubiquitin proteasome system activity in Caenorhabditis elegans?"
The Biology Department at Keuka College received a grant of $175 sent
to his advisor Dr. Joan Magnusen. Kelin will investigate the interaction
between heat shock proteins and the ubiquitin proteasome system, and
protein regulation with possible implications to understanding neurodegenerative
diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Hungington's.
5. James Gordon, IV, a student at Niagara University was awarded partial
support for his proposal, "Expression and purification of protein
phosphatase 2A for inhibition by cantharidin analogs." The Chemistry
Department at Niagara University received a grant of $175 sent to
his advisor Dr. Christopher Stoj. James will investigate the role
of cantharidin compounds as possible anticancer agents.
6. Kyle Biegasiewicz, a student at Niagara University was awarded
partial support for his proposal, "Utilization of a novel cubane-based
ligand in asymmetric catalysis." The Chemistry Department at
Niagara University received a grant of $100 sent to his advisor Dr.
Ronny Priefer. Kyle's project will investigate the role of cubane
as a regulator of catalysis.