A tradition of research

The summer research program has become one of the staples of Lycoming College’s Chemistry Department. Each year, the department invites several students to work alongside its faculty for six to 10 weeks of research. For more than 20 years, the program has run nearly every summer at Lycoming with the participation of the entire department’s full-time faculty.

“The 40 hours per week of immersion in research provides students the opportunity to develop hands-on skills at a level that is difficult to offer during the fall and spring semesters,” says Dr. Holly Bendorf, associate professor of chemistry.

Despite the full-time commitment, students and faculty involved with the program manage to take advantage of the summer days as well, enjoying barbecues and pick-up games of softball or football on the Quad.  

This year, five students participated in the program:

Jennifer Adams, Hamburg, Pa., “Synthesis and 31-P Studies of Ruthenium Phosphite Complexes,” with Dr. Charles Mahler, assistant professor of chemistry  

Robert Beamon, Selinsgrove, Pa., “Hydroacylation of Allyl and Propargyl Ethers and Sulfides: Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Azepines,” with Bendorf

Lauren Bottorf, Lock Haven, Pa., “Hydroacylation of Allyl and Propargyl Ethers and Sulfides: Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Oxepines Thiepines,” with Bendorf

Elisabeth Feld, Succasunna, N.J., “Using Cyclic Voltammetry for Probing the Thickness of Organic Films on Glassy Carbon Surfaces,” with Dr. Jeremy Ramsey, assistant professor of chemistry

David Sampsell, Lock Haven, Pa., “Further Characterization of the Samarium Diiodide Tripyrrolidine Phosphide Oxide Complex,” with Dr. Chriss McDonald, chair and professor of chemistry

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