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Research & Experiential Learning Opportunities

At SUNY Plattsburgh, we believe hands-on research is essential to becoming a scientist. That is why chemistry and biochemistry majors have the opportunity to conduct a research project before graduation.

No matter your interests, our faculty will help you find a research project that aligns with your interests and goals. Working collaboratively with your mentor, you will design experiments, master lab techniques, conduct experiments, present your findings at conferences, and potentially even co-author a peer review publication in a scientific journal! Through this experience, you will build valuable skills, gain confidence to pursue a career in STEM.

Image: 2023-2024 academic research students and faculty from the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Current Research Projects & Department Mentors

  • Dr. Karina Ckless — 1. Cellulose-based nanomaterials – biological activity (NSF-RUI) 2. Cannabinoids as immunomodulators.
  • Dr. Dexter Criss — Forest Products Resources.
  • Dr. Glenn Morello — Computational chemistry-quantum calculations focusing on organometallic complexes, OLEDs, and cannabinoids. 
  • Dr. Ewa Pater — Electrochemistry
  • Dr. Rajesh Sunasee — Cellulose-based nanomaterials — Design, Synthesis and Characterization for biomedical applications. (NSF-RUI)
  • Dr. Kelly Theisen — Computational chemistry-protein docking: 1. Cannabinoids, 2. Gemini virus, 3. Spike protein (Covid-19)

Selected Student Research

Michael Seeber, Class of 2026

  • Major: Chemistry 
  • Research: Medicinal cannabis
  • Mentors: Dr. Ckless and Dr. Theisen

Kendra Freer, Class of 2023

  • Major: Biochemistry
  • Research: Computational biochemistry
  • Mentor: Dr. Theisen

Augusta Kramer, Class of 2023

  • Major: Chemistry
  • Ph.D. candidate at SUNY Buffalo
  • Research: Chemistry quantum calculation
  • Mentor: Dr. Morello

Rochelle LaForest, Class of 2023

  • Major: Chemistry
  • Ph.D. candidate, chemistry, Colorado State University
  • Research: Synthesis; chemistry quantum calculation
  • Mentors: Dr. Morello and Dr. Sunasee

Jason Nguyen, Class of 2021

  • Major: Biochemistry
  • Ph.D. candidate, biological sciences at Carnegie Mellon University
  • Research: Nanotechnology
  • Mentors: Dr. Ckless and Dr. Sunasee

Yusha Imtiaz, Class of 2020

  • Major: Biochemistry
  • Ph.D. candidate, chemistry at Emory University
  • Research: Nanotechnology
  • Mentors: Dr. Sunasee and Dr. Ckless

 

Publication Record with Undergraduate Students

Espino, I. N., Drolet, J., Jones, T., Uwechue, A., Koehler, B., Beaird, R., Maione, S., Darrah, C., Hijazi, R., James, C., Dupre, A., Koscinski, E., Creft, L., Giampaolo, M., Bernier, A., & Theisen, K. E. (2024). Computational docking of FtsZ: Survey of promising antibiotic compounds. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, 39, 101796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101796

Donato, A., Nadkarni, S., Tiwari, L., Poran, S., Sunasee, R., & Ckless, K. (2024). Post-Sterilization Physicochemical Characterization and Biological Activity of Cellulose Nanocrystals Coated with PDDA. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 29(23), 5600. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29235600

Khandelwal, N. S., Mulualem, M. F., & Theisen, K. E. (2024). Growth mindset as a student support tool during a pandemic. Journal of Chemical Education, 101(4), 1499–1506. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00854

Tobias, T., Doran, C., Nguyen, H., Kumar, S., Corley, W., Sunasee, R., & Ckless, K. (2023). In vitro immune and redox response induced by cationic cellulose-based nanomaterials. Toxicology in Vitro: an international journal published in association with BIBRA, 91, 105616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tiv.2023.105616

Nguyen, H. Nguyen, H. P.M., Bernier A., Chandradat R., Sunasee R., Ckless K. (2023). Impact of physiological media and sterilization methods on the physicochemical characteristics of engineered CNCs, and the effects on nanomaterial-protein interactions and immunological activity. Colloid and Interface Science Communications, 52, 100684, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colcom.2022.100684

Bernier, A., Tobias, T., Nguyen, H., Kumar, S., Tuga, B., Imtiaz, Y., Smith, C. W., Sunasee, R., & Ckless, K. (2021). Vascular and Blood Compatibility of Engineered Cationic Cellulose Nanocrystals in Cell-Based Assays. Nanomaterials, 11(8), 2072. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11082072

Imtiaz, Y., Tuga, B., Smith, C. W., Rabideau, A., Nguyen, L., Liu, Y., Hrapovic, S., Ckless, K., & Sunasee, R. (2020). Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Studies of Wood-Based Cationic Cellulose Nanocrystals as Potential Immunomodulators. Nanomaterials, 10(8), 1603. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10081603

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