Undergraduate Summer Research Projects:

"Optical Profilometry Characterization of Polymethylmethacrylate thin films deposited by Ambient Chemical Vapor Deposition"

I studied the process variables such as initiator temperature and reactant flow rate on free radical polymerization mechanisms.  

The specific system studied was methyl methacrylate initiated by t-butoxide.  

Mentored & Advised by: Prof. Mitchell Anthamatten.

Sponsored by: 3M.

"Synthesis, characterization and use of citrate-stabilized silver colloids for improved cost-effectiveness in methods of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cleanup"

This work sought to develop an approach to utilize the selective binding properties of gold nanoparticles for DNA filtration purposes in a high-throughput post-PCR processing environment.  

Silanization reactions of various materials, including AHAP-TMS onto a borosilicate surface and subsequent annealing with citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles were performed.  

Mentored & Advised by: Prof. Lewis J. Rothberg.

Sponsored by: NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) - Chemistry with Diffinity Genomics collaboration.