TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The 2005 Summer Undergraduate Research Participation 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.

This year’s participants included:

Georgia College & State University student Ashley Baena (left) of Fayetteville, Ga., is working on nanoparticles in mesoporous matrices for photoxidation of pollutants. Georgia Southern University student Sarah Higgins (right) of Cumming, Ga., is studying Lewis acid-mediated catalytic carbocupration of alkynoates.

Tuskegee University student Rozlyn Chambliss (left) is studying the mass spectrometry of metallopeptides. University of South Alabama student Hector Adam Velazquez (right) of Mobile is studying computational chemistry.

Winona State University student John Broberg (left) of Waseca, Minn., is developing new organic chemistry synthetic methods. University of Kansas student Kevin O’Halloran (middle) of Olathe, Kansas, is studying novel ligands for palladium-catalyzed reactions. Trinity Western University student Kiera Reifschneider (right) of Poulsbo, Wash., is testing bioremediation activity by gas-chromatography mass-spectroscopy.

Middle Tennessee State University student Jerry Oxsher of Smyrna, Tenn., is studying crystal engineering for use in materials chemistry.

Birmingham Southern College student Alissa Carey (left) of Birmingham (zip code 35209) is studying biopolymer matrix composites utilizing ionic liquids. Georgetown College student Tonya Morgan of Owenton, Ky., is studying crystallization in ionic liquids.

UA student Jacob Batson (left) of Tuscaloosa is modeling biochemistry towards drugs for Type II Diabetes. University of Montevallo student Blake Lovely (right) of Jasper is developing magnetic nanoparticle treatments for cancer therapy.

At right, teachers (L-R) Shari E. Jones of Greensboro, Jacqueline White of Tuscaloosa, Virginia Cole of Tuscaloosa and Janis Mabry of Northport are participating in the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for High School Teachers Program at UA. Jones, a teacher at A.L. Johnson High School, is working on magnetic nanoparticles for cancer therapy. White, a teacher from Arkon High School, is working on separation of carotenoids. Cole, a teacher at Central High School, is working on applications of computers in chemistry. Mabry, a science teacher from Tuscaloosa County High School, is working on preparation of nanoparticles.