A total of 14 Elizabethtown College students and A.C. Baugher Professor of Chemistry, James A. MacKay attended the five-day American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting in New Orleans, La. in late March.

“Having the opportunity to meet chemists with broad ranges of experience levels and learn about the leading research taking place across the world was absolutely incredible,” Elizabethtown College Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, Ashley Burger ’24 said. “Being in an environment where chemistry professionals can come together for collaboration, innovation, and networking was an invaluable experience for every Etown student that attended.”

Burger, who is the president of Etown’s Student Affiliates of the ACS chapter, accepted an honorable mention award for the club’s activity last year at the ACS Annual Awards Ceremony.

A group of students stands outside

Before the ACS meeting began, Etown students had the chance to visit several historical sites in New Orleans.

Etown students and professors spent their time at the conference presenting their research and listening to academic, government, and industry speakers and presentations throughout the event. The Blue Jays attended the first three days of the conference, attending the undergraduate programming, which included professional development and networking opportunities as well as sessions on how to prepare for graduate school and the workforce.

Before the meeting formally began, students had the opportunity to visit notable sites in New Orleans, including the New Orleans Jazz Museum, a Mardi-Gras Museum, a National Basketball Association New Orleans Pelicans game, a St. Patrick’s Day parade, while also finding time to enjoy plenty of Cajun food.

“My favorite part of the trip was exploring the city and attending talks about various applications of chemistry,” Chemistry major Isaac Kraenbring ’25 said. “This was a great way to gain experience presenting to others, and I am very grateful to have gone on this trip with the Chemistry Department and represent Etown.”

MacKay gave an oral presentation to a full audience within a session of the Division of Organic Chemistry focused on Nucleic Acids, Carbohydrates, Peptides, and Lipids.

“While presenting my research at professional meetings is an important part of my scholarship, I typically treat this meeting as an opportunity to mentor our students,” MacKay said. “For undergraduates to experience the immense scale of this national meeting is a highlight of our Etown curriculum. Each year, our students work tirelessly in their research, not always appreciating the excellence of their own work. Upon attending the meeting and seeing research around the globe by peers, I frequently witness our students grow in confidence and pride in the work they have accomplished.”

Students presented at undergraduate poster sessions hosted by the Division of Chemical Education. In addition, Kyla DeWittie ’24 presented in a special session on nanomaterials and Tristan Mabee ’24 and Jennah Hoke ’25 presented to the Division of Organic Chemistry.

Presentations:

  • Development of Nanoparticle Sensor for Detection of Copper in Drinking Water – Kyle Ament ’24
  • Synthesis of Vanadyl-Based Coordination Complexes as Potential GLUT4 Translocation Signal Molecules in Preadipocyte Cells – Ashley Burger ’24 and Nicholas Erisman ’24
  • Expression of the oncoviral protein SV40 T-antigen and sensitization to ER stress and ferroptosis – Ethan Campbell ’24 and Isabella Goebel ’24
  • Synthesis of rhodamine B derived colorimetric probes for use in a lateral flow assay for detection of Hg(II) – Justin Cosgrove ’25
  • Synthesis of asymmetrically substituted tetraphenyl-class porphyrins – William Davis ’24
  • Development of Polymer Nanoparticle Sensor for Detection of Lead(II) in Water – Kyla DeWittie ’24
  • Synthesis of an amino functionalized extended nucleobase for recognition of the U-A base pair in double-helical RNA – Angelina Giglio-Tos ’25
  • Synthesis, Photophysical, and Anion-Sensing Studies of Luminescent Osmium (II) Complex and its Incorporation into a Metal-Organic Framework – Isaac Kraenbring ’25
  • Design and synthesis of isoorotic acid-derived PNA nucleobases with extended linkers for triple helical U-A recognition in RNA – Jennah Hoke ’25 and Tristan Mabee ’24
  • Optimization of the Control Line on a Lateral Flow Assay for Lead (II) Detection in Drinking Water – Yudeliz Sanchez ’25 and Ryan Smith ’25
  • Isoorotic acid derived triplex-forming peptide nucleic acids as ligands for the selective recognition of complex folded RNAs (oral presentation) – Dr. James A. MacKay