David Corcoran of Oak Forest, Diana Harms of Joliet, Dr. Patty Fu-Giles of Governors State University, and Rahul Khanke of University Park at the American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition held in Boston, MA. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)
University Park, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Governors State University Master of Science students are also making their mark on the world of chemistry research. Throughout the past year, students studying analytical chemistry at GSU have demonstrated their academic and research achievements through presentations at national conferences.
“Our students get invaluable experience presenting their research at conferences,” said Dr. Patty Fu-Giles, assistant professor of chemistry at GSU. “They gain confidence explaining the worth of their research project and answering the questions of other chemists.”
Four of Fu-Giles’ students presented at the 240th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition held in Boston, MA, in August. Rahul Khanke and Sheetal Gangula,
both of University Park, gave an oral presentation on their respective research into different uses of photodynamic therapies.
Diana Harms of Joliet and David Corcoran of Oak Forest gave a poster presentation of their research into life cell imaging. Harms and Corcoran have been invited to present their research at the Pacific Chemical International Conference in Hawaii in December 2010.
“This conference is sponsored by global chemical societies and is held only every five years. Generally master’s candidates are not asked to present at this conference,” said Fu-Giles. “This is an achievement for both our students and the university.”
Fu-Giles has also been asked to present her research at the conference. She will discuss a comparative study of the toxic effects of lawsone, the principal coloring agent in henna, when it is exposed to sunlight. “This research explains why so many people who get the henna tattoos while on vacations in sunny climates have serious skin reactions to the dye,” said Fu- Giles
Fu-Giles also noted that recent graduate, Priyanka Kotha of University Park, presented at the American Society of Photobiology conference in June at Brown University in Rhode Island. Her presentation was on her research into the development of new photodynamic agents and methods to promote wound healing in chronic wounds.
In May, 11 GSU chemistry students presented at the 41st Central Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Dayton Ohio. The presenters were Srikanth Banda, Sarika Jaggannagari Brahmananda, Devi Kalyan Karumanchi, Lakshmi S. P. Guttikonda, Alex Blinder,
Varun Chander Reddy Lenkala, Sheetal Gangula, Bhargav Guntupalli, Sreekanth Penumetsa, Jyothirmaye Bandaru, Rahul Khanke, all of University Park.
