Chemistry and biochemistry majors Kaiden Salaz ’26, Alex Dow ’26, Ian Becher ’26, Saki’a Rivers ’26, Maddie Bridges ’26, and Kayla Moody ’26 presented posters and Assistant Professor of Chemistry Sara Massey gave an invited talk at the American Chemical Society Southeast/Southwest Regional Meeting in Orlando, FL in October. Student presentations resulted from research done with Massey, Professor of Chemistry Emily Niemeyer, and Assistant Professor of Chemistry Chelsea Massaro, who also attended the conference.

Professor of Chemistry Emily Niemeyer and Southwestern graduates Mattigan Aga ’25 and Holly Lawson ’23 published a research article titled “Plant maturity differentially affects the phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of green basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars.” The article is part of a special issue that highlights undergraduate research in the American Chemical Society’s journal ACS Omega. The work was supported by The Welch Foundation and Southwestern’s Herbert and Kate Dishman endowment. The open-access article is available to read here.

Professor of Chemistry Emily Niemeyer and Southwestern graduates Haley White ’20, Bailey Meyer ’20, Jared McCormack ’22, and Holly Lawson ’23 published a research article titled “Comparison of culinary and ceremonial matcha green teas: relationship between phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties” in the Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization. The research was supported by The Welch Foundation and Southwestern’s Herbert and Kate Dishman endowment. The open access article is available to read here.

Ashlyn Cadena ’27, Olive Forrest ’26, Andres Garza ’27, Amanda Mejia ’27, Olivia Johnson ’26, and Professor of Chemistry Emily Niemeyer attended the 2024 National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM Scholars and Principal Investigator Meeting in Chicago, IL. In addition to interacting with other S-STEM Scholars from around the country and attending workshops and professional development sessions, three Scholars presented their research in conference sessions. Garza’s poster, titled “Laser induced synthesis of cobalt oxide oxygen evolution catalysts,” described work he completed during a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at Texas State University. Mejia presented a poster, “Granular hydrogel synthesis for comparable in vitro model of brain parenchyma tissue,” which is based on her ongoing research with Assistant Professor of Physics Cody Crosby. Cadena’s poster, “Perimeter Minimizing Rectangles in R2 with density M|x| + N|y|,” described her collaborative research with other Southwestern math students, Associate Professor of Mathematics John Ross, and Adjunct Professor of Mathematics Lauren Ross.

Biochemistry major Samantha (Sam) Hazen ’26 has been selected as a finalist for the American Chemical Society (ACS) Agricultural and Food Chemistry Division (AGFD) Undergraduate Poster Competition. As part of the award, Sam will receive $1,000 in travel expenses to attend the spring ACS National Meeting in San Diego, CA, where she will present her poster, titled “Comparison of phenolic composition, flavonoid content, and antioxidant properties among cacao nibs sourced from different origins.” The poster is based on research that Sam is completing with Professor of Chemistry Emily Niemeyer. The ACS AGFD competition was created to showcase the research talents of undergraduate students, and all finalists participate in a poster symposium with the possibility of winning additional cash prizes.