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USNA Chemistry Department Research Project Courses - The Capstone Option

USNA Chemistry Department Research Project Courses - The Capstone Option.

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USNA Chemistry Department Research Project Courses - The Capstone Option

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  1. USNA Chemistry DepartmentResearch Project Courses - The Capstone Option

  2. From the Dean’s Office:- Provides an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to a real problem.- Provides an opportunity to get significant hands-on experience.- Provides an opportunity to earn credits through dynamic involvement rather than traditional coursework. Why Offer Project Courses? We believe so strongly in the benefits of such experiences that completion of a Senior Project is required of all Chemistry majors.

  3. Capstone vs. Research

  4. Capstone vs. Research Research – highly specialized - small (but essential) part of a big picture - you contribute, but usually not your own overall plan - chance to see/do something NO ONE ever did before - product meant for dissemination to wider scientific community Capstone – closer to past experience - “Special Project”on steroids - you can answer a question COMPLETELY - you can pick YOUR OWN question and design entire plan - might not be completely new, but definitely new to you - can provide chance to improve lab experience for future classes Both – draw upon, and build upon, previous classroom/lab experience - exciting, boring, easy, difficult, triumphant, frustrating,novel, repetitive – maybe all in one day! - very educational and rewarding overall

  5. Capstone vs. Research - How to Choose? Consider the coursework - What elective courses may be available; how do they match your interests and time available? Consider the projects - Do any faculty research projects stir particular interest, or do you like the Capstone projects or have an idea of your own that you want to pursue? Consider your own personality - how well do your interests, your goals, and the way you like to approach problems match the different options?

  6. Possible Elective Courses* Fall 2014 CHEMISTRY / BIOLOGY ELECTIVES SC287: Qualitative Bonding Theory (3-0-3) - LT Hamilton SC351 X-Ray Structure Determination (2-2-3) - Assoc. Prof. Pearson SB453: Neuroscience and Developmental Biology (3-2-4) – Asst. Prof. Isaac SC485A: Electrochemical Applications for Energy Harvesting, Storage, and Delivery (3-0-3) - CDR Calhoun SC485B: Nobel Endeavors (3-0-3) – Assoc. Prof. Smith SC485C: Does the Chemistry Make Sense and How to Explain It (3-0-3) Prof. Whitaker for more details go to http://www.usna.edu/ChemDept/_files/documents/electives/AY2015%20Elective%20offerings.pdf * availability of any elective course depends on enrollment; not all electives count towards Chemistry major requirements

  7. Possible Elective Courses* Spring 2015 CHEMISTRY / BIOLOGY ELECTIVES SB338: Molecular and General Genetics (3-0-3) – Asst. Prof. Isaac SC336: Biochemistry II (3-0-3) – Asst. Prof. Sweet SC412: Environmental Chemistry (3-0-3) – Assoc. Prof. Siefert SC486C: Organic Chemistry of Biological Processes and Medicinal Applications (3-0-3) – Assoc. Prof. Gutteridge for more details go to http://www.usna.edu/ChemDept/_files/documents/electives/AY2015%20Elective%20offerings.pdf * availability of any elective course depends on enrollment; not all electives count towards Chemistry major requirements

  8. Past capstone students in Lab • Capstone meets 2 x 3 hrs/week in lab • Similar to your IL3 special project experience Extraction equipment, tomato paste sample Hops and malt for beer, GC column

  9. Some Previous Capstone Projects The Leaching of Nitrate and Phosphate from Fertilizers Kim Lahnala and Paul Lietzan (’09) How much nitrate and phosphate from fertilizers are absorbed by soil and how much are carried away by runoff? algal bloom off Ireland

  10. Classification and Identification of Blue and Black Ink Found in Common Pens Candice Luby and Dane Thorleifson (’09) Field trip to FBI-DC “unknown inks” Can inks be characterized by their chemical components? What is the best experimental method to do this? Techniques used: Extraction, MALDI-MS, TLC, GC-MS

  11. Determination of Trace Metals in Bancroft Hall Drinking Fountain Water Britney Conkel and Nicole Glab (’12) Copper results by Wing Lead results by Wing 5th Wing water, anyone? .

  12. Other Previous Capstone Projects • Investigation of Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity and Stability of Staphylococcal Nuclease Felipe Grimaldo, Adrian J. Mora (’07) • Effect of Cooking Methods on Anti-Oxidant Activity in Broccoli R.J. Hetrick, Emily Conard (’12) • Development of Forensic Tools for Smoke Residue and Deposition Analysis Seamus Cobb, Sean Wade (’08)

  13. Chemical and Biological Studies of Fermentation Chad Theriault, Charles King (’09) Synthetic Fuel Characterization Antoinette Carter, Sidney Norwood (’09) Home-Built Fluorimeter Daniel Abney, Rick Murphy (’11) Determination of Anti-Oxidants in Foods via the Briggs-Rauscher Oscillating Reaction Jordan Armstrong, Christopher Hood (’13) Other Previous Capstone Projects

  14. Class of ‘14 Capstone Students and Projects 1/C Michael Buck, Joshua Escobar  Quantification of Antioxidant Capacity in Teas by EPR and UV/VIS Spectroscopy 1/C Alexander Pybus, Cassidy West- Santos Synthesis and Characterization of a Soluble Biomimetic Carbon Monoxide Sensor 1/C Justin Dion Plebe Laboratory Development – Metallurgy of Copper by Ancient Methods

  15. So Why Choose Capstone? • Only 1 semester, less lab hours (overall), shorter project, smaller time commitment • The experience is just like research – you plan your experiments, solve your own problems, make your own decisions • You can pursue your own interests (if you want), not a faculty member’s • You don’t need to find a research mentor • None of the faculty research areas interests you • More chances to select Chemistry electives (2) • More collaboration (part of a class/team), less on your own • Some projects can qualify for Bioscience designation

  16. Resources to Help you Decide • Chem website, Majors, Research/Capstone Projects http://www.usna.edu/ChemDept/ChemMajor/capstone.php • Policies, requirements for both • Capstone Projects offered for Class of 2014 • Chem website, Majors, Chem Electives for AY15http://www.usna.edu/ChemDept/_files/documents/electives/AY2015%20Elective%20offerings.pdf • Chem website, Faculty Info – Research Interests http://www.usna.edu/ChemDept/faculty/index.php • 1/C chemistry majors, chemistry faculty, your Ac adviser, posters around department

  17. What do I do for Pre-Registration ?(28 Jan – 31 Jan) • If you know you want to do Research, pre-register for SC495. • (you will need to find a faculty advisor and write a proposal which is due by Registration on14 Apr) • If you know you want to do Capstone, select a chemistry elective for fall, or another course if you want 2 electives in the spring. • (talk to your Academic Adviser to plan your courses) • If you’re unsure, it’s better to pre-reg for an elective now, then if you want to choose research, you can change to that later (before Registration). • If you have already pre-registered and want to change, ask your Adviser for help.

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