Students Research
Research opportunities are available by arrangement with various research groups through two routes: research credits and as an internship opportunity.
Research Credits
Research Credits can be received through Chem 392 (Special Problems in Chemistry) or Chem 492 (Senior Research) or for biochemistry majors BIMD 494 and graduate students Chem 599. In these courses, each student is assigned (upon request by the student) to a specific research group, to work closely with faculty members and other researchers (See below Research with UND faculty for specific projects and contacts). The total credits for Chem 392 may not exceed 3 credits. The recommended Chem 392 starting time is the sophomore year. Starting the senior year, students should take Chem 492. Submission of a comprehensive final report is part of the Chem 495 Capstone course for 3 credits (also recognized as Advanced Communication credit). The Chem 492 may be repeated for up to 6 credits.
All students are expected to complete responsible conduct of research training.
Summer Research
Another option is to apply for summer research programs, such as the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) or other agency. Students are typically granted stipends and assistance with housing and travel. Students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.
For other summer undergraduate research placements in over 800 programs see Pathways to Science.
Research with UND Faculty
Focus on characterization of complex matrices using chromatographic mass spectrometric methods:
Research mentor: Alena Kubatova
- Chemical characterization of renewable chemicals from lignin
- investigation of organic constituents of air particulate matter
- LC-MS determination of resveratrol antioxidant in rat liver tissue
Nanoscience and nanotechnology:
Research mentor: Julia Zhao
- Development of fluorescent nanomaterials for bioanalysis and bioimaging
- Development of various-nanomaterials for oil recovery and catalysis
- Development of graphene-based nanomaterials for detection of trace analytes
- Fundamental studies on nanoscience and nanotechnology
Trace metal analysis:
Research mentor: David Pierce
- Trace Metal analysis of environmental samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Investigation applied reaction pathways:
Research mentor: Jenya Kozliak (in collaboration with Dr. Kubatova)
- Study of wood aging (with Marvin Windows, Inc) using thermal desorption-pyrolysis with gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
- Pathways of PAH formation in pyrolytic/combustion processes
Sustainable materials, photochemistry, and organic synthesis:
Research mentor: Qianli 'Rick' Chu
- Synthesis of sustainable materials from renewables
- Development of photochemistry
- Study and application of supramolecular chirality
Catalyst development:
Research mentor: Irina Smoliakova
- Preparation and characterization of new enantiopure Pd(II) complexes
- Development of new catalysts for C-C bond forming reactions
Biodegradable polymers synthesis and catalysts:
Research mentor: Guodong Du
- Synthesis and Development of (Bio)degradable Polymers
- Polymers with various compositions and architectures
- Utilization of carbon dioxide and flare gas
- Green Chemistry and Catalysis
Research mentor: Mark Hoffmann
- Computational combustion chemistry
- Computational surface chemistry
Research mentor:Tao Yu
- Computational biochemistry biophysics and drug design
- Computational materials
- Moleculer device for clean energy
- Machine learning for materials design
- More info on research: Apply computational simulation methods to understand the mechanism of interesting processes in biological and material systems to address challenging energy and environment related problems. Also, machine learning and deep learning techniques are used to design novel molecules or materials for medical and energy applications.
Research mentor: Jerome Delhommelle
- Protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases
- Carbon dioxide capture in metal organic frameworks
- DNA-grafted nanoparticles
- Crystallization of pharmaceutical drugs
Research mentor: Min Wu
- The molecular mechanisms of P. aeruginosa (PA) respiratory infection and its relationship with airway inflammation (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD).
- The fundamental mechanisms of stem cell/progenitor differentiation, tissue repair, immunity, and homeostasis via knockout mice, siRNA, miRNA, advanced microscopy and chromatin immunoprecipitation.
Research mentor: Archana Dhasarathy
- The role of epigenetic events in cancer metastasis, and particularly, a process known as ‘Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition’ (EMT), which causes cells to change their shape and migrate.
- DNA-protein interactions leading to gene regulation, including next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics.
Research mentor: James Foster
- Examination of the regulation of the dopamine transporter by the fatty acid modification, S-palmitoylation using various biochemical methods.
- Dysregulation of brain dopamine homeostasis via altered dopamine transporter function associated with schizophrenia, depression, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), drug abuse and Parkinson's disease.
Research mentor: Keith Henry
- The interaction between antidepressants and drugs of abuse such as ecstasy, amphetamine, cocaine and bath salts with the serotonin and dopamine transporters using molecular, biochemical and pharmacological methods.
- Understanding long-lasting epigenetic changes in the brain that occur upon early life exposure to antidepressants and how these changes result in altered adult behavior.