Current Undergraduate Research Opportunities
This page contains a list of professors who currently have room for undergraduate researchers to begin through Spring 2018 semester. Here are the instructions for students to find a faculty member to do research with.
- It is the responsibility of the student to browse through the available projects. Pay attention to the minimum requirements expected by each professor to ensure that you meets their requirements.
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Click here to Apply to meet with each professor you're interested in
It is recommended that students apply for more than one professor. There is no pressure to join a group simply by meeting with a professor, but you should always come prepared for the meeting. If you do not hear a response after two weeks, please send the professor a reminder email to set up a meeting.
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Between your application submission and professor meeting:read at least one of the articles on the "Related Literature" for each project of interest. This will prepare you to discuss the relevent research with the professor during the interview. Refer to the "How to Read a Scientific Publication" article, which will assist you in understanding the technical terms.
- Meeting with the faculty researcher: come prepared with the pre-read research article, questions you have for them about their research and the work you may be doing in their lab, what you will be able to contribute to their lab. Be confident!
Deadline to receieve UROP funding can be found at our.utah.edu/urop. In order to apply for this funding, it is encouraged that students are currently working in a lab. Students will need to find other forms of credit (volunteering, class credit, etc). This page is updated between the semesters.
**Please see the Useful Resources column to learn more about How to Read a Scientific Publication, Interview Skills, Resume/CV Building Workshops, and UROP Information. Feel free to make an appointment with the chemistry advisors, Tascha and Emily, for any helpful tips and information.
Project Description: The need for an analytical method capable of small-molecule detection and quantification for the purpose of diagnostics, detection of illicit substances, and environmental screening is clear. Antibodies, with their chemical specificity and high affinity, are exceptionally suited for bio-specific detection and quantification. However, utilizing antibodies for the direct label-free detection of low molecular weight substances in a noncompetitive immunoassay or sandwich assay format represents a major technical challenge. We are implementing laser-based nonlinear optical methods for the development of a a highly sensitive, label-free immunoassay which will rival current methods.
Related Literature (required reading)
Area of Chemistry: Analytical
Role of Student Researcher: Sample prep., exposure to immunological methods, laser -based spectroscopies.
Minimum number of semesters to be dedicated to project: 2
Minimum number of hours/week required: 8 hrs/wk
Minimum requirements (Skills, prerequisite coursework, etc.): CHEM 3000, CHEM 5700
Potential Form of Work Credit:
- Volunteer
- Complete an Honors Thesis
- Earn Class Credit
Project Description: Research in the Morse group is directed toward obtaining a better understanding of chemical bonding in reactive molecules containing transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides. Our main current project is to measure the bond dissociation energies of these metals bonded to main group atoms. Very often the electronic spectra of small transition metal molecules are extremely congested and uninterpretable, particularly as one moves to higher photon energies. In many cases, the spectra recorded using the resonant two-photon ionization technique come to an abrupt end at a threshold energy, because the excited molecules fall apart faster than a second photon can be absorbed that can ionize them. In favorable cases, this allows us to measure the bond energy in the molecule to incredibly accuracy.
Related Literature (required reading): Will be supplied by Prof. Morse upon request.
Area of Chemistry: Physical
Role of Student Researcher: The student will work with graduate students on all phases of the project, learning to mix gas cylinders, operate the lasers, and troubleshoot problems in the instrumentation. Students with programming skills will be able to write code to interface lasers to the data collection programs. When spectra are obtained, students will be involved in the calibration and analysis of the spectra.
Minimum number of semesters to be dedicated to project: 2
Minimum number of hours/week required: 5 hrs/wk
Minimum requirements (Skills, prerequisite coursework, etc.): Recommended prerequisites:
CHEM 3060 or experience/aptitude in programming
Potential Form of Work Credit:
- Volunteer
- Prepare a UROP Proposal
- Complete an Honors Thesis
- Earn Class Credit
Project Description:
1) Measurement of alkali cation affinities of aliphatic amino acids
2) Measurement of hydration enthalpies of metal dications
3) Reactions of transition, lanthanide, and actinide metal cations
Related Literature (required reading)
- Hydration Enthalpies of Ba2+(H2O)x, x = 1 – 8: A Threshold Collision-Induced Dissociation and Computational Investigation
- Activation of CH4 by Th+ as Studied by Guided Ion Beam Mass Spectrometry and Quantum Chemistry
- Metal Cation Dependence of Interactions with Amino Acids: Bond Dissociation Energies of Rb+ and Cs+ to the Acidic Amino Acids and Their Amide Derivatives
Area of Chemistry: Physical
Role of Student Researcher: Perform research, analyze data, perform calculations, and write up results
Minimum number of semesters to be dedicated to project: 1-4
Minimum number of hours/week required: 10
Minimum requirements (Skills, prerequisite coursework, etc.): Physical chemistry is a real plus
Potential Form of Work Credit:
- Volunteer
- Potential Paid Position
- Work Study
- Prepare a UROP Proposal
- Complete an Honors Thesis
- Earn Class Credit
Project Description: A new type of single nanoparticle mass spectrometry is used to study surface chemistry and optical properties of nanoparticles.
Related Literature (required reading)
- Kinetics of catalytic oxidation of ethylene over palladium oxide
- Single Nanoparticle Mass Spectrometry as a High Temperature Kinetics Tool: Sublimation, Oxidation, and Emission Spectra of Hot Carbon Nanoparticles
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In situ X-ray Scattering and Dynamical Modeling of Pd Catalyst Nanoparticles Formed in Flames
Area of Chemistry: Analytical, Physical
Role of Student Researcher: Work on experiment with graduate students
Minimum number of semesters to be dedicated to project: 2
Minimum number of hours/week required: 8 hrs/wk
Minimum requirements (Skills, prerequisite coursework, etc.): Physical Chemistry
- Volunteer
- Prepare a UROP Proposal
- Earn Class Credit
Project Description: Solution synthesis of metal chalcogenide nanostructures. Students involve in this project are expected to devote a rigorous amount of time on the synthesis of new materials, characterization, and device fabrication. Expectations are extremely high!
Related Literature (required reading)
- CuSbS2 as a Promising Earth-Abundant Photovoltaic Absorber Material: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study
- Structural and electronic properties of CuSbS2 and CuBiS2: potential absorber materials for thin-film solar cells
- Thin film solar cell based on CuSbS2 absorber fabricated from an electrochemically deposited metal stack
Area of Chemistry: Inorganic, Materials
Role of Student Researcher: Synthesis, characterization, and device fabrication
Minimum number of semesters to be dedicated to project: 2
Minimum number of hours/week required: 40 hrs/wk (over the summer), 15-20 hrs/wk (during fall and spring)
Minimum requirements (Skills, prerequisite coursework, etc.): Willingness to learn and take control of the project
Potential Form of Work Credit:
- Volunteer
- Potential Paid Position
- Work Study
- Prepare a UROP Proposal
- Complete an Honors Thesis
- Earn Class Credit
Project Description: Current research in Zharov Group is aimed at design and investigation of novel nanomaterials with applications in alternative energy and sustainability. The work is conducted in three main areas: (1) nanoporous colloidal membranes, (2) hybrid ion-conducting materials and (3) supercapacitors. Within these three areas, several new directions evolved recently or are evolving, including (1) self-assembled porous materials, (2) catalysis with surface-immobilized Au nanoclusters, (3) mixed matrix membranes for pervaporation, (4) carbon-based nanoporous materials for capacitive energy storage, and (5) applications of porous colloidal films in biosensing.
Related Literature (required reading)
Area of Chemistry: Materials
Role of Student Researcher: work with a graduate student on a project
Minimum number of semesters to be dedicated to project: 2
Minimum number of hours/week required: 10 hrs/wk
Minimum requirements (Skills, prerequisite coursework, etc.): None
Potential Form of Work Credit:
- Volunteer
- Work Study
- Prepare a UROP Proposal
- Complete an Honors Thesis
- Earn Class Credit
Project Description: Research in the Flynn group emphasizes studies of the structure and time-dependent structural fluctuations (dynamics) present in biologically active macromolecules (mostly proteins, but other molecules are examined as well). The main goal of the research is to understand how cellular conditions influence the physical behavior of complex molecules. The research combines modern methods in molecular biology (such as cloning, cell culturing, protein overexpression and purification) with high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies to privide a detailed view of molecules under both in vitro and cellular conditions.
Related Literature (required reading)
- Fast Local Backbone Dynamics of Encapsulated Ubiquitin
- Reverse Micelle Encapsulation as a Model for Intracellular Crowding
- Functional Implications for a Prototypical K-Turn Binding Protein from Structural and Dynamical Studies of 15.5K
Area of Chemistry: Analytical, Biological, Physical
Role of Student Researcher: Students play a central role - in this group undergraduate researchers fill the roles that are traditionally filled by grad students
Minimum number of semesters to be dedicated to project: 2 years if possible
Minimum number of hours/week required: 10 hrs/wk
Minimum requirements (Skills, prerequisite coursework, etc.): Most students enter near the end of their second year and have completed (most of) organic chemistry. Other highly motivated chemistry majors will be considered.
Potential Form of Work Credit:
- Volunteer
- Prepare a UROP Proposal
- Complete an Honors Thesis
- Earn Class Credit
Project Description: Our projects are focused on designing developing and using organic synthesis to address and gather information about issues of concern to those interested in chemistry, materials, biology, and medicine.
Related Literature (required reading)
- Voltage-sensor conformation shapes the intra-membrane drug binding site that determines gambierol affinity in Kv channels
- Nanoparticles for imaging, sensing, and therapeutic intervention
- Synthesis of the ABCDEF and FGHI ring system of yessotoxin and adriatoxin
Area of Chemistry: Organic
Role of Student Researcher: Synthesis, NMR, working both with a grad student and independently
Minimum number of semesters to be dedicated to project: 1
Minimum number of hours/week required: 10 hr/wk
Minimum requirements (Skills, prerequisite coursework, etc.): Interest in science, especially chemistry
Potential Form of Work Credit:
- Volunteer
- Paid Position
- Work Study
- Prepare a UROP Proposal
- Complete an Honors Thesis
- Earn Class Credit
Project description: Our projects are focused on utilizing ion mobility separations coupled to mass spectrometry for the analyses of biologically-relevant molecules.
Required literature: see www.nagylab.com for recent publications
Area of Chemistry: Analytical
Role of Student Researcher: sample preparation, IMS-MS, working with a grad student and independently
Minimum number of semesters to be dedicated to project: 1
Minimum number of hours/week required: 10 hr/wk
Minimum requirements (Skills, prerequisite coursework, etc.): Interest in science, especially chemistry
Project Description: Solution fabrication of 2D materials and characterization of temperature-dependent optoelectronic properties. Looking for motivated students interested in pursuing research in physical chemistry, materials chemistry, and materials science. Students must have large blocks of time in their schedule to devote to research (4-5 hours 2-3 times per week). Experience with programming languages (Python, Matlab, etc.) is a plus.
Related Literature (required reading)
- Melting Transitions of the Organic Subphase in Layered Two-Dimensional Halide Perovskites
- Two-Dimensional Hybrid Halide Perovskites: Principles and Promises
- Two-dimensional halide perovskite lateral epitaxial heterostructures
Area of Chemistry: Physical, Inorganic, Materials
Role of Student Researcher: Synthesis and characterization
Minimum number of semesters to be dedicated to project: 2
Minimum number of hours/week required: 40 hrs/wk (over the summer), 10-20 hrs/wk (during fall and spring)
Minimum requirements (Skills, prerequisite coursework, etc.): Willingness to learn, good communication skills
Potential Form of Work Credit:
- Volunteer
- Potential Paid Position
- Work Study
- Prepare a UROP Proposal
- Complete an Honors Thesis
- Earn Class Credit
Resources
How to Read a Scientific Publication
Refer to this article as you read each publication. It will help you understand and critically assess the content of the literature.
Meet with our Career Coach - Crystal Cory - to get help with the following:
- Resume/CV Review
- Interviewing Help
- Networking
Get Paid to Do Research with UROP
Once you have found a professor to work with, you can apply to the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and get paid up $1200 for two semesters - check with OUR for current details.