Honors Day 2008 Student Profiles
Justin T. Roop
Justin Roop is an upcoming Senior expected to graduate in the spring of 2009. His current cumulative GPA is 3.5 as he pursues an American Chemistry Society-certified Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He is advised by Dr. Michael Sepaniak. His undergraduate research will begin this summer as he begins work in Dr. Craig Barnes' inorganic chemistry lab where he will be exploring synthesis of homogeneous catalysts. Plans for graduate school are still undecided, but Justin hopes to stay at the University of Tennessee throughout the remainder of his academic career. In his spare time, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and three dogs. He is also active in his church as a member of the drama team at Crossroads Christ Fellowship. Justin was honored to receive the Judson Hall Roberston Memorial Award in Analytical Chemistry in 2008.
Justin C.E. Reno
Justin is a senior at the University of Tennessee who currently has a 4.0 GPA majoring in chemistry. From the start of the second semester of his sophomore year until present, he has worked with Dr. Michael Best synthesizing lipid probes designed to study cellular surface interactions. Justin mentors three elementary students each week and has volunteered several hours at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Since 2005, he has made six week long trips to rural Appalachia for emergency home repair through the Appalachian Service Project organization. During the summer, Justin is going to be a Resident Assistant for Governor's School for Science and Engineering, which he also did last summer. Next fall, Justin plans on combining his love of science and passion for the Appalachian culture by doing the Rural Primary Care Track at East Tennessee State University's Quillen College of Medicine. During his time in Knoxville, Justin has been awarded the C.A. Buehler Award for Chemistry, the D.A. Shirley Award in Organic Chemistry, the Undergraduate Award for Physical Chemistry, a Chancellor's Summer Internship, a Pfizer Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, and an Extraordinary Achievement Award. Upon graduation, Justin has been named a Top Graduate in the Natural Sciences and an Outstanding Graduate in Chemistry.
William B. O'Dell
William Brad O'Dell - Brad is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences College Scholars Program and is mentored by Dr. Fred Schell. Brad's current research in the Department of Chemistry, which is supervised by Dr. David C. Baker and Dr. Sylvia Mclain, Spallation Neutron Source, ORNL, involves the investigation of the aqueous behavior of small biomolecules with a particular interest in model cellulose compounds. The research opportunities and a 3.99 GPA have lead to Brad receiving both the chemistry department's David A. Shirley Award in organic chemistry and a research grant awarded by the UT Chancellor's Honors Program. This spring Brad was also named a Barry M. Goldwater scholar. Brad's postgraduate plans at this point include graduate study in either physical chemistry or materials.
Matthew D. Smith
Matthew Smith is a 4th year graduate student in the research lab of Dr. Michael Best. Matt holds a 3.8 GPA in his graduate coursework and has been a teaching assistant for Chemistry 369 for the past several semesters. Matt anticipates graduating with his Ph.D. in May 2009 and has recently presented his graduate work at the 235th ACS meeting in New Orleans, LA in April (2008). When asked about Matt and his work as a teaching assistant, the course instructor said "He has the unique ability to develop close but professional relationships with students, even under difficult circumstances." Dr. Best, Matt's advisor says, "Matt is a highly conscientious and enthusiastic individual in all aspects of his graduate career, including his teaching." Matt was previously awarded the Department's D.A. Shirley Award in Organic Chemistry and the Outstanding Departmental Service Award. Matt has submitted his first publication and it is under review.
Kasey L. Hill
Kasey Hill is currently a 4th year graduate student in the research lab of Dr. Michael Sepaniak. Kasey’s research includes the development and optimization of real-time, label-free biosensors based on ligand-induced nanomechanical responses of microcantilevers. She has numerous presentations regarding her research and has one successful publication and one manuscript submitted for publication. In addition to her strong research she is strong academically with a graduate GPA of 3.75. Her advisor described her as “...a dedicated, bright, and motivated student with a great promise for a highly successful career as a Ph.D. chemist.”
Andrew B. Dykstra
Andrew Dysktra is currently completing his second year in the graduate program. Andrew’s academic record is outstanding as he has a graduate GPA of 4.0. As a second year student under the direction of Dr. Kelsey Cook, Andrew will make a presentation at the American Society for Mass Spectrometry Conference this June. In addition to his research and academic abilities Andrew is also one of the Department’s student operators in the Center for Mass Spectrometry. Dr. Cook says that Andrews is extraordinary in that he has a trio of strengths: academics, research and departmental service.
Michael K. Gilbert
Michael “Kris” Gilbert is a 3rd year graduate student doing research in the lab of Dr. Frank Vogt. Kris as he is known in the Department has earned a cumulative GPA of 4.0 and expects to graduate in Fall of 2009. Kris has numerous publications in journals such as: Journal of Chemometrics, Journal of Chemical Education, and Analytical Chemistry. In addition to his publication he has several presentations at both Pittcon and FACSS. Kris has taken a unique responsibility in being a teaching assistant for the Educational Advancement Program (EAP) section of General Chemistry. This teaching assignment entails addition duties and responsibilities than a normal section of General Chemistry. In 2007 he was awarded the C.W. Keenan Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award for his work with the EAP course. When asked about Kris, his advisor Dr. Vogt says, “I consider myself very lucky to have such a strong student like Kris in my research group.”
Ashleigh L. Prince
Ashleigh Prince is currently completing her second year in the graduate program. Ashleigh’s has a graduate GPA of 3.5 and is doing research with Dr. Shane Foister. Ashleigh’s hard work in the lab has allowed the Foister lab to “make significant progress on three different research projects” and her advisor is excited that “she will be writing her first publication in early summer (2008).” She has become well versed in use of the labs peptide synthesizer, microplate reader, HPLC, three different mass spectrometers, and two of the departments available NMRs. She also takes the time out of her busy research and teaching responsibilities to train people in her group and in the department on the use of the instruments she has mastered.
Dr. George Schweitzer
Dr. Schweitzer earned his B.A. in chemistry from Central College in 1945, his M.S. in chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1946, and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Illinois in 1948. Dr. Schweitzer also earned an M.A. in philosophy from Columbia University in 1959 and a Ph.D. in philosophy from New York University in 1964, and was awarded a Sc.D. for his work in the history of science in 1965. He joined the faculty at the University of Tennessee in 1948 and has done and continues to do research and consult with several of the facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory: K-25, Y-12, ORNL, ORAU, AEC, UT-AEC, ARP. Dr. Schweitzer has been the recipient of numerous awards, fellowships, and lectureships, including an NSF Faculty Fellowship (1959-60).