Student Activities - Department of Chemistry

Chemistry Club

Chemistry students at a bowling alley

The Benedictine College Chemistry & Biochemistry Club (the "Chem Club") is a student chapter of the American Chemical Society.  The student members get together to share their interest in chemistry with each other and the local community and have a whole lot of fun! For more information, contact Dr. Blaustein, faculty advisor.

Discovery Day

Pair of students with their project

Discovery Day is a day in April devoted to showcasing research and performance projects of Benedictine College students.  Many of our chemistry students actively participate in the Discovery Program. Below is a list of chemistry/biochemistry projects that were presented during Discovery Day in recent years.

Discovery Day 2019

TitleStudent Researchers
Helping Farmers and Astronauts: A Study on Manipulating Iron Concentration in Soil to Allow Better Crop Growth in Adverse Conditions and Enhance Crop QualityElizabeth Ciskanik
Genera Index of Native Bees of the Benedictine Bottoms and Investigation of Neonicotinoid InsecticidesRori Richardson, Katherine Boord, Katherine McLaughlin
Magic Metals: Harnessing the Shape Shifting Power of NitinolConrad Hoover

Discovery Day 2018

TitleStudent Researchers
A Computational Investigation of the Properties of N-Rich Salts of 2-Methyl-5-NitraminotetrazoleJoseph Barnes
Burnable Disc/ Alternative Fuel SourceMatthew Branch, William Giesen, Michael Baltuska, George Emrich, Isaac Meyer, Joseph Marak, Karina Scheller
Exploration of Nickel Complexes for the Catalytic Production of Acetaldehyde From EthanolMichael Salemi, John Waters, Natalie Smaron

Discovery Day 2017

TitleStudent Researchers
Development of an Enzymatically Coupled Chromogenic Bile Salt Hydrolase AssayRachel Hernandez, Karol Arensberg
Preliminary Investigations Into Phosphorescent Chromophores in Organic Photovoltaic CellsAnastasia Kastl, Joshua Caasi, Michael Salemi
Renewable PolymersJacob Martin, Matthew Corbett
An Interactive Demonstration of How Nanoparticles Behave in a LiquidAndrew Miller
Progress Towards an All-natural Disinfectant to Reduce Foodborne IllnessesNathaniel Stacy, Fiona Fitzgerald
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