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Graduate Student Jaya Borgatta Defends Thesis

Jaya Borgatta successfully defended her thesis on June 22nd, 2021. She is a part of the Hamers group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The title of her thesis is “Understanding the influence of Cu-based nanoparticle properties on interactions with plant systems and disease suppression.” Jaya has accepted a postdoc position in Jason White’s group at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. Congratulations, Dr. Borgatta!

Dr. Theresa Gaines is CSN’s Scholar-in-Residence

The CSN is delighted to announce Dr.Theresa Gaines as the Scholar-in-Residence for the 2021 summer. Dr. Gaines will focus her work on educational chemistry games. Dr. Gaines is currently an Assistant Professor at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi where she teaches primarily organic chemistry. She also founded Big Magnet Games to develop fluency in chemistry through card and tabletop games. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Dixie State University. Before this she completed a Bio-Bus Fellowship at Georgia State University. In addition, she is an amateur cheesemaker and writes the occasional blog on the subject found here. Dr. Gaines is also known as @gathwaegl on social media.

Jaya Borgatta and Zack Jones Awarded McCoy Award (Jaya) and Roger Carlson Award (Zack)

Congratulations to Jaya Borgatta and Zack Jones (UW-Madison) for receiving the Mike McCoy Award (Jaya) and the Roger Carlson Award (Zack). The Roger Carlson Award is given to an analytical student who best uses instrumentation and research at the intersection of physics and chemistry. The Mike McCoy Award is given to a student who is doing materials-related research who best exemplifies “Mike’s love of chemistry and love of life! Mike was a student in Bob Hamers’ group who passed away 11 years ago from a heart condition. Both awards come with nice cash awards and a nice entry on the vita. Congrats to Zack and Jaya!

Prof. Rigoberto Hernandez Joins John Hopkins Task Force

“Barriers to diversity and equity are often exacerbated by a lack of access to unwritten rules or unstated expectations for success … as an institution, we have the power to remove this inequity entirely by being completely transparent in all of our rules and decisions, and by communicating our expectations for success to every member of our community.” Rigoberto Hernandez, professor of chemistry in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Professor Rigoberto Hernandez was announced Roadmap 2020 Task Force co-chair in March 2021. The task force was announced in July 2020 by JHU President Daniels, to “reassess and renew our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to begin the process of moving toward a new set of robust… Read More »Prof. Rigoberto Hernandez Joins John Hopkins Task Force

Graduate Student Austin Henke Defends Thesis

Austin Henke successfully defended his thesis on May 13th, 2021. He is a part of the Hamers group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The title of his thesis is “Redox Reactions at Solid-Liquid Interfaces and Implications for Sustainability”. Congratulations, Dr. Henke!

Graduate Student Izzy Foreman-Ortiz Defends Thesis

Izzy Foreman Ortiz defended her thesis on May 10th, 2021. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student and a part of the Pedersen group. Her thesis is titled “Nanoparticle impact on membrane properties and embedded ion channels”.  Congratulations, Dr. Foreman-Ortiz!

Graduate Student Nicholas Niemuth Defends Thesis

Nicholas Niemuth defended his doctoral thesis on April 23, 2021. He was part of the Klaper group at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His thesis is titled “Investigating Mechanisms of Nanotoxicity of a Next-generation Lithium Cobalt Oxide Nanomaterial.” Congratulations, Dr. Niemuth! 

Nanotechnology Flashcard Deck Created by CSN Students

Check out the Lifeology virtual flashcard deck created by University of Minnesota Ph.D. student Stephanie Mitchell, University of Wisconsin-Madison grad students Jaya Borgatta and Paige Kinsley, Lifeology co-founder Paige Jarreau and artist Elfy Chiang. This deck is a quick introduction to what happens to nanoparticles in the environment? “But, we also don’t want to have another asbestos or DDT problem where we start using all of this new technology and new science without fully understanding any lasting repercussions,” Stephanie Mitchell (UMN CSE, 2021). Check out the virtual flashcards here as well.

CSN Graduate Student Leslie Sigmon Chosen for SciPol Scholars-in-Residence Program

Congratulations to CSN graduate student Leslie Sigmon who was chosen for the Science Policy Scholars program! “The Science Policy (SciPol) Scholars-in-Residence Program provides hands-on training and experiential learning opportunities for early-career scientists and engineers seeking to build and use their skills in policymaking. Scholars are selected from a competitive applicant pool to participate in a six-week boot camp where they learn key skills in science policy, communication, and professional development. Scholars who complete the boot camp are then eligible to be matched with host offices for a remote “residency” (internship) in which they can put their skills into practice.” (NSPN, 2021) See Leslie and all the other cohorts that were accepted into this program here on Twitter and the SciPol… Read More »CSN Graduate Student Leslie Sigmon Chosen for SciPol Scholars-in-Residence Program

Lifeology Flashcard Course Explains How Nanoparticles Improve Agricultural Sustainability

View the deck here. Check out the Lifeology virtual flashcard deck created by University of Minnesota Ph.D. student Stephanie Mitchell, University of Wisconsin-Madison grad students Jaya Borgatta and Paige Kinsley, Lifeology co-founder Paige Jarreau and artist Elfy Chiang. This deck is a quick introduction to how nanoparticles improve agricultural sustainability?