Department of Chemistry
Summer Research for Undergrads

University of Pittsburgh NSF-Research Experience for Undergraduates Research (REU) Program in Computational Chemistry and Molecular Modeling

June 7 - August 13, 1999

Application Deadline: February 22, 1999

Fellowship: $2,700 plus housing and meals and travel allowance.

Eligibility: Chemistry, Biology, Materials Science, and Physics majors who have completed their sophomore or junior years.

During the ten week period of the summer research program, participants will conduct original research under the supervision of faculty members in the Chemistry Department. Students will work on research problems at the frontiers of chemistry using state-of-the-art computer workstations and computational chemistry software. In addition, the program will include seminar series introducing participants to various methods for modeling chemical and biochemical processes and materials properties at a molecular level.

What some of our past NSF-REU collaborators have accomplished.

• Computer Modeling of extracellular neurotransmitter measurement
• Just Say NO!: Nitric oxide in Proteins
• Prediction and Design of Protein-DNA Interactions
• Design of Drugs to Cure Type II Diabetes and to Inhibit Solid Tumor Growth (2 Projects)
• Modelling Chemical Reactions on Semiconductor Surfaces
• Electronic Structure of Carbon Nanotubes
• The Move Beyond Empircism: Mechanistic Analysis of Atomic Oxygen Radical Anion Reactions
• Waveform Analysis for Time-Resolved Photoacoustic Calorimetry
• Calculations of Excited Atom and Ion Scattering
• Microminiaturization in Analytical Biological Chemistry
• Developing a Web-based "Tool" to Apply Chemistry to Other Sciences
• Monte Carlo Simulations of Water Clusters
• Relationship between Molecular Orientation at Interfaces and Function of Monolayer Films
• Structure and Dynamics of Electronic States at Electrochemical Interfaces
• Pulsed Laser Heating Effects on Chemical & Physical Processes at Interfaces
• Structure and Behaviour of Diphenylacetylene in its Ground and Electronically Excited States
• Computation studies of isomeric dendrimers and other polymers
• Fluorous Techniques in Organic Synthesis
• Computational analysis of the mechanism of phenolic oxidation with phenyliodonium(III) reagents
• Polymer Dynamics
• Modeling colloidal crystals: Professor R. Coalson
• Computer modeling of titanium (III)-cataylzed pinacol coupling reactions: Professor S. G. Nelson

Click here to see a picture of some of the REU students from summer 1997 on a whitewater rafting trip.

A completed application will include:

1. A completed application form.
2. A personal statement indicating both your career objectives and how the program would assist you in meeting these goals. Please indicate your experience with and interest in computational chemistry and molecular modeling.
3. A copy of your undergraduate transcript(s) (arrange to have it sent; a good photocopy is acceptable).
4. Recommendations from two faculty.
5. Addresses, phone numbers, and emails where you can be reached (home and school).

For additional program information contact Professor Ken Jordan or Fran Nagy, Program Secretary.

Send application materials to:

Fran Nagy
Program Secretary
Chemistry REU Program
Department of Chemistry
University of Pittsburgh
234 Chevron Science Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15260