Pierce Hening

Majors: Physics, Music Production

Research Mentor: Dr. John Deisz

Pierce participated in full-time research during the summer of 2015 through a Swenson Summer Research Fellowship awarded by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Studies.

What was your summer research project? Did you learn anything exciting?

My research was on the superconductivity of the material strontium ruthenate, specifically creating quantum simulations in order observe the behavior and characteristics of the material. Something exciting I learned in the process was how this material behave unconventionally compared to other known superconductors in that it exhibits half-flux states.

How did you get involved in doing research? What sparked your interest?

I was involved through my professor who also performed research on this in he graduate years. I applied for a research fellowship and for some reason I was chosen. I just wanted experience and had no idea this was what I was doing until I started working but found it extremely interesting.

How has doing physics research as an undergraduate enhanced your experience? Has it influenced your future goals?

It has definitely given me an advantage to those who have not done research like this. I wrote about 3,000 lines of code where in other situations at other schools the code is kind of handed to them where as i developed it from the ground up. Most physics student don’t perform this type of work until the graduate years and having it during my undergraduate education has prepared me for my future education and future work environments. It hasn’t inspired any future goals per say, but given me more confidence in attempting to reach my goals.

If you choose to pursue physics at the graduate level, do you feel well prepared for it? Why?

Yes, I feel more prepared because I know I can keep up with any type of work that comes my way. It has established a mind set for me that is fun. I like doing this kind of stuff, even though it is not directly related to my future interests, I love it. That is why I am a physics major. It is hard for me to even call it work because I have so much fun doing it.

Why did you choose to double major? How does your double major express who you are?

I love both physics and music production passionately, and I wanted a challenge that reflects my capabilities. My double major expresses my ideas about developing intelligence along with talent and a bit of charisma. I love to do what is unexpected, maybe even irregular, and surprise people with capabilities they didn’t know I had.

What is your career goal? How will your double major impact your career goal?

I realize my majors can lead to completely different careers. Fortunately I can further my education in both subjects as a graduate student. I do want to be a part of something that incorporates both the aesthetic and technology of music production with the theoretical and practical uses of physics.

What are you most passionate about in school? In life?

I am passionate about increasing my intelligence along with the wisdom to use it.  Also, my family, my friends, my relationship with a wonderful young woman, and with surfing coming in there somewhere.

Anything else you’d like to say about double majoring to prospective Cal Lutheran students?

If you plan on double majoring, especially in opposite disciplines, have your four-year schedule organized and ready by the end of your first semester. I’d be much better off if I’d taken a few classes earlier.

Tristen Burt

Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Minor: Music

Research Mentor: Dr. Chad Barber

What was the focus of your research?

My research was focused on identifying mutations in common canine cancers and examining how they relate to human cancers.

An additional focus of mine is on screening these canine cancers to an array of anti-tumor drugs to determine their response and suitability for use in other mammalian models.

How was your research experience?

The fellowship granted me the opportunity to see where I’m going and what I want to be doing in 10 years. The experience really solidified a passion in me for biological and biomedical research. Hopefully one day I will get the opportunity to work just as hard with patients in this same manner.

What’s next?

A graduate program in medicine. My goal is to become a physician, and this program gave me a glimpse into what a medical career could be like.

Jacob Burman

Major: Chemistry

Minor: Mathematics

Research Mentor: Dr. Jason Kingsbury

What was the focus of your research?

The goal of my project is to optimize the Diazoalkane-Carbonyl Homologation. The diazo compounds have donor-acceptor properties that allow for formal carbon insertion into C-C or C-H bonds.

These insertions are synthetically useful because many biologically active compounds can be created easier with such a unique transformation. Once optimization occurs, a full-large scale synthesis and use of the diazo compounds will be exhibited for its practicality in industrial applications.

Why is this research important?

Optimization of this reaction can lead to further breakthroughs down the road in synthesis and natural product development.

Molecules isolated in nature can exhibit biological activity and with a novel reaction such as the formal carbon insertion can help develop easier ways to synthesize existing drug targets. Even the production of a probe for mitochondrial permeability conditions is possible once the process is perfected.

I regularly use characterization techniques learned in my undergraduate classes everyday to confirm results in correct structure and yields of various products created.

How was your research experience?

Working this summer with Dr. Kingsbury was eye-opening to say the least. Every day was an adventure in learning all the advanced techniques that professional chemists use to expertly manipulate materials. I’ve gained so much experience, but the most valuable thing for me is knowing that I still have so much to learn.

What’s next?

After graduation, I hope to enter a Ph.D. program in synthetic organic chemistry and am considering a future in either academia or industry.

Marina Alvarez

Majors: Global Studies, Spanish

Research Mentor: Dr. Rafaela Fiore Urízar

What was the focus of your research?

I fell in love with street art while studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Working with Dr. Fiore, I decided to focus on Latinas making street art, and graffiti and muralism in Los Angeles.

This art form is male-dominated, but a small number of women are demonstrating incredible power in their craft. I wanted to meet these women, assess how their work was being received by their male counterparts and learn how their involvement in this art form aided in the development of their self-identities.

How was your research experience?

It opened my eyes to the world of research—there is very little scholarly work being done in this area, so my project was the first of its kind. None of it would have been possible without the help and guidance of Dr. Fiore. She instilled a passion in me to look at everything with an analytical eye.

What’s next?

I am now applying to graduate programs where I plan on continuing and expanding my research.

Su Ji Hong

Majors: Mathematics, Physics

Su Ji Hong, a mathematics and physics major from Jeju, South Korea, created mathematical models to describe the queuing system of Cal Lutheran’s Centrum Cafe.

What did you learn from your research project?

According to my model, just by having the menu available or decreasing the service time by five seconds can reduce the queue time significantly. However, with Ullman Commons opening, the rate I obtained during summer no longer accurately describes the Centrum. Also this was my first research experience.

What was it like doing the project?

In the beginning, I still was not sure what research is like and was not sure if this was the path I want to take. This summer research experience was definitely an eye-opening experience that got me committed to a goal of going to graduate school.

What has your experience at Cal Lutheran been like?

The faculty at Cal Lutheran really take an interest in students’ performances and their interest in their fields. They were always open to talk to me about any questions I have about the academics, graduate schools, and possible jobs I could apply to.

Also, since the first time I was on campus, everyone was very friendly. They were willing to help me when I was very confused on my first day and Cal Lutheran students were willing to help local high school students to the correct room when the math club had free calculus tutoring session for local high school students.

What’s it like being a double-major?

I came in as a math major but added a second major, physics, at the end of my first year. I had an easier time managing both majors compared to other people since the lower division requirements for both majors were very similar.

I’ve tried to take at least one upper division math class and one upper division physics class each semester since fall semester of sophomore year. Having a deep understanding of math helped me a lot in upper division physics classes.

What are your post-graduation goals?

My goal after graduation is to go to a math graduate school and become a professor one day.

Danielle Renee Montoya

Majors: Biology, Global Studies

Research Mentor: Dr. Theresa Rogers

What was the focus of your research?

The level of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens has increased dramatically due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture.

My research was on antibiotic resistance in bacteria found in the Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant and surrounding waterways. Using molecular and genetic methods, I investigated how some bacteria can transfer genes conferring antibiotic resistance to other bacteria.

How was your research experience?

The Swenson Science Summer Fellowship helped me to learn more about what to expect out of the trial and error process and how to encounter the unexpected in a lab setting. It taught me patience and allowed me to express creativity with my ideas.

What’s next?
I’m applying to medical schools and plan to specialize in emergency medicine with a focus on natural disaster relief.

Eric Henderson at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Major: Physics

Minors: Mathematics, Applied Scientific Computing

What was your summer research project?

The research I conducted this year was in the area of neutrino physics, in association with the MicroBooNE collaboration at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.  I was interested in coming up with a function to describe the optical response of a photomultiplier tube while submerged in liquid argon.  This function would aid in reducing simulation time for MicroBooNE.  From this project, I learned how to design and construct a small scale experiment, collect and analyze data, and produce a talk and scientific paper on my findings.

What stands out for you during your time at Cal Lutheran?

In terms of surprising experiences at Cal Lutheran, I cannot think of any specific instance.  I guess I am just surprised that I was able to finish in 7 semesters and be fully prepared for graduate school.

What are your goals for the future?

I am attending graduate school, pursuing a Ph.D. in physics, starting in January.

Eric spent the summer of 2014 at Argonne National Laboratory (Batavia, IL) under the auspices of New Mexico State University studying Neutrino physics. His paper was Uniformity of light collection efficiency with TPB plates, presented at the 2014 Southern California Conference on Undergraduate Research on November 22, 2014 in Fullerton, CA.

Brittany Smolarski in the lab

Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Research Mentor: Dr. Jason Kingsbury

Brittany participated in full-time research during the summer of 2014 through a Swenson Summer Research Fellowship and through a John Stauffer Research Fellowship in Chemical Sciences in 2015. Both grants are awarded through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Studies.

Why participate in the Swenson Summer Research Fellowship?

The Swenson Summer Research Fellowship has provided me with the opportunity to not only expand my organic chemistry knowledge, but to also delve into the world of scientific discovery and grow as a student, researcher, and a person.  I believe that the work I did this summer has prepared me for the demands I face in pursuing medical school by allowing me the opportunity to develop the skills to interpret data, analyze information, and drive the intellectual process.

What is the name of your project? How would you describe it to fellow students of all majors?

DANPY-1 Fluorescing Under UV Light

My project is entitled: “Optimization of a Scalable Synthesis of DANPY-1 and Variants, Novel Dye Molecules for High-Impact Biological Imaging”

Intracellular fluorescence staining, a common microscopy technique used to enhance image contrast, utilizes dye molecules for DNA visualization and study. Currently, ethidium bromide is the most widely used biological stain, however, it is extremely toxic and requires involved procedures for its use and disposal, pressing the need for other non-toxic dyes that stain DNA as efficiently. Our collaborators at the University of Washington identified a molecule, DANPY-1, which demonstrates dye characteristics similar to that of ethidium bromide. The difference is that DANPY-1 is bench stable and non-toxic, making it much safer than other dyes, including ethidium bromide. The first generation synthesis of this dye molecule was very low yielding. I like to compare this to baking cupcakes. We had a recipe that worked, but only made about eight cupcakes. The problem is that we were planning to host a party of over two hundred people and wanted everyone to be able to have at least two cupcakes, if not more. So we needed to drastically improve our recipe, in the case of DANPY-1 by using different organic chemistry reactions and techniques, so that we could make a lot of cupcakes for our party! Thus, the aim of our study was to develop and streamline a highly efficient synthesis in order to facilitate further study of the fluorescence and biological applications of this molecule. Additionally, we created a variant to DANPY-1, called DANPY-2, that is slightly different in structure, but is also being further studied.

What did you learn doing your project? What was your key takeaway?

My key takeaway from my research is that doing something you love and something that interests you never feels like work. I know it sounds cliché! But during this project, I’ve learned that I love research and all the prospective future implications it brings to the table. There were days over the summer where I worked from 8 am to 8 pm, not because I was ever forced, but because I was happy to be there working on this project, learning new techniques and knowledge from Dr. Kingsbury and trying to create a molecule that I believe has tremendous impact for future research and development. I also learned that there are always setbacks and issues that arise, but that every obstacle teaches you something about what you’re working on. No result is ever a bad result! For all of these reasons, I am certain that I want to continue research throughout my medical career and work to advance the field of surgical medicine. In this manner, my project has helped me to define the intricacies of my future career goals.

What has surprised you about your experience at Cal Lutheran, inside or outside the classroom?

I came to Cal Lutheran as a freshman, expecting it to be a very straightforward, checklist-type educational experience. I was surprised to discover that education at Cal Lutheran is really what you choose to make of it. What you put in is what you will get out.

My story began as I learned more and became extremely interested in chemistry. All I had to do was ask about chemistry research and I was invited to observe the researchers’ lab over the summer, try my hand at it, and continue if I liked it. I loved it, and as my knowledge of Organic Chemistry grew, I began talking more and more to Dr. Kingsbury about his projects. Towards the end of my sophomore year, Dr. Kingsbury told me he had a specific project he wanted me to work on, and I spent my entire summer working in the lab, working hard, gaining more knowledge and having more fun than I had ever expected. In addition to that, I gained a mentor who supports my ever-growing desire for more chemistry knowledge as well my future goals.

At Cal Lutheran, if you’re interested in something, the faculty are there to speak with you one-on-one, fuel your interests, and provide you with the necessary outlets to help you grow your knowledge and experience. I think that is what makes Cal Lutheran so unique and such a wonderful place to gain a college education. The best part is that while this is true especially of the science faculty, it’s also true of all of the faculty in all the various divisions I’ve encountered in my time at CLU – from philosophy, to sociology, to psychology faculty – they’re all amazing and eager to help you learn about what interests you most!

 What is your goal after graduation?

After graduation, I’m hoping to immediately begin medical school. My career goal is to become a surgeon and be able to utilize my research experience to further the field of surgical medicine. I’ve got quite a few more years of schooling ahead of me, but because of the experience and knowledge I’ve gained at CLU, I feel prepared and more excited than ever to begin that journey.