Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Kennesaw State University

Congratulations to all the Kennesaw State University students graduating this May! Like their fellow College of Science and Mathematics graduates, biochemistry major Kaylee Stone and chemistry major Ariana Mitchell thrived at KSU and are ready to make an impact as they join the Kennesaw State University Alumni Association Forever Owl family.

With a love for animals and the mind of a scientist, veterinary medicine became a natural path for Kaylee Stone. Initially a biology major, she shifted to biochemistry after gaining a new perspective on medicine through research in Dr. Mohammad Halim’s lab at Kennesaw State University. Through assistantship roles, volunteer work, and a veterinary medicine-focused study abroad opportunity, Kaylee built a solid foundation for her next journey. Now, she’s headed to the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine with plans to become a small-animal veterinarian.

A double major in chemistry and criminal justice, Ariana Mitchell spent her final year at KSU exploring allergens found in everyday fragrance products. Under the mentorship of Dr. Wei Zhou, she used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify potential allergens not always listed on ingredient labels. The research allowed Ariana to engage with real-world scientific challenges, and she now hopes to build on the experience in graduate school with a focus in forensic chemistry.

Check out the links in the comments to read more!

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Kennesaw State University recently hosted a 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) event, celebrating the outstanding research and accomplishments of the MSCB graduate students. Modeled after the MSCB program’s vision of making science accessible and impactful, participants presented their thesis work in just three minutes using a single slide, challenging them to distill complex ideas for a broad audience.

The event highlighted the creativity, dedication, and innovation of our graduating students, showcasing the depth and significance of their research. First place was awarded to Blaise Williams from Dr. Saint-Louis' lab, whose presentation stood out for its clarity and impact. Second place went to Momena Begum from Dr. Halim's lab, while Nishat Tasnim from Dr. Marshall's lab earned third place. Congratulations again to our graduating class!

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Stollenz for his advanced article publication of "Ethylene-bridged bis(borylamidinates) as near-UV fluorescent emitters with narrow emission bands" in the Royal Society of Chemistry's Chemical Communications journal! Equal contributors from KSU include alum Alvaro Calderón-Díaz (Chemistry '18, MSCB '21), CSM postdoc Tomasz Kruczyński, and CSM postdoc alum Sanjay Dutta.

DOI:

Ethylene-bridged bis(borylamidinates) as near-UV fluorescent emitters with narrow emission bands A series of thermal, air, and photostable near-UV (NUV) light emitting bis(difluoroborylamidinates) interconnected by non-conjugating ethylene bridges is reported. The solid-state emissions are accompanied by high radiative decay rates, remarkable color purities, and narrow emission bands. The cryst...

March was a busy month for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry! The department held several events throughout the month to help chemistry and biochemistry students explore potential careers and professional development opportunities. Learn more about the events below!

Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Shadow Day: Several chemistry and biochemistry students had the unique opportunity to visit the GBI Division of Forensic Sciences offices and laboratories on Wednesday, March 18th. Students had the opportunity to work one-on-one with GBI scientists, as well as meaningful conversations with the department's leadership team, including directors and lab managers, about career pathways in forensic science.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Career Day: DEA special agent Megan Krieger and her colleague from the DEA drug analysis lab visited KSU on Monday, March 23rd, to share information about career opportunities within the organization. They held an information table and information sessions, answering questions from students interested in learning more about what it's like to be a DEA special agent.

Morehouse School of Medicine Lunch and Learn: CSM majors had the opportunity to attend a lunch-and-learn with the Morehouse School of Medicine to learn more about their Agile Clinical Trials (ACT) Training Program, a no-cost, 16-week clinical research program open to chemistry, biochemistry, and biology students, on Thursday, March 26th. Representatives from the Morehouse School of Medicine led an engaging discussion and provided students with information about clinical research pathway programs to help further their professional development.

Happy Giving Day at Kennesaw State University! Help us support our chemistry and biochemistry majors through an Emergency Assistance for CSM students and department funds by donating at https://bit.ly/CSM-GivingDay26!

Happy Giving Day at Kennesaw State University! Help support our students through Giving Day donations to the College of Science and Mathematics. Contributions go toward our scholarships, supporting our programs, buying equipment for departments, and more to help our science and mathematics students succeed. A simple $10 makes a big difference! 🔗 https://bit.ly/CSM-GivingDay26

Learn more about our giving options below:
▪️Emergency Assistance for CSM Majors: Help support hardworking CSM students with unexpected financial hardships.
▪️College of Science and Mathematics Excellence Fund: Help support CSM faculty/staff initiatives, college-wide events, and special programs.
▪️College of Science and Mathematics General Scholarship: Help financially support our CSM students to help them complete their degree.
▪️College of Science and Mathematics Departments: Help support CSM departmental initiatives, equipment, and special programs.

Last week, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry hosted a Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) career panel for Kennesaw State University students who are interested in jobs within the forensic science field. The panel was led by Assistant Deputy Director Michael McCarriagher and included several employees from the organization, including KSU alum Natalie (Thomas) Hipps. The GBI's presentation focused on how chemistry is used on a daily basis throughout the Division of Forensic Sciences, including toxicology, trace evidence, and other disciplines. Students also spoke with the panel speakers following the formal discussion, showing great interest in the various prospective job fields within forensic science.

Earlier this month, a group of 25 chemistry and biochemistry undergraduates and MS in Chemical Sciences graduate students visited the medical equipment manufacturer Chemence Medical, Inc. for a shadow day! Students toured the company’s facilities for an immersive learning experience while learning about career pathways and placement opportunities through valuable conversations with Chemence executives and technicians.

CSM would also like to thank the KSU Career Planning & Development for helping to organize this amazing experience for our students!

The KSU Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society student organization will be hosting exciting events this month! We hope to see you there!

Their general body meeting will be this Friday, February 6th, in CL 1007 starting at 6 pm.

They will also be holding a fundraiser for students to create Candy Grams for their favorite chemistry, biochemistry, and biology professors on February 11th and 12th in the CL Atrium from 12 to 1:30 pm.

Congratulations to two of our Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty, who were recognized with major Kennesaw State University College of Science and Mathematics awards last Friday! 🎉

Distinguished Professor Award: Dr. Marina Koether
Outstanding Early Career Award: Dr. Carl Saint-Louis