Chemistry and Biochemistry News

Amanda McGown (BS Chem ’05), who received her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University after SU, serves as Lead Physical Scientist at Booz Allen, where she has been working for several years. She supports several different government agencies and branches of the military with projects relating to chem/bio defense. She reports that the work is challenging and very rewarding. Shown here are Amanda, Mike and their children, Kaylee and Allie, who really enjoyed Christmas this year!

Warm Holiday Wishes from the Department of Chemistry! Our annual Holiday Letter is here.

Congratulations to our three December graduates! Jasmin Ramirez (Biochemistry), Janaya Slaughter (Chemistry) and Yaakov Itzkowitz (Biochemistry) were awarded their degrees at the Stevenson University Winter Commencement on Monday. Yaakov was also the SOS recipient of the Orsia YF. Young Leadership award. Follow the link to watch (and rewatch) our students cross the stage.

Alum Nicole Heil (Biochem BS’15/MS’16) contributed to the inaugural issue of “The Forensics Report”, a new biannual newsletter developed by the Maryland Forensic Educator’s Committee to showcase research and educational experiences of students being trained in forensics in the state of Maryland. She wrote about the persistence of explosive TNT on metal and plastic evidence. Also a contributor was Taranjit Athwal (Biotech BS ’15/MS ’15) who wrote about forensic DNA analysis. If you would like to contribute to the next newsletter, please contact Alison Shao, adjunct professor of forensic science at Stevenson.

Biochemistry senior, Angelica Lackey attended the 2017 American Epilepsy Society in Washington, DC this week where she presented her work with Dr. Kossoff on Ketogenic Diet Second Opinion Clinics. Her internship was conducted at the Ketogenic Diet Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital this summer, where patients learn to control epilepsy through diet. She was able to meet many of the important people who work with the ketogenic diet including famous patients, such as former U.S. ice hockey Olympic Chanda Gunn, who manages her seizures with the help of this diet. Angelica was even was able to engage in a virtual reality experience where she was able to “walk” around in someone’s brain to map and conduct glutamate receptor binding which she said was “… incredible to say the least!”