Chemistry and Biochemistry News

Ashley Mills completed her Capstone internship this summer working with Lab Services at Stevenson University. She completed various tasks that included organizing, cleaning, and taking inventory of chemistry and biology lab spaces. In addition, she made media for the upcoming Fall 2018 semester biology classes and I helped with putting away newly ordered items in the correct places. Also, she assisted with prepping labs for our Project Lead the Way Program which took place this summer. Ashley is looking forward to a career in forensics and strongly believes that all lab experience will help her in the future in her career.

Chemistry senior, Brett Olin spent this summer completing his Capstone internship at Jefferson Hospital in Cherry Hill, NJ in the Pharmacy Department. He checked drug expirations as well as ensured that medication was kept in a safe and clean environment. He also accompanied the pharmacy technician on medication deliveries as well as sat in on and observed hospital wide safety meetings. Brett learned so much this summer and he will use this information as he applies to pharmacy schools this fall.

For her Capstone Internship, Biochemistry senior Sehlah Butt worked at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Pakistan as an intern in three different departments: Chemotherapy, Out-Patient, and the Emergency Room. She worked along side physicians and nurses to assist patients by translating applications and patient progress reports from English to Urdu for the patients and their families and making sure each patient room was well equipped with new blankets, pillows, and toiletry. She also worked alongside Department Chairs in the Out-Patient Department by translating their Hospital Protocols, training manuals, and more important documents to English in order to teach staff members how important it is to communicate in English with certain patients.

Here’s Sehlah’s summary of her experience: “I plan on working in the healthcare field specifically outside America. When it came time to choose a Capstone, I wanted to go outside the country and learn. I wanted to learn about healthcare in Pakistan and how different it is from healthcare in America. I can say with great certainty that working in a hospital outside America really opened my eyes to how grateful we as Americans should be for the healthcare and equipment that is readily available to us. It was such an eye opening experience that I will never forget!”

Senior Sarah Kruse completed her research capstone is at Aberdeen Proving Ground working under the US Army, in the Edewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC), in the Biochemistry department. Her project was to create a substance that can be used to improve our warfighters’ protective equipment. In Sarah’s own words, “The opportunity to work inside of a DoD laboratory is an invaluable experience in and of itself. I have always wanted a career in the federal government and this was a great first step towards that pathway. I have made numerous connections here, as well as gotten a feel for how research is conducted outside of an academic environment. I would love to return here to work after I have graduated!”

Senior Joseph Acqui is completing his Capstone internship with Gilchrist in the Elder Medical Care Office located at GBMC. At his placement, he has the opportunity to shadow medical staff, visit nursing homes/hospice centers, communicate with Gilchrist/GBMC personnel, attend various seminars/informative sessions, and to interact with patients. His placement ties in with his career plans because he would like to be a physician. For his Capstone project, Joseph is researching physican burnout, because he believes that it is pivotal not only to look out for the patients, but to look out for the medical staff as well!​