Chemistry and Biochemistry News

Chemistry alumna (BS'14/MS'15) Mandi Sheroke is headed to Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia this fall to begin Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. Mandi reports that Stevenson University has played a huge role in her successful appliciation to medical school by providing her with the knowledge and skills to be successful on the MCAT, as well as the leadership and research experiences to be competitive against students across the nation. Resources like the Office of Career Services and the Office of Student Success helped her network and find shadowing experiences, obtain several jobs in medicine for clinical experience, construct strong applications for MD and DO schools, and perform well in interviews. Mandi adds "I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without Stevenson University. I am overwhelmed with excitement to matriculate at the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine this summer where I will continue pursuing my dream of becoming a Medical Examiner."  Our best wishes go with Mandi to Lynchburg where we know she will do an outstanding job. Congratulations, Mandi! 

Biochemistry junior Austin Halterman recently completed a semester abroad in Amsterdam, Netherlands where he was able to complete several Stevenson Educational Experience requirements toward his degree. Austin worked closely with Dr. Rebecca Pisano in the Office of International and Off-campus Study and many different program directors/coordinators from CIEE (Council On International Educational Exchange), through which the program was coordinated. While in Amsterdam, Austin stayed at the Student Hotel, housing open to many people, including many other study abroad students from the US, graduate students from all over the world, people working in the city for extended stays and also tourists in town for short stays. Despite the semester abroad, Austin has stayed on track to graduate in four years and worked around the Medical College Admission Test schedule as well. For more information on study abroad opportunities, start by visiting the SU Study Abroad website.

Biochemistry alum Courtney Aceto (BS '17) is headed to Johns Hopkins University this fall where she will continue her education by studying for her Masters in Biotechnology with a concentration is Biodefense and Infectious diseases. Courtney identified two aspects of her Stevenson education that prepared her for this step: "The career-driven curriculum at SU overly prepared me for the prerequisites for this program. I had more than enough credits in all  required categories (biology, chemistry, and organic chemistry) including the labs. Without the experience that I gained during the capstone program, I wouldn’t have landed my current full time-job at Hopkins. Having this job also strengthened my application for this part-time [graduate] program geared toward working individuals." Courtney hopes this advanced degree will allow her to expand her future career opportunities, maybe even lead her to an MD/PhD program down the road. Courtney pictured above at the SOS poster session and with faculty in the department at the Senior Awards event last spring. Congratulations, Courtney!

Accepted scholarship students visited campus this past weekend and had the opportunity to meet with current students, faculty and visiting alumni. While their parents attended information sessions on their own, students participated in one of two hands-on workshops involving fingerprinting, hosted by faculty member Dr. Tracey Mason and FBI latent print examiner and alum Marisa Bender (Chem '10/MSFS'11), or fun with fluorescence, hosted by faculty member Dr. Tim Dwyer. Both parents and prospective students had the opportunity to hear from an SOS alumni panel, including our chemistry alums (Mandi Sheroke, Chem '14/MSFS'15 and Kathryn Merrick, Biochem '15), about the major, being a student athlete, the forensic science 4+1 program and applying to medical school and physical therapy school among many covered topics. At the meet the department session, pictured above, currents students, faculty and alumni were on hand to tell stories about their experiences. (L-R: Delaney Patterson, Biochem '18; Amanda Slonaker, Chem'10/MAT'15; Alex Bull, Chem '18; Kourtney Wells, Biochem '18; Corinna Carter, Chem '17/MSFS '18, and faculty member Dr. Jeremy Burkett.)

Following the international success of his first two apps, Dr. Jeremy Burkett has entered the world of augmented reality by releasing two new versions of his molecule visualization apps.  Using the recent advances in coding frameworks, Crystalz AR and Atomic Orbitalz AR take the same high definition 3-D models from the original apps and now, using the camera on your iPhone or iPad, place those objects right there in the room with you.  Users can now walk around and interact with the models in real time and space!