My Project
WMG Research Fellowship
Abstract
The Walter Maxwell Gibson Research endowment is awarded to students within the College of Science and Engineering for fellowships to conduct research or projects that make an intellectual or creative contribution to an area of study within the college. For this project, I plan on conducting organic chemistry research under the supervision of Dr. Nathan Werner. I plan on working 40 hours per week in the summer, and 20 hours per week in the fall, until the maximum total of 300 hours of paid work provided by the endowment have been accounted for.
For this research we plan to synthesize a pinacolborane substituted diene by the 9-BBN catalyzed hydroboration of the enyne (E)-but-1-en-3-yn-1-ylbenzene. The production of organoborane derivatives are becoming increasingly important to modern organic synthesis due to their versatility in forming C-C bonds by cross-coupling reactions. These reactions are commonly used in the synthesis of many important and widely prescribed medications. The majority of the time will be spent running, working up, and purifying reactions to test as many variables for the proposed reaction as possible.
Larger Purpose
This project will help me to achieve my goal of getting into a graduate chemistry program.
Goal
With this project, I will spend my summer working to compile data for the reaction which we’re interested in studying. I also hope to use this data to be able to publish my work in a scientific journal.
Outcome
If I spend my summer working on this research project, then I will be able to use this experience to increase my chances of getting into my top choice of graduate schools. It will also help me to improve my laboratory skills and techniques, which will be invaluable for any and all research projects that I may become apart of in the future.
Deliverable
I will compile the data to be included in a written report summarizing all the reactions and product yields completed during this time. I also plan on presenting this project at the Annual Walter Maxwell Gibson College of Science and Engineering Undergraduate Research Symposium and/or the Southern Utah University Festival of Excellence, as well as other applicable forums.
Differentiation
Many of the students in my field of study have only limited opportunities to be apart of these kinds of research projects, let alone be able to have a lead role in one. This will give me an advantage over my peers, especially once I’m in graduate school because I’ll be able to jump right into a project with little to no time needed for training.
Estimated Costs
Item/Cost: Time, $3000 (calculated at $10/hr); Chemicals, $907.62; Materials, $175; Services, $101
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Estimated Timeline
The research will commence around July 1st, 2018.The data will be compiled for presentation around October 31st, 2018.