Recent RSC Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduates
| To give a more personal account of the variety of opportunities available to chemistry and biochemistry graduates, brief biographical sketches are provided below for 12 students, who are representative of recent graduates of the programs at Russell Sage College. |
Amy Steuerwald completed an ACS-certified chemistry major in 2002. During her senior year, she worked on a research project with Dr. Ray Baechler on "Reductive Coupling and Double-bond Cleavage Reactions Induced by Trialkylphosphines." She presented her results at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, held at the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater. Amy has now commenced work toward her Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Jessica Lennington completed an ACS-certified biochemistry major in 2001. During her senior year, she worked on a research project at the University of Ireland, under the direction of Dr. A. Sangrador. Jessica arranged this study abroad opportunity entirely on her own initiative. Her project dealt with the "Isolation and Characterization of Macrophage Inflammatory Protein, Type 2, from Oncorhynchusmkkiss". Since her graduation, Jessica has worked in research labs in Maine and in Connecticut.
Kristen Kolberg completed an ACS-certified chemistry major as well as a mathematics major in 2000. She was awarded a prestigious Barry Goldwater National Science Scholarship to support her senior year at Sage and graduated as the Salutatorian of the class of 2000. During the summers of 1998 and 1999, she pursued a research project in organic synthesis, under the direction of Dr. Nolen at Colgate University. During her senior year at Sage, she completed a research project with Dr. Ray Baechler on “Reductive Coupling Reactions of Carbonyl Compounds Using Trialkylphosphines”. She presented her results on this project at the Eastern New York Undergraduate Chemistry Symposium, held at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy. Kristen is now working toward her Ph.D. in chemistry at Pennsylvania State University.
Jennifer MacLaughlin completed majors in both biochemistry and biology in 2000. During the summers of 1998 and 1999, she was involved in research projects in the area of cellular immunology. These were conducted at the Wadsworth Health Lab in Albany, under the supervision of Drs. William Lee and Ann Walsh. Jennifer also contributed to a publication on campus-community collaborations, working with Sage psychology professor Bronna Romanoff. While preparing for medical school, Jennifer worked as a violence counselor and as a certified EMT. She is now working toward her medical degree at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine.
Carrie Benware completed her ACS-certified chemistry major with Highest Honors in 1997. She was also the class Valedictorian. In the summer following her junior year, she participated in an undergraduate research program at the Rochester Institute of Technology. During her senior year at Sage, she completed her research project with Dr. Ray Baechler on “Enantioselective Oxidation of Chiral Phosphines.” She presented her results on this project at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at the University of Texas in Austin. Carrie originally accepted a position at DuPont-Merck Pharmaceutical Company in Wilmington, Delaware, but she is now working for Corning in western New York.
Danica Nowosielski completed an ACS-certified chemistry major and math major, both with Highest Honors in 1996. She was also the class Valedictorian. During her junior year, she completed her chemistry research project with Dr. Chuk-Yin Erwin on “Kinetics of Crystallization of a Urinary Stone Mineral.” She presented her results from this project at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at Union College in Schenectady. In the summer following her junior year, she worked on a project at General Electric. During her senior year, she held a prestigious Goldwater National Science Scholarship. Danica has completed her Ph.D. in physical chemistry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Following that, she accepted a teaching position at Siena College in Loudonville, New York.
Lauren Barth completed her ACS-certified chemistry major with High Honors in 1996. In the summer following her junior year, she worked on a project at General Electric. During her senior year, she continued work on this research project at GE, “High Temperature mm Wave High Density Interconnect Adhesive Study.” She presented her results on this project at the Russell Sage Student Research Symposium. Lauren is currently working as a network engineer for AKZO, the international textile company, in New York City.
Laura Taylor completed an ACS-certified biochemistry major with Special Honors and a math major with High Honors in 1995. During her senior year, she completed her research project with Drs. Roger Armstrong and Reginald Soracco (the latter from the Rensselaer Fresh Water Institute) on “Non-Point Source Nutrient Dynamics in the Watershed of the Tomhannock Reservoir.” She presented her results from this project at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at Union College in Schenectady. Laura completed an M.S. in chemistry at Tufts University. Her research group was highlighted in Chemical and Engineering News for their work on the development of microscopic sensor arrays.
Jennifer Singer completed her ACS-certified chemistry major in 1994. During her senior year, she completed her research project with Dr. Roger Armstrong on “Determination of Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus in Aquatic Samples.” She presented the results of her project at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at the University of Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. Jennifer completed an M.S. in Environmental Pollution Control at Pennsylvania State University. She now has a position with Geovation Consultants in Florida.
Karin Maxson completed her ACS-certified chemistry major with Highest Honors in 1993. During her junior year, she completed a research project with Dr. Kathleen Donnelly on “Ion Binding to Carrageenans.” She presented her results on this project at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. In the summer following her junior year, she participated in a research program at Syracuse University. During her senior year, she completed a project with Dr. Ray Baechler on “Thermal Transfer Reactions of Phosphonium and Arsonium Ions and Ylids.” She presented her results on this project at the Eastern New York Undergraduate Chemistry Symposium held at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. Karin earned her Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Wisconsin. More recently, she completed a post-doctoral appointment at the University of Texas Medical Center in Galveston.
Linda Magenis completed her ACS-certified biochemistry major with Highest Honors in 1993. During the summer following her junior year, she worked at Schenectady Chemicals. During her senior year, she completed her research project with Dr. Chuk-Yin Erwin on “Extraction of Fatty Acids from Commercial Infant Formulas: Liquid-Liquid vs. Solid-Liquid.” She presented her results on this project at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Following graduation, Linda worked for CTM Analytical Labs, while also completing an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is currently working for Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati.
Alicia Bair completed majors in biology and biochemistry, with Honors in 1992. During the summer following her junior year, she worked on a research project with Dr. James Ferris at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Alicia received her M.D. at the State University of New York College of Medicine at Syracuse. More recently, she completed a residency at Syracuse in Internal Medicine.
last updated: September 3, 2007
