Student Scientists

Incubator for Nanotechnology Ventures, Emerging Sciences, and Technology

Students Invested in Science

Michelle Hunsinger - RSC Senior - Forensic Science

RSC senior and Evident intern Michelle Hunsinger '07 is learning "pretty much everything about quantum dots" in her internship. Not sure if she wanted to practice her forensic science career in the field or in the lab, this experience has been a deciding factor for her: she likes the lab.

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Nicole Surace - RSC '06 - Forensic Science/Chemistry Major

Forensic Science/Chemistry double major Nicole Surace '06 has an ambitious goal: to earn a Ph.D. and work as a forensic anthropologist. Russell Sage gave her a tremendous head start. Nicole landed an internship with Evident Technologies in the research and development area through INVEST, a new nanotech incubator on the Russell Sage campus. "My internship helped me build lab experience. These days, to even apply for a job these days, you need to have lab experience," she says. "I wasn't just a gopher, I was actually setting up experiments and running reactions. At the same time, I learned how tech companies are run. The internship gave me an edge both for grad school and for my career. It was real-world experience I would never get in a classroom. Needless to say, it looks awesome on my resume."

Darcie Palmer - RSC '06 - Biochemistry Major

Darcie was torn between the lab and the law. She gained a lot of laboratory experience as a Biochemistry major at RSC, and truly enjoyed it. She was also extremely interested in the law and may apply to law school. But she wasn't ready to give up working at the chemistry bench yet.

With the help of Sage professor Tom Keane and Evident CEO Clint Ballinger, Darcie pursued a unique research project that gave her experience in both chemistry and patent law. She conducted experiments to analyze the raw materials that Evident uses for quantum dot applications, and compare the data to the finished products. Then she walked through the patent process with Evident's patent attorneys.

"It was all work that had direct relevance to the company's actual products and overal goals," Keane says. "It's very exciting for students to have that kind of experience."

Darcie first studied liberal arts and sciences at Hobart William Smith College, then attended Albany College of Pharmacy for two years before coming to Sage to complete a degree in Biochemistry (ACS-Certified). She continued to work nearly full time at a local title company, which is where her interest in the law grew.