2024年7月16日
As if being selected for a highly competitive 研究 program isn’t already a celebratory accomplishment, 克里斯蒂娜·沃25岁 is conducting her 研究 this summer on the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico.
One of only eight undergraduate recipients nationwide, Vo is 研究ing the molecular aspects of pharmaceutical sciences through the National Science Foundation’s 研究经验s for Undergraduates program. Over 250 students applied for the UPR-MAPS REU, which supports active 研究 participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of 研究 funded by the NSF.
“I wanted to pursue an REU opportunity because I am passionate about 研究 and development, and this experience will better prepare me for graduate school,” Vo, a 化学 major from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, said. “This opportunity not only distinguishes me from other students but also allows me to explore my love for 化学 at a new university.”
At the University of Puerto Rico’s Crystallization Design Institute, Vo is studying how different forms of organic medicines change during production when mixed with polymers. Her main job is to make a metastable, crystalline form of a medicine called artemisinin, a drug used in the treatment of malaria, using hot-melt extrusion to make the drug increasingly effective.
“I have enjoyed learning new techniques and instruments I’ve never had the opportunity to use before,沃说。. “Although I have read 研究 articles about polymorphism, I lacked hands-on experience. This program has allowed me to work with techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and polarized light microscopy.”
Having faced a learning curve when training on new instruments and processes, Vo said she felt thoroughly prepared for her REU, due largely to the analytical laboratory work she has conducted with 露·安·汤姆, associate professor of 化学 in Susquehanna’s 自然学派 & 社会科学.
“The experience that Professor Tom gave me in the scientific field in addition to SU’s coursework has confidently set me up for success,沃说。. “My REU program will significantly advance my preparation for future career goals by giving me the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded peers from various backgrounds, explore diverse graduate school and fellowship programs through seminars, and cultivate independent and critical thinking skills in preparing for the end-of-program symposium.”
毕业后, Vo aspires to obtain her doctorate in sustainable 化学 and pursue a career in 研究 and development.