Student Opportunities

Undergraduate Research

The Department of Chemistry supports an active undergraduate research program. Research opportunities at the undergraduate level give students vital experience to qualify for internships, jobs in local industry, environmental and government labs, and to pursue advanced degrees in the chemical and medical sciences. Students are encouraged to join a research group as early as their sophomore year. Students receive academic credit for participation in a research project during the academic year or over the summer. Each summer, several students receive stipends to continue their studies here at Loyola . Others choose to participate in undergraduate research programs at other universities.  Students are encouraged to contact faculty members regarding research opportunities in their laboratories

Dr. Kurt Birdwhistell, 865-3272, Monroe Hall 216

Dr. Birdwhistell is an inorganic/organometallic chemisty with research interests in the area of catalysis and green chemistry.  His research group frequently employes GC and GC/MS to quantify trace amounts of materials. 

Dr. D. Andrew Knight, 865-2269, Monroe Hall 231

Research interests include homogeneous catalysis, materials and surface chemistry, and green chemistry.  Visit the Knight Research Group Website for more information. 

Dr. Lynn Koplitz, 865-3274, Monroe Hall 427

Research interests include investigating the existence and effects of exotic hydrogen bonds on crystal structures of cyanomethylpyridinium halides using computational methods.  Studies are relevant to materials science, nanostructures, properties of ionic liquids and ultimately to a greater understanding of the forces responsible for secondary and tertiary structures of biomolecules. 

Dr.  Thomas Spence, 865-2266, Monroe Hall 420

Dr. Spence is a physical chemisty with extensive experience in design and construction of spectroscopic instrumentation.  Research interests include laser-based trace-gas detection using cavity ring-down spectroscopy.  After a sabbatical at the Australian Defence Force Academy and at Ecole Centrale Paris during the Fall 2007 semester, Dr. Spence returned to his Loyola laboratories in January 2008. His research group is currently developing a system to determine isotopic abundances using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. 

Dr. Joelle S. Underwood, 865-3275, Monroe Hall 228

Dr. Underwood is an atmospheric physical and analytical chemist with research interests in two main areas: water uptake processes and chemical reactions of atmospherically relevant aerosol, and development of analytical techniques for studying the physical and chemical properties of atmospheric aerosol. Visit her Research Group Website for more information.

Dr. William Walkenhorst, 865-3270, Monroe Hall 211

Dr. Walkenhorst is a physical biochemist with research interests in the areas of molecular recognition, ligand binding, and protein folding and design.  His research group frequently studies the secondary structure of large biomolecules using circular dichroisum spectroscopy. 

Internships

Student internships in recent years have included: Science and Engineering Research Semester (SERS), Oak Ridge National Lab, and National Science Foundation Research Fellowships.  Forensic Chemistry students have interned at the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's DNA lab and the Orleans Parish Crime Lab. 

Student Organizations

Chemistry students have the opportunity to be involved in a number of student organizations.  They provide an opportunity for students to participate in outreach activities and to become aquainted with other chemistry students during social activities.  Please contact the Chemistry Department, 865-2267, for meeting times and more information about these organizations. 

• American Chemical Society Student Affiliate Group
• Alpha Chi Sigma