High School Scientists Gain Experience, Meet Mentors in Duquesne Labs

Nine area high school students will spend their summer with molecules and mentors in the 12th year of Duquesne’s Project SEED.

Offered through the chemistry department of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences and the American Chemical Society, Project SEED provides individual students with stipends and experiences, and widens the pipeline to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers.

“Many students are talented but might not consider themselves as future scientists,” said Dr. Jennifer Aitken, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, who started the award-winning program. “In accordance with the University mission, we strive to promote diversity in the chemical sciences by reaching out to these academically talented students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and offering them a hands-on chemistry research experience, allowing them to visualize themselves among the next generation of scientists.”

This year, students working from June 15 through Aug. 7 are:

  • Angel Williamson-Wheat, Amadou Diallo and Jeremiah Jones—Allderdice
  • Sarine McKenzie—Carrick
  • Stephen Lau—Chartiers
  • Cheyeanne Perez—McKeesport
  • Jordan Pestok and Nadejda Kodjo—Sto-Rox
  • Amber Latona—West Mifflin.

Their projects, which will be highlighted in a student blog, include:

  • Enzyme Kinetics in a Crowded Molecular Environment
  • Adsorption of Arsenic by Activated Carbon
  • Self-Assembled Monolayers on Nickel
  • Synthesis of Molybdenum-based Starting Materials for Use in Molybdenum-Dithiolene Complex Formation.

Students will share their research results in poster presentations at the University’s annual Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium on Friday, July 31.

“Through close interactions with their mentors, students get encouragement to pursue a scientific career through the realization that scientists are real people from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds,” Aitken said. “By presenting the findings of their studies at the research symposium, the Project SEED students gain the confidence that they need to continue on a career path in the sciences.”