 Focus on Research with Nicole Morin
Nicole's research advisor is Prof. Louis Kuo. She is spending the summer trying to gain a better understanding of how azoarcus ribozymes function catalytically though ligating metal ions. Her first challenge is synthesizing a sufficient quantity of the ribozyme to do further experiments. Then she will look at the EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectrum in collaboration with Oregon Health Sciences University to find out how the metals and ribozyme interact. She's also doing kinetic studies in which she varies the concentrations of the ribozyme and of the nucleotide guanosine to determine their binding affinities to the enzyme.
How much do you feel your classes prepared you for research?
"Beautifully. I was very prepared in terms of, first of all, the terminology - that was huge. A lot of the procedures that we do (here in the Kuo lab) I've done before. And just an understanding of how the system works." Nicole also points out that she's learning the scientific method more as an independent researcher than she ever did through books.
What do you feel you've learned from the experience so far?
"Patience. Plus, I've learned a lot more about kinetics."
What are your plans for the future?
"Eventually medical school, OB-GYN, probably."
Do you think your research experience will help you in future endeavors?
"Definitely. Not only having the general experience, but also it's just helping my thought process."
Students and Alumni Profile
 Jennifer Maki '06 - Chemistry Graduate Program U. Washington
• Phi Betta Kappa
• Honors Thesis Title: “Developing Better Chemical Shift Thermometers (CSTs) for NMR Spectroscopy"
• "The chemistry department at L&C prepared me well for my graduate work at the University of Washington...I have far more hands-on experience with all of the spectrometers and other lab instruments than students from other schools, which will be an asset in my analytical studies."
 Angela Blum '05 - Chemistry Ph.D. program at California Institute of Technology
• 2005 Rena Ratte recipient and 2004 Goldwater recipient
• Honors Thesis Title: “Investigation of the Hydrolysis of Novel VX Mimics”
• NSF graduate fellowship
 Mark Creelman '05 - Chemistry Ph.D. program at UC Berkeley
• Phi Betta Kappa
• Honors Thesis Title: “Molecular Encapsulation of Paramagnetic Shift Thermometers.”
 Andy Bohaty '03 - Ph.D. Chemistry Program at U. Utah
• Rena Ratte Finalist and Phi Betta Kappa
• Varsity L&C football; Scholar Athlete of the Year.
• Undergraduate research project: Aldehyde and Ketone Reduction with Aqueous Metallocence Complexes.
• "The courses that I took at Lewis & Clark College provided me with a great background in chemistry that has allowed me to excel in all of my graduate courses...Overall the unique learning environment and diverse opportunities available at L&C have given me a great foundation to develop as a scientist and as a person."
 Marie Spong '01 Ph.D. Chemistry Program at Harvard
• Rena Ratte Finalist and Goldwater recipient
• NSF and HHMI graduate fellowship
• Honors Thesis Title: “DNA Bending as a Function of Distance Between dG-BPDE Lesions on Opposing Strands”
• "The most valuable part of my undergraduate education was the one-on-one interactions between faculty and students. I found the professors in the chemistry department to be excellent mentors both in the classroom and as research advisors."
 Scott Kennedy '00 - Medical Residency at OHSU
• Phi Beta Kappa
• Varsity L&C football
• Undergraduate research project: Ab Initio Computational Study of the Allenyl Cope Rearrangement in Allenylnorborene.
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