First year honors students Ms. Krisha Parekh (Biological Sciences major) and Mr. Atif Bacchus (Biological Sciences major) celebrate their hard work after a tough fall semester in the Interdisciplinary Science Learning Laboratories (ISLL) program’s Honors integrated Biology and Chemistry (HiBC) course with Poster Presentations of their studies of bioethanol and biodiesel.
Atif’s and Krisha’s lab groups spent 4 weeks meticulously synthesizing and characterizing their biofuels as part of their HiBC capstone project. The coordination of the integrated biology and chemistry labs allows students to meet twice a week to advance their projects and perform deep dives into scientific questions in relatively short periods of time. They, along with their classmates, then present posters to each other and inform their peers about their biofuel experiments.
However, Krisha and Atif worked with the HiBC faculty Associate Professor Alenka Hlousek-Radojcic (Department of Biological Sciences) and Assistant Professor Jacqueline Fajardo (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry) during the winter semester to refine and present their class projects at the 2023 First Annual Biology Research Day and again at the 2023 DENIN Eighth Annual Environmental Symposium.
Krisha’s work comparing Timothy Hay- and Alfalfa-derived bioethanol was recognized with the first place Undergraduate Poster Presentation Award at the 2023 First Annual Biology Research Day and third place at the 2023 DENIN’s Eighth Annual Environmental Symposium. “I never saw or read a scientific poster before joining HiBC, so I was nervous about creating and presenting my own. However, Professors Alenka and Fajardo, as well as preceptors Dr. Liu and Dr. Mohr, were incredibly helpful throughout the process. We met frequently during the winter. During this time, they taught me a lot about properly conveying data and results, as well as why the experiment is even being done. While it was tedious at times, making and presenting this poster has been a wonderful experience, and I know the skills I gained are going to be useful as I present at other conferences.” - Krisha Parekh.
Atif’s work compared walnut-derived methyl- and ethyl-ester biodiesel products. “I learned how research derives an answer within the complexities of biology and chemistry. We faced the challenge of formulating our hypothesis, conducting experiments, and evaluating the outcomes. Throughout the project, unforeseen challenges arose - some of the alcohols we used didn't yield the anticipated results. We adapted our approach and made necessary adjustments to ensure progress in our experiment. [Research] requires collaboration and teamwork, as well as perseverance and dedication. I encourage you not to shy away from getting your hands dirty. Embrace the challenges, ask thoughtful questions, and strive to go above and beyond. This diligent attitude will not only enhance your learning experience but also open doors to valuable opportunities as you progress in your college career.” - Atif Bacchus.
ISLL provides preceptors to HiBC who oversee the lab development and work with students in laboratories, lectures, studio sessions, and office hours. “Each of these projects is a unique learning experience. Both projects seek to address the challenges of using bio-derived fuel sources as a potential alternative to fossil fuels. Students investigate the oft-overlooked costs of “carbon neutral” fuels and experience first-hand what it actually means to produce biofuel. Atif’s biodiesel project is an exploration into the challenges of organic chemistry and touches on some challenges of food-scarcity as it intersects biofuel production. Krisha’s bioethanol project explores the challenges of biochemistry and microbiology as synthetic tools and she looks into using abundant, native, non-edible fuel sources. It’s astounding and rewarding to see just how much Krisha and Atif grew over the course of one semester and we in HiBC are so proud to see them take their classroom experience to the next level.” - Dr. Jordan Mohr, ISLL preceptor.
Acknowledgements:
Honors integrated Biology and Chemistry (HiBC) is a specialized, interdisciplinary course serving honors first year students taught by Associate Professor Alenka Hlousek-Radojcic (Department of Biological Sciences) and Assistant Professor Jacqueline Fajardo (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry). HiBC is managed by the Interdisciplinary Science Learning Labs program with support from the College of Arts and Sciences; the Department of Biological Sciences; the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and the Honors College. ISLL further provides Preceptors to the course who oversee laboratory development and work closely with students in labs, lectures, studio sessions, and office hours.
The biofuel projects were closely advised by the ISLL Preceptor Dr. Shiyao Liu; their undergraduate chemistry lab TAs Taylor Filliben (class of 2023), Shivani Mehta (class of 2023), and Maddie Cheong (class of 2023); and their graduate biology lab TAs Karli Sunnergren (winner of the 2023 Excellent Graduate Teaching Assistant in Biological Sciences award) and Katherine Boas.
The specialized glassware used in Atif’s biodiesel project was funded by ISLL and the Honors College.
Article by Dr. Jordan Mohr
July 28, 2023
