The Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh has awarded New College’s chemistry program a $10,000 Undergraduate Analytical Research Program (UARP) Grant for red tide research.
The funds will enable Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry Levente Pap, Ph.D. and his undergraduate students to study and monitor harmful algae blooms (HABs) in Florida during the 2021-2022 academic year.
“We are proposing to complete the first phase of a three-phase research program, which includes the establishment and investigation of the fundamental chemistry between the substrates and brevetoxins [produced during red tide] to create a portable toxin detection system,” Pap said of the project, which is entitled Qualitative and Quantitative Detection of Brevetoxins via Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). “A feasibility study will be accomplished by the aid of undergraduate students, and a toxin-specific substrate system will be developed for brevetoxin detection via SERS.”
SERS is a surface-sensitive technique that enhances Raman scattering (the inelastic scattering of photons by matter) by molecules absorbed on rough metal surfaces, or by nanostructures like plasmonic-magnetic silica nanotubes. HABs typically occur annually in Florida when colonies of algae grow out of control. This phenomenon necessitates constant research by scientists statewide to protect the health of the local marine environment and its inhabitants.
The UARP grant is designed for efforts like this, as its aim is “to promote training and development of undergraduate students in the field of analytical chemistry.” And UARP Committee Chair Rodney Austin appreciated the strong quality of Pap’s grant proposal.
“There were quite a few very strong proposals, and you can take pride in the fact that yours was objectively judged by our committee members to be among the very best,” Austin told Pap.
Part of the grant will be allocated to New College student researchers as a stipend for laboratory work, and the rest will be used for glassware and other equipment. This undertaking is just another example of New College’s prioritization of graduate-level, hands-on research for undergraduates.
“Besides the financial benefit, students will gain research skills and expertise. Thanks to this award, New College will train undergraduate students with strong research skills in the fields of analytical and inorganic chemistry,” Pap said. “Students will also work to establish a reliable brevetoxin monitoring technology that will ultimately aid red tide monitoring and mitigation efforts.”
Yasi Bahmanabadi is an intern in the Office of Communications & Marketing.