About the GSSPC
The GSSPC is the Graduate Student Symposium Planning Committee. At each National Meeting since 2005, a group of graduate students from different universities has been selected to prepare and host a symposium. The GSSPC provides unique networking, leadership, and hands-on opportunities for graduate students on a professional level. Furthermore, each GSSPC is responsible for choosing and mentoring a subsequent GSSPC. For more information, please visit the ACS site here.
About Duquesne University
Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Duquesne University is a Catholic, Spiritan institution, the only of its kind in the United States. Consistently ranked as one of the nation's top Catholic universities, Duquesne offers a unique feel, as it's private campus is nestled just minutes from the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. Learn more about Duquesne University here.
The Committee
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Sean Fischer - Committee Co-ChairB.S. in Chemistry - University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (2015)
Duquesne Advisor: Dr. Stephanie J. Wetzel / Dr. Tomislav Pintauer Sean grew up outside of Pittsburgh, PA and is currently a third-year graduate student at Duquesne. His research focuses on the synthesis of small functionalized molecules using copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) reactions in conjunction with click chemistry. Sean is currently the president of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Association of Graduate Students (BAGS) and treasurer of Duquesne University chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon (PLU). In his spare time, Sean enjoys mountain biking, strength training, and traveling with his fiancée. Kendy Pellegrene-Guarinoni - Committee Co-ChairB.S. in Biology - Washington and Jefferson College (2013)
M.S. in Biology - Chatham University (2014) Duquesne Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey D. Evanseck Kendy is from Blairsville, PA. She began her academic career at Duquesne University in 2015, spending time in both the Pharmacology and Chemistry departments. Currently, she is starting her first full year in the Chemistry PhD program, studying protein targets of the RNA G-quadruplex both computationally and experimentally. She is also an active member of Duquesne's Phi Lambda Upsilon (PLU) chapter. Kendy enjoys spending time with her friends and family, visiting wineries and breweries, and reading. Tell Lovelace - LogisticsB.S. in Chemistry - University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (2016)
Duquesne Advisor: Dr. Ellen S. Gawalt Tell hails from Murrysville, PA a suburb of Pittsburgh. He is studying surface chemistry as a second-year graduate student at Duquesne. His current research focuses on the immobilization of anti-platelet molecules on self-assembled monolayers formed on implant materials. Tell currently serves as the vice-president of the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Association of Graduate Students (BAGS) and secretary of Phi Lambda Upsilon (PLU) at Duquesne. Tell's interests include cooking, nature, comics, and fitness. Alexander Rupprecht - Budget and FinanceB.S. in Chemistry - St. Vincent College (2015)
Duquesne Advisor: Dr. Ellen S. Gawalt / Dr. Tomislav Pintauer Alexander (AJ) was born in St. Mary's, PA and is currently a third-year graduate student at Duquesne. AJ's research focuses on the development of novel and highly active copper catalysts for the use in atom transfer radical addition (ATRA). He is currently an active member in Duquesne University chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon (PLU), and is treasurer for the Bayer School Association of Graduate Students (BAGS). When he is not in the lab doing research, AJ enjoys winemaking, cooking, reading, and hiking. Amy Carlson - Budget and FinanceB.S. in Chemistry - Seton Hill University (2014)
Duquesne Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey D. Evanseck Amy grew up in Oil City, PA, and is in her fourth year at Duquesne. Her research involves collaboration between computational and experimental chemists, investigating the energetics, structure, and mechanism of self-assembled monolayer molecules with metal oxide surfaces. Most recently her research has focused on building accurate titanium oxide slab models for adsorption studies. Amy currently serves as vice president of the Duquesne University chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon (PLU). Outside of the lab, Amy enjoys cooking, hiking, and music. Emily Benner - ProgrammingB.S. in Biology and Chemistry - John Carroll University (2012)
Duquesne Advisor: Dr. Jeffry D. Madura / Dr. Jeffrey D. Evanseck Emily is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, and is starting her sixth year as a graduate student at Duquesne. As a member of the Madura research lab, Emily's work has focused on membrane protein dynamics. Of particular interest are the monoamine transporter proteins SERT and DAT and the mechanism by which substrates are transported, specifically the inward-to-outward pathway. These mechanisms are studied computationally using molecular dynamics techniques with 180,000 all-atom systems. She is also an active member of the Duquesne chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon (PLU). When she's not doing research, Emily enjoys attending Pittsburgh Penguins games, baking, and spoiling her cats. Joshua Imperatore - FundraisingB.S. in Biochemistry - Washington and Jefferson College (2016)
Duquesne Advisor: Dr. Rita M. Mihailescu Joshua originates from Washington, PA, a town in southwestern Pennsylvania and is currently in his second year at Duquesne. His current research focuses on the biophysical characterization of G-quadruplexes within microRNAs and how their interactions with various RNA-binding proteins can disregulate protein function within disease-state cells. His interests include novel protein-nucleic acid interactions and their relationship to the onset of various cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. In his free time, Joshua enjoys spending time with friends and family, kayak fishing, attending local concerts, and sporting events. Logan Miller - FundraisingB.S. in Chemistry - Slippery Rock University (2012)
Duquesne Advisor: Dr. H. M. Skip Kingston Logan grew up in northwestern PA and is currently in his sixth year at Duquesne. His research focus is on the development of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) based methods for the automated analysis of dried blood spots for clinical and forensics toxicology human markers. Additional interests include advancing LCMS methodologies for probing secreted small molecules to answer biological phenomena and consulting for local industry using LCMS techniques. Logan avidly participates in the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh, Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, PittCon, the Pittsburgh ACS local section, and serves as an associate member on National ACS YCC. He is passionate about promoting science education and outreach in the Pittsburgh region and across the United States. Logan's hobbies include playing classical piano music, amateur mineralogy, and enjoying time with friends. Gabby Pros - MarketingB.S. in Chemistry - Gettysburg College (2013)
Duquesne Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey D. Evanseck / Dr. Tomislav Pintauer Gabby grew up in Halifax, PA, and is now in her fifth year at Duquesne. She works under the dual advisement of Drs. Evanseck and Pintauer. Under Dr. Pintauer, she helps develop catalysts and optimize conditions for atom transfer radical processes, and synthesizes novel polymers. She uses DFT methods under Dr. Evanseck to guide some of her experimental work by mapping reaction pathways and analyzing the electronic environment around the catalysts. In her free time, Gabby enjoys staying active with outdoor activities like tennis, kayaking, hiking, and running. Luke Metzler - MarketingB.S. in Chemistry - University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (2016)
Duquesne Advisor: Dr. Michael Van Stipdonk Luke is from Greensburg, PA, and in his second year at Duquesne. Under the advisement of Dr. Van Stipdonk, Luke studies the intrinsic chemistry of gas-phase ions and bridging the gap of theory and experiment with systems ranging from peptides to organometallics. When not in the lab, Luke likes to hike and fly fish. |