The chemistry department at SUNY Oswego presented their anticipated and ongoing research projects and incentivized students to apply for summertime engagement, announced on Feb. 9 by Instructional Support and Advisement Coordinator Kristin Gublo.

With projects spanning across all disciplines of chemistry, including organic, inorganic, analytical and computational, students in attendance were exposed to the on-site uses of experimental methods taught in the classroom and shown the potential applications they could carry out themselves.

These opportunities would stretch over eight weeks during the summer at the university, allowing students to remain on campus with familiar faculty while addressing project goals. In addition, funds are available to receive payment for conducted research. On average, most students will receive approximately $3,000 for project advancements.

Though research opportunities are bountiful during the fall and spring semesters of the academic year, the dedication to a project on top of classes may be a strenuous task for those facing a challenging semester, especially when considering the use of advanced equipment and data analysis.

“Sometimes it can be difficult for our students to juggle all the demands of a research project while taking a full course load of courses during the school year,” Gublo said. “The summer research experience allows our students to really dive deep into the project over an eight-week period and make significant contributions to the research. We are very lucky to have this type of support and funding for our students so that they can focus solely on their research while still earning some money in the process.”

Katie Gilligan, a graduate student at SUNY Oswego pursuing a Master of Science in chemistry, notes the importance and work-life balance the summer opportunity had on her biochemistry project’s development.

“You get to really focus on your work without the stress of classes and homework,” Gilligan said. “I found myself making so much more progress with my research over the summer than I did during the semester. The faculty also [likes] to try to make it fun and hold social activities with all the students. We had a free pizza lunch every week and had an ice cream social at Bev’s. I will definitely be trying to do research again this summer.”

Although a smaller institution relative to research monoliths such as those belonging to the Ivy League, SUNY Oswego still holds the necessary resources to push its aspiring graduate school applicants forward.

Even if students are not interested in pursuing graduate-level research options, their stance in the job market substantially elevates when carrying any form of research under their belt.

“Experiences like this really set our students apart when it comes to job searching and graduate school applications,” Gublo said.

Beyond the future implications research experiences have on a student’s job prospects, the immediate benefits come from the practicality of techniques and methods discussed in lectures. While learning the theory of a procedure is vital to forming a robust knowledge foundation, readily applying the procedure develops the skills of upcoming chemistry professionals.

“Ample undergraduate research experience gives you an edge in the eyes of potential employers and graduate programs,” according to the American Chemical Society on Undergraduate Research.

Arsalan Mirjafari, head researcher at The Mirjafari Lab and a professor of chemistry at the university, outlined his research group’s goals as a team dedicated to ionic liquid chemistry and advancing the scientific field.

“Our primary aim is [the] rational design of a class of novel and useful functional organic materials called ionic liquids, with the overarching goal of uncovering specific molecular and biomaterials functions, addressing major societal challenges in energy, sustainability and health,” Mirjafari said. “We are particularly interested in understanding how the structure and interactions of the constitute ions in ionic liquids lead to their macroscopic behaviors.”

“Our research is designed to advance the scientific enterprise by developing new ionic liquid-enabled technologies while training scientists of tomorrow,” Mirjafari said. “Our objectives are to support meritorious research, ultimately resolving a key problem of immediate interest to society, expose students with diverse backgrounds to research and strengthen the research environment and infrastructure at SUNY Oswego as a resource-limited, public primarily undergraduate institution.”

The Mirjafari Lab has seen great success amongst its student participants. Of those, two have been accepted to prestigious programs in chemistry at Stanford University and the University of Notre Dame, a testament to the unrivaled expertise developed through research.

“Further success has been achieved in the form of scholarships and publications on the fruitful progress made in our laboratory,” Mirjafari said.

The 2023 summer chemistry research program had 16 student and 7 faculty participants, where all “student positions were paid thanks to generous alumni and retired professors that have set up awards with [SUNY Oswego’s] University Advancement office and also by internal grants like [SUNY Oswego’s] Faculty-Student Challenge Grants,” Gublo said.

Applications for the 2024 summer chemistry program will be accepted until April 1, the deadline for program interest. Students are advised to speak directly with the faculty member coordinating a specific chemistry program to inquire about team availability.

“Research can lead to the discovery of new knowledge or innovative solutions to existing global problems,” Mirjafari said. “In addition, undergraduate STEM research enriches the academic experience, prepares students for future success, and contributes to the advancement of science and technology. By getting students involved early, it allows for the skills of a scientist to develop alongside the knowledge gained in the classroom.”