Opportunities

Research
Giving students opportunities to do real research, guided by faculty, is a priority in the Natural Sciences Division at Carthage. The Chemistry Department continues this emphasis in and out of the classroom. Students conduct significant research through programs like the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, as well as during J-Term and independent study. Carthage faculty involve students in research projects year-round.

Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
SURE offers students the opportunity to conduct research in a one-on-one setting with a faculty mentor. Students receive a stipend, room and board, and a research budget. Participants meet weekly for lunch and presentations of research progress. A poster session is held during the final week of the program, and all SURE students are required to write a summative project report. In past years, SURE participants have:

• Designed and built biofilm detectors
• Developed adaptive optics demonstrations for museum installations
• Studied the long-term effects of fluoxetine exposure on the third-trimester rats
• Developed low-cost seismic monitoring stations
• Studied molecular micelles
• Designed and built fiber-optic neural probes

J-Term
J-Term is a month-long period of study in which academic departments at Carthage offer innovative courses on campus, as well as off-campus study tours to other countries. During J-Term, chemistry students can work with faculty on research projects, focus their efforts on a single course for their major, intern with a research facility or business, or broaden their horizons with a trip to another country.

Student Organizations
The Chemistry community at Carthage is active on campus. Students can join the College's chapter of the American Chemical Association, which meets weekly and hosts chemistry-related events on campus and for local schools. Carthage also has a chapter of Theta Chi Delta, the honorary chemistry fraternity.

ScienceWorks
ScienceWorks is a unique offering at Carthage. The program focuses on the business of science by integrating important skills such as written and oral communication, graphics and artwork, business accounting, management, and marketing. Students get hands-on experience and coursework that prepares them for the job market and career advancement.

Presentations
Carthage chemistry majors regularly present their research findings at state and national conferences and meetings, including the annual undergraduate symposium hosted by the 11-state Midstates Science and Math Consortium.

Academics at Carthage

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Prospective Students

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Student Research Projects

Download the following .pdfs to learn more about Carthage student research projects.

Chemistry

• Monitoring the Chloride Concentration in the Pike River
  Various students; Professor Christine Blaine
• Effect of Polymer Binding on Proton Correlation Times
  Katelyn Hartstern, Professor Kevin Morris
• The Development of a Facile Approach for Monitoring Flash Chromatography via Fluorescence
  Christina Konecki, Professor C.J. Stephenson

Research Opportunities

Summer Undergraduate Research Experience leads to real world success. Read more.

Student Voices

"The professors and students interact a lot, and there is a sense of community within the department."

— Kenion Blakeman, '10, Racine, Wis.

Hear what students have to say about studying chemistry at Carthage.