Jul20
Posted on Jul 20 by
The July tradition continued in the Fenway neighborhood this week. With the towers of Emmanuel keeping watch, research alumni from across New England (and across the country in spirit) gathered to meet the current research students, to share updates on life and chemistry, and to catch up with old friends. The alumni network feels more and more like an extended family as the years go by and it is wonderful to see such successful individuals and chemists. These students and former students have moved forward a vague research idea concocted years ago into a successful and fun research adventure – our own corner of the scientific endeavor. It was really great to see everyone and to toast your success. Please stay in...
Jul20
Posted on Jul 20 by
A few weeks ago, Marissa had the pleasure of joining Dr. Gerdon at Harvard Medical School for some transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging of her gold nanoparticle samples. The TEM instrument is so tall that it could not fit into a single picture. She was able to observe how the samples were prepared and how to observe them to find the size of her samples. Though the instrument is a bit complicated to navigate, Marissa is hopeful to be able to use it more in the future for her upcoming mineralization...
Jul15
Posted on Jul 15 by
Kristy recently joined Dr. Gerdon to do some scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging of mineralized collagen samples. The trip to Harvard Medical School was a jaw dropping experience. Being able to watch how to prep samples for SEM and even use the instrument to look around some mineralized collagen hydrogels felt surreal! It is so cool to know that we have technology that can help us see every little detail. Kristy hopes to get some more time on SEM and explore the instrument...
Jul12
Posted on Jul 12 by
It is important to make connections and to take a break from time to time. Dr. Gerdon took a step away from the lab to visit the Emmanuel College Institute of Eastern Mediterranean Studies on location in Alikianos, Crete. Professor Petros Vamvakas, Director of the Institute, became an honorary member of the GRAB Lab team and has started making suggestions for connections in ocean chemistry in the Mediterranean. Thank you to Dr. Vamvakas! Where else has GRAB Lab been and where does chemistry take us...
Jun28
Posted on Jun 28 by
This summer the group is excited to welcome, work with, and learn from Dr. Gian Grant! Dr. Grant is the Science Department Chair and Chemistry Teacher at the Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School in Methuen, MA. She will work with us in the lab through the end of July and then we’ll have the opportunity to visit her classroom in the Fall semester. We’ve already been able to meet some of her students attending the Cristo Rey Leadership program taking place on campus at Emmanuel. Dr. Grant is already bringing excitement and a lot of great questions to the group. We got to sit down together for a delicious lunch to kick things off. Welcome Dr....
Jun28
Posted on Jun 28 by
As the first official days of summer pass, Marissa is excited to spend her time in the lab for summer research. She has been trying to synthesize a different type of gold nanoparticle to be used for mineralization experiments. Different parameters have been tested to determine how the gold nanoparticle can be synthesized. Marissa has been experiencing some ups and downs when it comes to synthesis research, but she hopes to move on to mineralization experiments soon with the gold nanoparticles she has made. Although some methods are new to her, she has been working hard to understand them and apply them to her research. Overall, Marissa is excited to continue spending her summer in the GRAB lab and to have some fun in...
