Jul28
Posted on Jul 28 by
The research group has worked very hard this summer through a variety of adverse conditions and has come through with a lot of great data, quality research experience, and more ideas for the next experiment. That means it is time for the very official State of the Project reports! Students give short presentations to summarize where their projects started, where things stand now, and where experiments will go in the coming semester. We have some great presentations on Friday! This has been an amazing group of chemists to work with this summer. We’ve had some great lunch discussions and took a trip to the North End for Julia-inspired Italian cannolis and more!...
Jul21
Posted on Jul 21 by
It was fantastic to see research alumni in the Boston area come together in person to catch up, support each other, and support the current students in the research lab. We had a great time and missed all the alumni too far from campus to join in the fun. The network of research alumni keeps growing and the connections and accomplishments are impressive. Stay in touch – you’re...
Jul12
Posted on Jul 12 by
Dr. Gerdon is thinking about new adventures with DNA origami by starting with paper and a few folds. Tabs and pockets hold the six pieces of paper together to make this cube. Over 200 synthetic strands of DNA base-pair to M13 phage DNA to hold this DNA origami tile together and hopefully we’ll see it in action in the lab in the coming weeks! This summer of research has been a challenge and has been a lot of fun! We are so glad to be back to chemistry research, learning, struggling, and learning some more to come up with completely amazing, new experiments. The group – Amanda, Esther, Grace, Julia, Luz, and Rylie – has worked really hard and we have great new data to...
Jul06
Posted on Jul 6 by
Grace is so excited to be doing summer research with the GRAB lab team this summer! She has begun working on Headspace Extraction, Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME), and GC-MS analysis of ignitable molecules. Her plan is to develop the GRAB lab’s own in-house reference library of ignitable molecules! She has completed headspace analysis and compiled chromatograms and mass spectra of 10 molecules and gasoline and diesel standards so far! Next, she is working on development of a method for SPME and then compiling data on the same molecules and standards using SPME. Grace has had a great time during summer research so far and cannot wait to see what the rest of the summer will...
Jun29
Posted on Jun 29 by
This week Luz finished performing headspace analysis of volatile liquids, hexane and gasoline, on four sample fabrics. These fabrics are denim, linen, polyester, and nylon. The headspace analysis using the GC-MS instrument has shown– through chromatograms and mass spectra, that this method is most likely not sensitive enough to detect the molecules or that the method needs to be adjusted. This is where Luz will get to add in solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to work on improving...
Jun29
Posted on Jun 29 by
The GRAB Lab is excited to welcome Esther Hines, chemistry instructor from Billerica Memorial High School, to the group! Esther is part of our NSF-funded research that includes recruiting an amazing high school chemistry teacher to the group for several weeks over the summer to learn about our work, re-engage in chemistry research activity, and develop an experiment to take back to her high school class. The group is excited for the opportunity to work with Esther and to hopefully visit her class, lab, and students in the fall...
