Sep19
Posted on Sep 19 by
Welcome to campus! I’m working with a great group of first year students from the Class of 2027 in Principles of Chemistry I this semester and it has been wonderful to see them on their first few days on the Emmanuel College campus. I have a great group of upper level students the Chemistry of Brewing class and we have four senior research students in the lab this year – Hailey, Kristy, Donalissa, and Sydney. This kind of leadership in the research group is amazing and I’m expecting big things from them in their final year of research. We’re already planning for the Summer Research Poster Session and we’re busy writing abstracts for the Spring 2024 ACS Conference taking place in New Orleans. We’re off to a fast start. The lab has missed us over the past month, so back to the lab! Interested in getting involved in research? Let’s talk! ~Dr....
Jul26
Posted on Jul 26 by
Summer research for 2023 is almost at its end! It has been a great summer and Hailey, Kristy, Donalissa, Juan, Marissa, and Gian have done a tremendous job collecting a ton of amazing data and finding a way through the challenging experiments and moments. We celebrated yesterday by taking the afternoon off to enjoy all that Boston has to offer and our afternoon experience was much like a summer of research. It began with a beautiful group picture in blue skies in sunshine. We enjoyed the Aquarium crowds while waiting for our Duck Boat ride. We enjoyed the sights and sounds of the city while being tourists on a crazy Duck Boat. Then came the storm. Sadly, we could not traverse the Charles River in the Duck Boat for fear of lightening. Dark days akin to challenging experiments. We sought shelter under the awnings of the Aquarium to watch the rain pour down over the Boston Harbor to the sounds of trumpeting seals. It was quite peaceful. Then came the mad dash through the rain to get to our...
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...
