|
WKU Chemistry Professor Honored For Research Work
Bowling Green, Ky. - Dr. Thandi Buthelezi, an associate professor of chemistry at Western Kentucky University, has been honored for her contributions to undergraduate research.
Dr. Buthelezi received the 2005 Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Chemical Research Oct. 15 at Indiana University. Since coming to WKU in 1999, she has engaged 16 undergraduates in research and four of them have continued on to pursue doctoral programs. She and her students also have published two papers this year on their findings in refereed journals. Dr. Buthelezi attended the Symposium for Excellence in Undergraduate Research with three chemistry students -- Chelsea Campbell of Louisville, Christopher Davies of Frankfort and Kayla Milner of Dale, Ind. During the symposium, Dr. Buthelezi also made a presentation on current WKU research for Indiana University chemistry faculty and graduate students. Dr. Buthelezi and her students are involved with two research projects -- artificial photosynthesis and capturing polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the environment. “In the first project, we are investigating artificial photosynthesis by investigating the interactions of chlorophyll with gold nanoparticles,” she said. “We use lasers as light sources and measure the change in the fluorescence of chlorophyll as a function of the gold nanoparticles. “In the second project, we study molecular associations of cyclophane with PAHs. Some PAHs are known to be carcinogenic; hence, it is essential that they be removed from the environment.” More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
|