Nico Lang and Cullen Schull, both May 2021 graduates, found success adapting their biochemistry research amid COVID-19.<\/p>\n
A pair of UW-La Crosse biochemistry students didnt let COVID-19 stand in the way of their research.<\/p>\n
Cullen Schull and Nico Lang, who each graduated with abachelors degree in biochemistryin May, had spent the past couple years researching greener routes of synthesis for high-purity curcumin, a powdery orange chemical produced by certain plants. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has been used as a cooking ingredient and alternative medicine for centuries but also has numerous biological applications as a wonder drug.<\/p>\n
Lang had been working on the synthesis and isolation of curcumin compounds using a green methodology and microwave energy. Typical industrial synthesis and isolation procedures are based on a report from the 1960s, taking a greater toll on the environment.<\/p>\n
Unable to work in the lab due to COVID-19, Lang demonstrated the effectiveness of his greener approach using recently developed software the Environmental Assessment Tool for Organic Synthesis. He also completed a bibliography on the synthesis of curcumin and similar chemicals, placing his green methodology in perspective.<\/p>\n
Schull had been working on a combinatory study to develop a simple and versatile method to obtain curcuminoids (analogues of curcumin) using a blend of synthetic and computational modeling.<\/p>\n
From a biomedical standpoint, curcuminoids are shown to be even more effective than curcumin. However, a lack of knowledge about curcuminoid synthesis has resulted in a limited commercial availability of curcuminoids, as well as high prices.<\/p>\n
Schulls synthetic work was put on hold during COVID-19. Instead, he used molecular modeling to better understand the mechanism of curcuminoid synthesis, gaining valuable data and experience conducting online research.<\/p>\n
This summer, Schull is finishing his project and hoping to publish his manuscript.<\/p>\n
His work helped earn a WiSys Spark grant, which was funded for the spring 2021 semester and summer 2021.<\/p>\n
It is particularly remarkable that these two students felt the substantial impact of COVID-19 on their research but were able to use the forced online transition as an opportunity to take their research to a new level, saysValeria Stepanova, an assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry and the students research advisor.<\/p>\n
Lang has been accepted into the University of Utahs graduate chemistry program. Schull plans to pursue a doctorate in organic chemistry at Northwestern University.<\/p>\n
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Resilient researchers: UW-La Crosse students adapt their research amid COVID-19 - University of Wisconsin System<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nico Lang and Cullen Schull, both May 2021 graduates, found success adapting their biochemistry research amid COVID-19. Continue reading