Dunbar student part of research project

The West Virginia State College and Marshall University departments of chemistry are collaborating on a National Science Foundation grant in a program called Research Experience for Undergraduates.

According to Dr. Hal Pinnick, chairman of the State’s Department of Chemistry, the grant provides stipends, activities and housing for 10 students, including State student Sarah Lucas of Dunbar.

Two projects at State are being funded with the grant. Lucas is working with Pinnick on research titled “Synthesis for Cannabinoids and Pyoluteorin and Analogs.” The focus is on development of new synthese of several classes of compounds that have high pharmacological or plant antifungal activity.

Performing research with Dr. Thomas Guetzloff, WVSC assistant professor of chemistry, is Andrew Bleigh of Sand Fork. Their project is titled “A Seasonal Study of Metal Contamination of the Kanawha River and Heizer/Manila Creek of West Virginia.”

Guetzloff and Bleigh will study inorganic contaminant concentrations detected in the Kanawha River and acid mine drainage sites near Poca.

Lucas and Bleigh will present their research findings at an undergraduate research symposium in August.