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Marquis Scholar Laura Hagopian ’06 (Chelmsford, Mass.) spent the summer creating new compounds at Lafayette and collaborated with scientists from the University of California San Diego. She is continuing research that will result in a paper submitted to a scientific journal and possibly a presentation at a professional chemistry conference.
Working with Chip Nataro, assistant professor of chemistry, Hagopian tried to find compounds that have the function of a catalyst. Nataro explains that a catalyst is “a material that helps reactions that are normally slow go faster.”
Hagopian and Nataro participated in Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, in which students collaborate with faculty on research while earning a stipend. Lafayette is a national leader in undergraduate research. Many of the 180 students who participate in EXCEL each year go on to publish papers in scholarly journals and/or present their research at conferences.
A chemistry major, Hagopian made new compounds that she hopes have catalytic properties. She also characterized the compounds by checking the properties and color identity.
Some of these catalytic compounds were sent to a University of California San Diego laboratory for testing. Hagopian may travel to the university to meet with the scientists.
“It took me a while to understand what I was doing,” she admits, adding that Nataro helped her succeed through his vast background in the project’s subject matter. “But over time, I started to pick it up.”
“Laura is perfectly trained, competent, and familiar with the equipment now,” Nataro says, adding that EXCEL has had a positive effect on her thinking skills.
“Being in a research lab is so different than being in a classroom laboratory,” Hagopian notes. “It’s a real-world experience.”
Hagopian is happy she participated in EXCEL and pleased at the many opportunities available at Lafayette, particularly her research with Nataro.
“It’s nice to have one-on-one interaction,” she says. “I don’t think a lot of colleges would have that for their students.”
Nataro finds the one-on-one interaction beneficial for his research as well as the student’s learning experience. “The students are brilliant, motivated, and willing to work,” he says. “I can’t think of anything else I’d rather have.”
Although the EXCEL Scholars project is officially over, Hagopian is still making new compounds in the hope of finding more catalysts. Nataro says she now has the opportunity to continue doing research on what interests her most, and they will continue with it until they are satisfied. “I don’t know that these projects are really ever done,” he says.
Hagopian will have the opportunity to co-author a paper with Nataro for submission to a scientific journal after they complete more research and possibly will present their findings at the American Chemistry Society meeting next fall.
“I want to keep doing research with him until I graduate,” she says.
The student is deciding between going to graduate school to study chemistry or attending medical school. Both career choices will make excellent use of her research experience, Hagopian says.
A graduate of Chelmsford High School, Hagopian is a DJ for WJRH and runs two volunteer programs, Best Buddies and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She is a member of the Chemistry Club and the Keefe Volunteer Floor, and plays intramural sports. She also is a volunteer EMT and is training for EMT certification.