This page is no longer being updated and remains online for informational and historical purposes only. The information is accurate as of the last page update.
For questions about page contents, contact the Communications Division.
Trustee Scholar Alison Campbell ’04 honed her laboratory and research skills last semester to learn more about the electrochemistry of an organometallic compound known as 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene or dppf. She also researched the effects of environmental conditions — such as temperature, concentration, and the nature of the supporting electrolyte — on the electrochemical reactivity of the compound. Dppf is used in conjunction with many metals as a catalyst.
A biochemistry major, Campbell worked with Chip Nataro, assistant professor of chemistry, as an EXCEL Scholar. “Alison used a technique which removes electrons from the compound,” says Nataro. “Based on her work, we may develop a better understanding of how this compound functions.”
This work allowed Campbell to broaden her research skills. “EXCEL provides an outstanding opportunity for hands-on involvement in a research environment,” she says. “The satisfaction and added knowledge it has brought me have positively reinforced that focus.”
She adds, “I also had the opportunity to co-author a technical paper on this research, something that I would not have thought possible for a second year undergraduate.”
Nataro is confident that Campbell completed solid work. “We hope to get a publication out of this work, which will provide a baseline for the chemical community to better understand dppf,” he says. “Research at this level is a tremendous experience for Alison, who is still only a sophomore.”
In addition to the laboratory experience, Campbell appreciates the mentoring environment at Lafayette.
“Working with Dr. Nataro has been highly rewarding,” she says. “This was an exceptional opportunity to gain independent laboratory experience and to establish myself in the laboratory environment. Perhaps more important was the opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty member, where I have been exposed to the critical thinking that needs to be applied to translate scientific inquiry into new knowledge.”
She adds, “Research at Lafayette is backed up by both funding and faculty support. The EXCEL Scholars program provides an outstanding supplemental learning environment where faculty encourage student involvement beyond the classroom and connect with students to support these efforts. Their commitment and enthusiasm is truly contagious.”
Campbell is a member of the student chapter of the American Chemical Society and Lafayette Pep Band, and volunteers through the Landis Community Outreach Center.
Goldwater Scholarship. Alison Campbell ’04 received a Goldwater Scholarship, the premier national undergraduate award of its type in math, science, and engineering. One of her research mentors is Chip Nataro, assistant professor of chemistry.