Rising sophomore Sharfi Farhana began her research career at Hamilton College before beginning her first class. Farhana was one of 10 participants in Hamilton's intensive summer research program for entering first-year students last year. The program has also generated an increase in the number of Hamilton science graduates who continue their studies in graduate programs.
Farhana came to Hamilton with no intentions of studying science, but she says that her experience in this unique program changed her mind. "Last summer, I got a taste of biology working in the neuroscience lab, and this summer I was looking for a taste of chemistry," said Farhana, who is planning to declare a chemistry major during her sophomore year.
Professor and Chair of Chemistry George Shields says "At a time of falling enrollments in the physical sciences nationwide, coupled with an increased need for a technically trained workforce, it is imperative that we engage more American students. Chemists have a unique role to play in ongoing efforts to improve national security, to develop alternative energy sources and to improve health care."
Last year Farhana was introduced to the neurobiology lab and studied which proteins respond to an attack by E. coli bacteria in the tobacco hornworm. This year, Farhana is focusing on computational approaches to drug design and is splitting her research efforts on two projects. For the first part of the summer she researched alpha-fetoprotein, a naturally occurring protein in women who are pregnant or have given birth that has been proven in animal models to treat breast cancer. Farhana's second project involves collaboration with a team at the Florida Institute of Technology who discovered a new DNA cleaving agent. The new cleaving agent cuts certain DNA strands in cancerous cells in such a way that the cell ultimately dies.
Seven out of the 10 participants in the program last year have remained on campus this summer in the research lab. Ten entering freshman will join the 80 students working on science research projects at Hamilton this summer. Many of these projects lead to papers co-authored by students and faculty members.
Rising Junior Greg Hartt, who also participated in the program, just completed a draft of a paper that summarizes the results of the atmospheric chemistry research he performed his first summer. "Participating in the pre-freshman program and knowing that I should ask questions has made it easier for me to talk to all my professors and continue asking questions," he said.
Hartt says, "I love the fact that I'm discovering things that no one else knows. My first experience in the lab was a great preview of what research can be like and it's something I would like to continue doing."
The program, called the STEP (Science Talent Expansion Program)/Dreyfus program, provides 8-12 students with the hands-on opportunity to work closely with student mentors and faculty members on interdisciplinary research projects. Funding comes from the National Science Foundation and The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation.
Farhana came to Hamilton with no intentions of studying science, but she says that her experience in this unique program changed her mind. "Last summer, I got a taste of biology working in the neuroscience lab, and this summer I was looking for a taste of chemistry," said Farhana, who is planning to declare a chemistry major during her sophomore year.
Professor and Chair of Chemistry George Shields says "At a time of falling enrollments in the physical sciences nationwide, coupled with an increased need for a technically trained workforce, it is imperative that we engage more American students. Chemists have a unique role to play in ongoing efforts to improve national security, to develop alternative energy sources and to improve health care."
Last year Farhana was introduced to the neurobiology lab and studied which proteins respond to an attack by E. coli bacteria in the tobacco hornworm. This year, Farhana is focusing on computational approaches to drug design and is splitting her research efforts on two projects. For the first part of the summer she researched alpha-fetoprotein, a naturally occurring protein in women who are pregnant or have given birth that has been proven in animal models to treat breast cancer. Farhana's second project involves collaboration with a team at the Florida Institute of Technology who discovered a new DNA cleaving agent. The new cleaving agent cuts certain DNA strands in cancerous cells in such a way that the cell ultimately dies.
Seven out of the 10 participants in the program last year have remained on campus this summer in the research lab. Ten entering freshman will join the 80 students working on science research projects at Hamilton this summer. Many of these projects lead to papers co-authored by students and faculty members.
Rising Junior Greg Hartt, who also participated in the program, just completed a draft of a paper that summarizes the results of the atmospheric chemistry research he performed his first summer. "Participating in the pre-freshman program and knowing that I should ask questions has made it easier for me to talk to all my professors and continue asking questions," he said.
Hartt says, "I love the fact that I'm discovering things that no one else knows. My first experience in the lab was a great preview of what research can be like and it's something I would like to continue doing."
The program, called the STEP (Science Talent Expansion Program)/Dreyfus program, provides 8-12 students with the hands-on opportunity to work closely with student mentors and faculty members on interdisciplinary research projects. Funding comes from the National Science Foundation and The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation.
