草榴视频

KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 29, 2022

草榴视频 State University junior Ariane Charland-Martin鈥檚 research on creating environmentally friendly materials for technological applications won the top prize Thursday at the annual research symposium.

鈥淲e are here today to recognize our student scholars and our partnership with Birla Carbon,鈥� said Kojo Mensa-Wilmot, dean of the . 鈥淏ecause of this partnership and the guidance of their faculty mentors, our student scientists have the opportunity to delve into an important topic for a summer and produce groundbreaking research.鈥�

The Birla Carbon Team judges awarded Charland-Martin, a major from Woodstock, the top prize. Working in the laboratory of assistant professor of chemistry Graham Collier, Charland-Martin discovered a substance that made polymer materials degradable while retaining properties effective for electronic applications, such as solar cells or thin films for sunglasses.

鈥淧olymers currently available are usually not reusable or recyclable, or they鈥檙e made through less eco-friendly methods,鈥� said Charland-Martin, an student in the Double Owl program who is also pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in . 鈥淏y designing these polymers with a degradable building block, we can maintain their effectiveness and make them more environmentally adaptable.鈥�

Charland-Martin鈥檚 research followed the path of other studies in Collier鈥檚 lab, which are aimed at simplifying the process of making polymers for electronic and light-related applications.

In the spring, the College of Science and Mathematics selected 10 students to each receive a $4,000 stipend to pursue research during a summer program established by Birla Carbon, a worldwide chemical manufacturer. 

The 10 scholars were chosen based on the recommendations of faculty members, submission of an undergraduate research project abstract, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Recipients worked with their sponsoring faculty members on their proposed research projects in six departments within CSM.

This year鈥檚 scholars, their majors and their faculty mentors included:

• Riley Bennett, chemistry major, mentored by Mark Mitchell, professor of chemistry and biochemistry
• Ariane Charland-Martin, chemistry major, mentored by Graham Collier, assistant professor of chemistry
• Noam Lewit, chemistry major, mentored by Mohammad Abdul Halim, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry
• Kieran MacDonald, physics major, mentored by Kisa Ranasinghe, associate professor of physics
• Lauren Massaro, physics major, mentored by Mahmoud Asmar, assistant professor of physics
• David Melcher, biology major, mentored by Mohammad Abdul Halim, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry
• Sandra Nguyen, biology major, mentored by Brandon Carpenter, assistant professor of molecular biology
• Isabel Ouko, mathematics major, mentored by Glenn Young, assistant professor of mathematics
• Kailen Parks, chemistry major, mentored by Martin Hudson, professor of biology
• Connor Welch, chemistry major, mentored by Michael Stollenz, associate professor of inorganic chemistry

  

Since 2014, funds provided by Birla Carbon have enabled 93 Birla Carbon Scholars to participate in research. In 2019, Birla Carbon reaffirmed its pledge to the program by extending the agreement for another five years and adding $275,000 to the commitment. Terence Norman, director of human resources in the Americas at Birla Carbon, said the company looks forward to this event every year to showcase young scientists.

鈥淛ust when I think this symposium can鈥檛 get any better, it exceeds my expectations,鈥� Norman said. 鈥淚 saw some truly impressive presentations here today, and I know the future is bright for these researchers. Congratulations to all the scholars. Your hard work is paying off.鈥�

Along with the $4,000 stipend each scholar received, Charland-Martin received an additional $2,000 in travel funds to present her research at a national or regional conference. 

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About Birla Carbon

Birla Carbon is the world鈥檚 largest producer and supplier of carbon black additives, which are used to make everything from tires to plastics, from paints to electronics. A flagship business of the $45 billion Aditya Birla Group, the multinational conglomerate based in Taloja, India, Birla Carbon鈥檚 Technology Laboratories are located in Marietta and Taloja, India.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 草榴视频 State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. 草榴视频 State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. 草榴视频 State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.