Early Career Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship

In 2021, I ([Dr. Barker]) submitted a proposal to the Alaska Space Grant Program (ASGP) to introduce a new pedagogy into my Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry courses. That work came to fruition with the generation of transdisciplinary research-oriented activities, culminating in student-generated research projects and poster presentations. The student excitement grew when we obtained an NMR instrument from a BLaST grant leveraged from the ASGP grant. Due to the previous year’s successes, two students have asked me to mentor them in research projects. One of my last year’s chemistry students aspires to conduct laboratory-based research on microplastics in drinking water. She is currently in the Environmental Public Health program and is excited to learn new laboratory skills applicable to public health needs in Alaska. The other student comes from the creative writing program. He heard about the projects I’ve conducted with students and desired to conduct a research project with me. He is now aspiring to go into a health science-related field. To be prepared for chemistry-related research, he’s currently taking an Organic Chemistry course.

This proposal aims to provide these two students and future students with research experience and support their acquisition of the skills needed to isolate, quantify, and analyze the identity of microplastics in drinking water. The ultimate goal is to cement their apparent aspirations into a reality that leads them into a STEM career.