Two JSU Chemistry Students
Win Alabama Academy of Sciences Awards

JSU chemistry students who received awards for their research presentations during the annual meeting of the Alabama Academy of Sciences are pictured here, from left to right, with JSU faculty members: George Cline, biology professor; Kristen Williams; Jan Gryko, chemistry professor; and Sharon Cowing.

Two JSU students competed well in presenting their research in chemistry at the annual March meeting of Alabama Academy of Sciences (AAS) at Tuskegee University. The competition involved universities throughout the state including Auburn, Alabama in Tuscaloosa and Huntsville, Samford, Birmingham Southern, and North Alabama.

Sharon Cowing and Kristen Williams won awards for their research in chemistry. Sharon won second place for her research on filled fullerenes – a relatively new area of nanochemistry. Sharon's entry in the AAS program for the annual meeting was listed as:

• Ab initio studies of filled fullerenes. Sharon Cowing, Jacksonville State University

Her research will likely be carried onto graduate school where she plans to get a master’s degree in math and a Ph.D. in chemistry.

Kristen was awarded third place in the chemistry competition for her investigation of materials called anti-perovskites. Sharon's entry in the AAS program for the annual meeting was listed as:

• Density functional (DFT) studies of anti-perovskites. Kristen Williams, Jacksonville State University.

Kristen has already been recruited by Georgia Tech’s graduate program with a very attractive scholarship.

Dr. Jan Gryko, chemistry professor at JSU, supervised both students. He stated, “A strong undergraduate research at JSU prepared both students to compete at a high level of excellence and to continue their success in graduate schools and industrial careers.”

This is a second time that Dr. Gryko’s students won awards at the statewide research symposium. Last year, his students won three first places in a similar competition.

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