MSU chemistry students shine at regional chemistry conference

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Two senior chemistry majors at Mississippi State were named presentation winners at this spring’s 2024 Southeast Undergraduate Research Conference—an annual event aimed at showcasing undergraduate chemistry research. 

Kari Chamberlain from Pleasant Hill, IA, and Andie Nanney from Biloxi, presented their research at the event, winning two of the five poster presentation awards. Approximately 60 poster presentations were judged at the event hosted by Mississippi College, Belhaven University and the American Chemical Society. 

Chamberlian is part of Professor Dennis Smith’s research group in the chemistry department. Her poster was titled “Backbone Enchainment of Multiple 6F Groups for Enhanced Properties of Polycondensation Polymers.” 

Nanney’s research group is led by Assistant Professor Amanda Patrick in the chemistry department. Her poster was titled “Emergent Methods for Isomer Differentiation using Mass Spectrometry.”  

“Students from multiple institutions across the Southeastern U.S. participated in SURC, so having two of the five winners being from Mississippi State University is a testament to the quality of our students’ research work and the enthusiasm with which they present it,” Patrick said. 

“Participating in research and conferences are excellent experiential learning opportunities that complement students’ in-class experiences and help train them to be competitive as they enter today’s workforce or pursue further educational opportunities,” said Patrick. 

Chamberlain and Nanney are officers in the Student Members of the American Chemical Society student organization. Travel funds for the conference were provided by SMACS. 

For more details about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences or the Department of Chemistry, visit www.cas.msstate.edu or www.chemistry.msstate.edu.  

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