May 21

Chemistry Department Seminar: Student Comps Presentations

Wed, May 21, 2025 • 3:30pm - 4:30pm (1h) • Olin 141

Beckett Schafer - “The Biosynthesis of Cylindrospermopsin: A Potent Toxin Produced by Cyanobacteria”

The increasing frequency and intensity of cyanobacterial blooms, fueled by anthropogenic effects such as eutrophication and warming, exacerbate the risk posed by cyanotoxins. Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a compound with potent toxicity produced by certain freshwater cyanobacteria and has become the second most studied cyanotoxin due to its toxicity and prevalence. The biosynthesis of CYN not only deepens our understanding of natural products, enzymology, and cyanobacterial metabolism and has practical applications for toxin management, food security, and water safety. This presentation will highlight interesting biosynthetic components of CYN, explore the evolution of biosynthetic research, and provide an overall framework for understanding the relevance of natural product biosynthesis.

 

Josh Lecuyer - "Ionic Liquid Rocket Propellants - Was it all a lie?"

Conventional rocket propellants are toxic and volatile. What are our options to replace them? Enter: hypergolic ionic liquids. But what are they? Ionic liquids are ionic compounds that are liquids around room temperature. The term ‘hypergolic’ means the ionic liquid spontaneously ignites upon contact with an oxidizer. This ‘hypergolicity’, combined with the enticing physical properties of ionic liquids, has attracted over a decade of research. However, recent discoveries have turned this field upside down, leading to the question: was the promise of hypergolic ionic liquids all a lie?

Event Summary

Chemistry Department Seminar: Student Comps Presentations
  • When
    • Wednesday, May 21, 2025
    • 3:30pm - 4:30pm (1h)
  • Where
    • Olin 141
  • Mode
    • In-Person
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