|
Dream : DREAM Fellows : 2008 Fellows : Jessica Thomaston
Jessica Thomaston
Interview
Q: What school are you currently attending?
A: Swarthmore College
Q: What year will you be starting in the fall?
A: Junior year
Q: Why did you choose to attend the DREAM program?
A: Basically, I wanted to get an idea of what scientific research would be like and whether or not I would want to spend several years doing research in graduate school.
Q: Who are you working with, and what research are you doing?
A: I’m working with Dr. Caroline Schauer and Valerie Binetti in the Natural Polymers and Photonics lab. The research I’m doing involves making thin films out of natural polymers then analyzing the optical properties of the films. My work mostly involves gathering data to support the reproducibility of this thin-film creating process, but more interesting to me are the possible applications of this research. This process could be used to manufacture biodegradable paints out of natural polymers; also, since the structural (and thus optical) properties of certain films change when exposed to metal ions, there is the potential for these natural polymer films to detect the presence of heavy metals in drinking water.
Q: What are your goals/aspirations for the future?
A: My goals at this point are general: right now I aim to attend graduate school in some area of chemistry, probably in a PhD program. My current interests incline me towards the study of organic synthesis and/or areas relating to green chemistry.
Photos
|
|