About Us
The Graduate Student Symposium Planning Committee (GSSPC) is a group of graduate students responsible for the tasks associated with the planning of a symposium for an American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting; this includes, but is not limited to, topic selection, fundraising, speaker recruitment and logistical arrangements. The GSSPC is also charged with ensuring the continuation of the GSSPC by recruiting and mentoring a successive group of graduate students.
The Division of Chemical Education (CHED) initiated the GSSPC in 2005 as part of a continuing effort to involve graduate students in the ACS, in general, and at national meetings. Past GSSPC participants can be found here.
The Division of Chemical Education (CHED) initiated the GSSPC in 2005 as part of a continuing effort to involve graduate students in the ACS, in general, and at national meetings. Past GSSPC participants can be found here.
The Georgetown GSSPC
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Susette E. Ingram
B.S. - Chemistry and Biochemistry - Monmouth University - 2012 Advisor: Sarah L. Stoll Susette Ingram is a fourth year graduate student working in Dr. Sarah Stoll’s research group where she is studying the synthesis of metal chalcogenide nanomaterials to establish both phase control and morphology control. As an undergraduate at Monmouth University, Susette studied the synthesis of chiral bidentate phosphine compounds as potential ligands for catalysis under the mentorship of Dr. Carolyn Supplee. Her undergraduate research was the basis of her Honors Thesis and she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry in addition to a dual minor in Mathematics and Physics. Susette has presented her research at both Regional and National ACS meetings, including the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting in College Park, MD, the 2014 Central Regional Meeting in Pittsburgh, PA, the 2015 Fall National Meeting in Boston, and the 2016 Spring National Meeting in San Diego. At Georgetown University, Susette currently serves as the President of the Graduate Student Organization of Chemistry with the goal of uniting Chemistry graduate students with the entire Georgetown community. Susette was also awarded the “Best General Chemistry TA” for the 2013-2014 academic year. In her spare time, Susette stays active within her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, where she holds several volunteer positions on both the local and national level, and she also enjoys the rich history that the Washington, DC area has to offer. |
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Ivana Brekalo
B.S. - Chemistry - University of Zagreb - 2010 M.S. - Organic and Inorganic Chemistry - University of Zagreb - 2012 Advisor: Travis Holman Ivana hails from Croatia, where she finished her undergraduate studies and Master’s Degree in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry. Ivana was the recipient of multiple awards at that time, including the scholarship of the Republic of Croatia, the Medal for Excellence in studies at both the undergraduate and masters level, and rector’s award for her research on solid state synthesis of Schiff bases derived from the drug mesalazine. Ivana has also always been interested in chemical education, being an organizer and host of many workshops for elementary and high school students. She spent some time working in the pharmaceutical industry, which made her aware of the significance of green chemistry and environmental protection, especially in large-scale industrial processes. This in turn prompted her to continue her studies in the group of Dr. Holman at Georgetown University, where she is now investigating solventless synthesis of different porous materials. Ivana is the first recipient of the Kunin scholarship at Georgetown University, as well as the winner of multiple awards for her poster and oral presentations. In her free time, Ivana has started training in competitive ballroom dancing and is very active in the Croatian community in DC, serving as a board member in the Croatian Hour organization, organizing popular lectures and events at the Croatian Embassy. |
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Alyssa Adcock
B.S. - Chemistry - Jacobs University Bremen - 2014 Advisor: Karah E. Knope Alyssa K. Adcock is a second year student at Georgetown University. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany. Originally a geochemistry and environmental sciences major, she switched during her third semester after falling in love with the more synthetic side of chemistry. At Jacobs, she worked under Dr. Ulrich Kortz, focusing her undergraduate thesis on the synthesis and characterization of novel manganese and iron polyoxometalate species. However, she has tried to maintain a connection to her original environmental studies, especially in her career at Georgetown. As a member of the Knope Research Group, Alyssa researches bismuth(III)-organic materials, as host materials for lanthanide ion incorporation as well as photocatalysts for environmental remediation. She was awarded a grant-in-aid by the Georgetown University Environmental Initiative this past summer for her proposal concerning photochemically active bismuth materials for water purification. Outside of the lab, Alyssa is an avid reader and budding gardener, and she wistfully hopes to travel and explore as many countries and cultures as possible. |
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Zeus De los Santos
B.S. - Chemistry - Georgia State University - 2013 M.S. - Organic/Medicinal Chemistry - Georgia State University - 2014 Advisor: Christian Wolf Zeus De los Santos is a second year student at Georgetown University working with Professor Christian Wolf on synthesising small-molecules that are geared towards chirality sensing. Prior to this, he obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Medicinal and Organic Chemistry at Georgia State University where he worked on the design and synthesis of molecules that inhibited the HIF-1 pathway as a tool for cancer therapy. With his background in medicinal chemistry, Zeus has seen the detrimental effects of the lack of sources of drinkable water. Over the years, the prevalence of infectious diseases that plagued people through parasite-infested waters has been constantly growing. Because of this, Zeus wants to apply his training as a synthetic organic chemist and go back to medicinal chemistry to see how he can address these problems after he finishes his doctoral studies. Zeus has achieved multiple awards and presented his work in different symposia and conferences during his stay in both universities. Before finishing his undergraduate degree, Zeus was able to participate and head one of the planning committees of the undergraduate section of the Regional ACS meeting in Georgia in 2013. Whenever Zeus finds the time to escape the lab, he switches from experimenting with different chemical reagents to experimenting with food. Being a foreigner and living in D.C. allows him to learn more and experience America’s rich history. However, despite living in a very diverse environment, he is yet to find good British fare in D.C. in spite of everyone’s suggestions of its absence in general. |
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Jenny England
M.S. - Chemistry - Virginia Tech, 2011 B.S. - Biochemistry - Virginia Tech, 2009 Advisor: Rodrigo Maillard Jenny England graduated with her B.S. in Biochemistry and M.S. in Chemistry from Virginia Tech University. Her research at VT involved the synthesis and characterization of macromolecules. While earning her Master’s in chemistry, she also earned her provisional teaching license in chemistry. After earning her M.S., Jenny taught at a STEM charter school that enabled high school students to take college classes at George Mason University and participate in graduate-level research. Jenny is currently in her third year of graduate school at Georgetown University where she is studying the allosteric regulation of Protein Kinase A (PKA) at the single molecule level in the Maillard laboratory. PKA regulates a multitude of cellular processes linked to cell growth, death, and disease. Her research involves the purification of an engineered PKA chimera that will be unfolded by single molecule optical tweezers. Her studies will provide insight into the thermodynamic contribution of protein-protein interaction to the allosteric regulation of PKA. Jenny shares her love of chemistry outside of lab by volunteering at local afterschool science programs and tutoring sessions. |
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Sima Sakhaei
B.S. - Chemistry - Sharif University of Technology, 2013 Advisor: Timothy Warren Sima Sakhaei is a Ph.D. student in the Chemistry program with particular interest in Bioinorganic chemistry, synthetic model complexes for enzymes and nitric oxide chemistry. Prior to enrolling at Georgetown, she studied Chemistry at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 2013. Following college graduation, Sima did an internship at the Institute of Standard and Industrial Research of Iran engaging more in the industrial applications of chemistry and doing several quality control tests on new products. She then changed cultural gears upon her arrival in Washington, D.C. to start graduate school at Georgetown. She joined Professor Tim Warren’s lab, researching the interconversion of nitrite and nitric oxide at copper centers via different synthetic model complexes. When not in lab, Sima stays active by enjoying Washington while also spending time with her friends. |
