Contact:
Anae Rosenberg
GK12 Program Director
541-346-4762

Special Thanks to the National Science Foundation for their support

Eric Abbey
Desert View Elementary
Hermiston, Oregon

I am a 4th year graduate student working in the Liu Lab at the University of Oregon. My research focus is air-free organoboron chemistry, with the end goal being the creation of unnatural amino acids containing boron. These amino acids will have the same shape as the natural compounds they will mimic. If biological systems cannot tell the difference between the natural amino acids and their boron-containing mimics, they can potentially be used as imaging agents that can track the boron in living systems. Furthermore, they will be tested as anti-cancer drugs, with the boron essentially acting as a nuclear bomb that can destroy the tumor cells that uptake the boron-containing amino acid.

I grew up in the country outside of Junction City, OR, near Eugene. I spend much of my free time in the outdoors fishing, hiking, hunting and camping. I also enjoy listening to and playing music, cooking and gardening. I am pursuing a career as a teaching professor at a small college, similar to Whitman College, the undergraduate school I attended.

Ginny Cangelosi

Highland Hills Elementary
Hermiston, Oregon

My name is Ginny Cangelosi and this is my second year as a GK-12 fellow.  I have worked with middle schoolers in the recreational settings of summer camp and swim lessons and am looking forward to teaching science.  I came here from Albion College in Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.  This is my fourth year as a graduate student in the chemistry department (Darren Johnson lab) and my project focuses on  arsenic-containing supramolecular assemblies.  After I graduate, I hope to teach at an undergraduate-only institution.

 

Nima Dinyari

Highland Hills Elementary
Hermiston, Oregon

After growing up in California, I received my BS in Physics at University of California Santa Barbara in 2004. I then entered the PhD. program at the University of Oregon in 2005. I have been working in Professor Hailin Wang's Lab doing research in Quantum Optics since the summer of 2006.

In the Wang Lab I work on Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics (CQEDs). The idea is to control the electromagnetic radiation emitted from an optical center by placing it within the field of an optical cavity. The aim of the research is to build a robust CQED system that can be used in Quantum Computation schemes.

Outside of the lab I enjoy working in my garden, running, and yoga. I love the bike paths, hiking trails, and local beauty that is Oregon. After graduate school I look forward to using my degree in Physics working on the earth's environmental challenges.

Brandy Fox

West Park Elementary
Hermiston, Oregon

Hello!  My name is Brandy Fox, and I am a third-year graduate student in chemistry.  This is my first year as a GK-12 Fellow.  I really enjoy elementary school classrooms, which makes me excited to get started this year!  I have always had a strong interest in education, and my ultimate goal upon graduation is to teach at a smaller college or university.

I am a member of the Tyler lab, and my research involves novel processes for the removal of sulfur from fuel.  Sulfur in fuel is a problem because burning sulfur-containing fuel contributes to acid rain as well as limiting the potential uses of the fuel.  Thus, I seek to develop an efficient method that allows attainment of the near-zero levels of sulfur without the harsh conditions that are necessary for the current process.

My non-chemistry interests include reading, gardening, camping, and spending time with my wonderful hubby. 

Adam Glass

Rocky Heights Elementary
Hermiston, Oregon

Hi, my name is Adam Glass and I hail from the Liu Laboratory at the University of Oregon. I am a third year chemistry doctoral student. My research is focused in organic synthesis, more specifically in the area of naphthalene synthesis. We are aiming to provide novel and facile routes to a variety of naphthalene derivatives which are useful in pharmaceuticals, transition metal ligands, and a wide variety of other materials uses. I am originally from Siletz, Oregon a small town close to Newport on the Central Oregon Coast. I am an avid fly fisherman and as such most of my free time is devoted to chasing fish around in the beautiful Oregon countryside. Once I finish with school I hope to join the industrial ranks as a Medicinal Chemist, although I am also interested in public science policy so there may be a career avenue along that path as well.

Chris Harland

Lincoln Primary
West Hills Intermediate
Pendleton, Oregon

Hello all, my name is Chris Harland and I'm a fourth year graduate student in biophysics working in the Parthasarathy Lab. I'm a northwest native for the most part, hailing from Portland, OR and picking up B.S. degrees in physics and mathematics at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA before coming to the University of Oregon.

My lab work focuses on measuring the material properties of lipid bio-membranes. As a basic structural component of all cells, membranes and their constituent lipids, are important to cell function. Using optical microscopy, particle tracking, and synthetic lipids, I construct and probe membrane material properties like viscosity and mobility.

Throughout my physics education I've been involved with science outreach. This is my second year as a GK-12 fellow and my ninth year of science education at the K-12 level. I love talking science as much as a love doing it and hope to secure a position as a professor of physics at a primarily undergraduate university.

Nate Kuwada

Sunset Elementary
Hermiston, Oregon

I grew up in the wild city of Anchorage, Alaska. I received my undergraduate degree in physics at the University of Washington in Seattle. After graduating in 2005, I then enrolled in the PhD program in Physics here at the University of Oregon. My research is in Biological Physics under my adviser Heiner Linke. Specifically I design and run computer simulations of synthetic molecular motors in an effort to better understand naturally occurring molecular motors. I plan to pursue a career in teaching physics at the collegiate level, and I feel the GK12 program is an excellent opportunity for me to get invaluable teaching experience and an opportunity to help share the wonder for science that I have enjoyed in my life.

Ben Lopez

Rocky Heights Elementary
Hermiston, Oregon

My name is Ben Lopez. I am starting my fifth year as a graduate student in the Physics department. Before coming to University of Oregon I completed my Bachelors of Science in Physics at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. This is my second year in the GK-12 program.

My research is in the field of Biological Physics. I am currently constructing an experimental system to model the motion of molecular motors. An understanding of how biological molecular motors work is an important step towards the construction of artificial molecular motors.

When I’m not busy in the lab my interests are hiking, surfing, politics, science education, and spending time with my girlfriend.

Jason Matthews

McKay Creek Elementary
Pendleton, Oregon

Hi, my name is Jason Matthews. I am currently starting my third year as a physics graduate here at the University of Oregon, and my first year in the GK-12 program. I work in the Heiner Linke lab, where we study nanoscale thermoelectrics. My research deals with understanding how heat flows through these devices.

I am a native Oregonian, born and raised in Medford, Oregon. I obtained my Bachelors of Science in physics at Southern Oregon University in 2006. Since then I have been at UO.

Outside of my lab, I enjoy running, hiking, photography, astronomy, and energy policy/efficiency. I currently have two ideas for my future: teaching at a small college, and/or working in industry on developing more efficient technologies.

Libby Schoene

Sunset Elementary
Hermiston, Oregon

Eric Shamay

West Park Elementary
Hermiston, Oregon

I grew up in southern California and have lived in 5 different coastal counties throughout the central coast. I graduated from Calpoly in San Luis Obispo, CA with B.S. degrees in general engineering and chemistry in 2004. My work began at the University of Oregon in Fall of 2005, joining the Richmond research group soon after. My work has consisted of performing molecular dynamics simulations and computational analysis on bulk and interfacial systems of biological importance. The latest work on the aqueous nitric acid - vapor interface has been published by the Journal of the American Chemical Society Communications and is available on the web.

During my first year I applied for and received support for travel to Lugano, Switzerland where I worked with Dr. Michele Parrinello and Dr. Victoria Buch, pioneers in the development and application of molecular dynamics techniques. This past year I traveled to work with Dr. Dennis Hore in Victoria, B.C. to further some of our computational projects and simulations. The ongoing collaborative effort has fostered interfacial science in the Richmond lab and has been a great learning experience throughout.

Often, I can be found fishing Oregon's rivers, and enjoying the vast selection of local micro-brews. At home I am a member of the student's cooperative association and live in the graduate student's co-op house. My current favorite sport is ultimate Frisbee, and I've recently gotten engaged to my future wife Lynne! When I grow up I hope to teach math, chemistry, physics, or computer science at the undergraduate or highschool level.

Tim Sweeney

Desert View Elementary
Hermiston, Oregon

I am a second year GK-12 Fellow and a Physics graduate student. Prior to coming to Oregon I earned my M.S. in physics from the University of New Orleans and my B.S. from California State University, Chico. Currently I am studying quantum mechanics in solid state systems in Hailin Wang’s optics lab.

Last year I got some experience with four of the STC kits, Electric Circuits, Magnets and Motors, Motion and Design and Solids and Liquids. The school that I worked in is about 45 minutes drive from Eugene in Dorena. The school has 6 classes and but serves kinders and preschoolers through the 8th grade. It was a very rewarding and warm environment with some very colorful/endearing kids.

Outside of research, I am passionate about mountain biking and playing sports for the sake of playing.

Charlie Swor

McKay Creek Elementary
Pendleton, Oregon

Hello, my name is Charlie Swor. I am a fourth-year graduate student studying inorganic chemistry at the University of Oregon. I am originally from Tennessee, and I got my bachelor's degree from Tennessee Tech University.

I work in the David Tyler lab, making nitrogen-binding iron complexes. These types of molecules might someday be used to purify natural gas. The main goal of my research is to make these molecules more stable, as the current ones degrade over a few weeks' time. To do this, I am trying to bond the atoms around the central iron atom into a macrocycle (Latin for "big ring").

I really enjoy being a scientist and working on problems that haven't yet been solved. I especially like it when I make a molecule that hasn't ever been made before. I am also interested in Green Chemistry, which involves making chemistry that is safer to ourselves and the environment. In my spare time I enjoy being outdoors; especially fishing, kayaking, and playing with my dog, Daisy.

Leslie VanOs

Lincoln Primary
West Hills Intermediate
Pendleton, Oregon

My name is Leslie VanOs, and I work in Andy Berglund's lab where we study a disease called Myotonic Dystrophy, one of the muscular dystrophies. Right now I'm working on crystallizing the protein involved in the disease so we
can observe how it binds to its RNA targets. The goal of our research is to better understand what's happening in the disease, and hopefully find a drug that can alleviate symptoms.

I grew up in Quincy, Illinois, right along the Mississippi River, and in my free time I love to sew! I used to work as a costume manager for my college's theatre program, and I've had to make some pretty crazy costumes over the years! I also enjoy reading and conducting science experiments in the kitchen (cooking!).

Jen Zemke

Arlington Elementary
Arlington, Oregon

Condon Elementary
Condon, Oregon

Well hello! I am Jen Zemke, a chemist and returning Gk-12 fellow for this year. I am working for David Tyler and am trying to make solar cells more efficient...basically, I play with a laser to try to measure a bunch of stuff regarding materials for advanced solar devices. In my free time (or less expensive time) I usually end up playing some of my various musical instruments, making cheese, bicycling, watching movies, playing softball, and reading cookbooks. I am originally from Wisconsin (which explains the making cheese thing) and am loving my time here in Oregon.

Schools and kits I worked with in 2007/2008:

Lundy Elementary in Lowell, OR
Balls and Ramps
Balance and Motion
Lifting Heavy Things
Electric Circuits

Madras Elementary in Madras, OR
Magnets and Motors