Coker College Student Miranda Smith Receives SCICU Research Grant

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (04/25/2012)(readMedia)-- Coker College student Miranda Smith, of Olanta, S.C., recently received a grant from the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) Student/Faculty Research Program. This grant will provide Smith with a stipend for performing research this summer and will cover the cost of supplies necessary for the project. Smith is a chemistry major at Coker.

For her project, "Microwave Spectrum and Ab Initio Calculations of 3-vinylbenzaldehyde," Smith will measure, analyze and interpret the microwave spectrum of 3-vinylbenzaldehyde (3VBA), a chemical used in making polymers as well as in biochemistry. By performing this study, she hopes to learn the precise shape of 3VBA. Learning more about the shape of the molecule will allow for a better understanding of what it is useful for. Smith will be using a microwave spectrometer built last summer by Coker students to conduct this research and will also perform high-level computer computations using Coker's dedicated quantum chemistry workstation. The project will be supervised by Assistant Professor of Chemistry Gordon Brown.

Developed by SCICU in 1995, the Student/Faculty Research Program is designed to strengthen educational programs for students attending member institutions by providing quality undergraduate research experiences. These experiences are transforming students' lives and encouraging them to explore a career in research.

Established in 1908, Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.