Jodi Kirk of Friendswood Conducting Chemistry Research at Southwestern University This Summer

Related Media

Jodi Kirk

GEORGETOWN, TX (06/22/2011)(readMedia)-- Jodi Kirk of Friendswood is one of 11 students conducting research at Southwestern University this summer as part of the Welch Summer Research Program, which is funded by the Robert A. Welch Foundation of Houston. The Welch Foundation has funded this program in Southwestern's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry since 1985.

Students selected for the program receive a stipend as well as living expenses that enable them to spend eight weeks conducting research with Southwestern faculty members.

Kirk is working with Sandra Loudwig, assistant professor of chemistry, to research the synthesis of anti-cancer compounds called bisanthrapyrazoles with water-soluble molecular linker arms, in order to make the drugs more bio-available.

In addition to the research component, students who participate in the Welch summer program also do science outreach activities for children in the Georgetown community. This year's program participants helped with Science Day activities at a local elementary school.

Kirk is a senior chemistry major at Southwestern. She hopes to attend graduate school with a chemistry focus.

Kirk is the daughter of Donelda and Doug Kirk of Houston. She is a 2008 graduate of Friendswood High School.

Southwestern University is a selective, nationally recognized undergraduate liberal arts college with an enrollment of 1,300 students. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in Texas. For more information on Southwestern, visit www.southwestern.edu.