Morgan Olsen makes presentation at prestigious physics conference

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Morgan Olsen

LOCK HAVEN, PA (03/29/2012)(readMedia)-- Lock Haven University had a major presence when the world's leading physicists assembled in Boston, Massachusetts, February 27 - March 2, for the 2012 March meeting of the American Physical Society (APS).  One of the presenters was Morgan Olsen, a junior and Biology-Chemistry major at Lock Haven University.

The APS March meeting is the largest physics meeting in the world. Each year since 2009, LHU nanotechnology students have been presenting their research at the APS conference. The record began in 2009 with a single LHU student presenter with Dr. Senevirathne. This year, there were 16 LHU student presenters. Dr. Marian Tzolov, associate professor of Physics, and Dr. Indrajith Senevirathne, assistant professor, directed the trip to Boston.

As her presentation at the APS 2012 March meeting, Ms. Olsen gave a poster presentation on her research titled "Surface engineering and adhesion modification of SAM surfaces of 11 – mercapto – 1 – undecanol and 1 decanethiol: confining Staphylococcus aureus" which focuses on research on thiolated surfaces of 11 – mercapto – 1 – undecanol and 1 decanethiol and their surface engineering. She conducted her research in the nanotechnology program under Dr. Indrajith Senevirathne, assistant professor in the Department of Geology and Physics. Dr Joseph Calabrese, professor in the Department of Biology, guided microbial aspects of her study.

Dr. Senevirathne explained, "Surfaces from mixtures of 11 – mercapto – 1 – undecanol and 1 decanethiol self assembled monolayers show rich surface structure and capacity towards eventual surface engineering. These systems have many applications including selective confinement towards bio sensory applications."

Dr. Senevirathne said, "Ms. Olsen is a dedicated and a hard working student, who has the capacity to become a competent scholar. "

Ms. Olsen is resident of Catawissa, Pa., and she is the daughter of Linda and Martin Olsen.

Attendance at the APS March meeting typically includes more than 12,000 of the top scientists in physics and chemistry research throughout the world. Attended Nobel laureates included William Phillips (1997 Nobel Prize in Physics) at NIST and Robert Laughlin (1998 Nobel Prize in Physics) at Stanford University.

The presentation by and Morgan Olsen and her colleagues is based on experimental results which the students acquired using the state-of-the-art equipment at Lock Haven University guided by the experienced faculty in the Nanotechnology program.

Lock Haven University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), the largest provider of higher education in the commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 405,000 system alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.