Two UNA Students Take Home Top Awards From Alabama Academy of Science

Apr. 7, 2010

FLORENCE, Ala. – Two University of North Alabama students garnered first-place honors in their respective research categories at last week’s 87th Annual Meeting of the Alabama Academy of Science, held at Alabama A&M University in Huntsville.

Senior professional chemistry major Michelle Gabriel, of Iuka, Miss., won first place in the Chemistry Section for her paper, “Synthesis and characterization of temperature-responsive polyethyleneglycol dendrimers.” The paper was co-authored with Dr. Amanda Hofacker, assistant professor of chemistry.

Junior professional physics major David Keating, of Waynesboro, Tenn., won first place in the Physics and Mathematics Section for his paper, “Constructing a photonic molecule: separation-sensitive measurements of resonance.” The paper was co-authored with graduate student Emre Guler, of Florence, senior Kazuya Ichimura, of Florence, and Dr. D. Brian Thompson, associate professor of physics.

Graduate and undergraduate students throughout Alabama compete for these honors each year. Gabriel and Keating were each awarded with a certificate and check for $75.