On June 18, chemistry alumni visited the newly renovated laboratory of assistant professor of chemistry Elizabeth Stone, PhD, who holds the Ed O’Connell Professorship in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. There, they met with summer student researchers and learned how recent donations are advancing undergraduate research opportunities.
The visit brought together alumni donors spanning several decades, including Jim Serafino ’74; Mary-Anne D’Esposito ’74; Paul Okarma ’80; Mary Didiuk ’91, who supported to the professorship fund; and Steve Flanagan ’84 who provided a grant to support pre-med students conducting research in chemistry, biochemistry, and biology.
Faculty from the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department joined them, as did Ed O'Connell, PhD, professor emeritus of chemistry, who reconnected with the department and spoke with students about their academic and professional paths.
Dr. O'Connell taught many of the alumni in attendance, which made the day particularly meaningful.
Hosted in Dr. Stone’s lab, the gathering highlighted the impact of alumni engagement and research funding on student learning, faculty scholarship, and the department’s expanding research capabilities. Students shared updates on ongoing projects in peptide synthesis, drug development, and environmentally friendly chemical processes, including collaborative work with researchers at Georgetown University and Oklahoma State University.
“This is exactly the kind of experience we want students to have,” said Dr. Stone.
Among the student researchers participating were Eleanor Feuster ’27, a biochemistry major in the Honors Program; Madison Koziol ’28, a biochemistry major on the pre-medical track and recipient of the Steven Flanagan ’84 Grant; Kacey McGorry ’27, a chemistry major; and Katelyn Wiehe ’27, a biochemistry major in the Honors Program on the pre-medical track and a two-time Steven Flanagan ’84 Grant recipient for Summer 2025 and Summer 2026.
The students discussed how summer research grants have allowed them to dedicate sustained research time in the lab, accelerating progress on complex projects while preparing for careers in medicine, graduate study, and industry.
“During the academic year, it can be difficult to make significant progress when you're only in the lab for a few hours each week,” said Wiehe. “In the summer, being here several days in a row allows us to really move projects forward.”
A highlight of the tour was the department’s newest addition: an automated peptide synthesizer purchased through support from the Ed O’Connell Professorship Fund. The state-of-the-art instrument significantly reduces the time required to synthesize complex peptides; what once took weeks can now be completed in about a day. Students demonstrated how the technology is being integrated into both research and classroom applications, alongside other instruments used for compound analysis and purification.
Faculty and students discussed ongoing projects with potential applications in drug discovery and therapeutic development, as well as emerging work exploring plant-based catalysts for environmentally friendly chemical reactions that could eventually be incorporated into the undergraduate curriculum.
