5Q: Jack Ferguson Gears Up for National Science Contests with Chemistry Research at WKU

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program.  Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world.  By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration.  Throughout the summer, we’ll share insights from students who are the recipients of our 2011 grants.

John “Jack” Ferguson (’12) of Union is working with Dr. Hemali Rathnayake of the WKU Department of Chemistry this summer on his project titled Fluorescein and FITC Derivatives Functionalized Silsesquioxane/Bridged Silsesquioxane Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Particle Morphology.

1. Tell us a little about the research experience in which you are participating this summer that the Research Internship Grant is funding.

I am working on the synthesis of fluorescein silsesquioxane nanoparticles with Benzyl Chloride. It sounds really complicated, but it’s basically attaching fluorescent particles onto silica spheres smaller than cells for bio imaging.

2. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

This research will be used on any applications I can fit it on, and I will be sure to enter it into the Siemens and Intel competitions.

3. What are you looking forward to the most about your second year at the Academy?

I am really excited for my new classes, but I think I am more interested in the new students coming to the Academy.

4. What is your biggest Gatton Academy accomplishment?

My personal favorite would be that I scored in the 77th percentile on the ACS organic chemistry II exam. I did better than 77 percent of college juniors across the nation.

5. What do you love most about the Gatton Academy?

The RC setup. The connection built between students on floors is great. We could all live in our own little worlds and not know each other, but the social atmosphere of the Academy has made me more friends than I’ve ever had before.