Experience from the Eye of a Chemistry Major: One Molecule at a Time
Nicole Zubrich, Verrazano Class of 2018, earned a degree in Chemistry.
The field of science has a great
variety of knowledge to offer whether it is biological sciences, the theory of
gravity and the solar systems in physics, to explained phenomena by
mathematical equations or the realm of microscopic atomical entities in chemistry.
Oddly all these subjects work together to form some of the greatest discoveries
in medicine and various other domains. The College of Staten Island is the starting
ground for young scientists including me a transfer student from Hunter College
who choose Chemistry as her major, and passion. The 6S building holds some of
the most interesting laboratories with professors dedicated to their research
guiding students curiosity everyday. My research in Dr. Krishnaswami Raja’s
laboratory is on Chemical gardens that are created by seeding water-soluble
salts of multivalent cations of many of the elements in the periodic table into
a highly concentrated solution of sodium silicate. They can also be produced by
injecting concentrated salt solutions into sodium silicate.
The mechanism of
formation of these constructs is driven by osmotic pressure and buoyancy.
Structures that resemble chemical gardens exist in nature as seen in
hydrothermal vent systems at the ocean floor in the form of mineral assemblies.
These assembles closely resemble the scaffolds of natural sponges which are
considered as the first animal life form. These constructs then are used to
adhere mammalian cell lines, and test their viability in this new environment.
The cells were able to adhere to the constructs, continuing to grow for over
two weeks until testing was finished. This was an amazing breakthrough
considering it can be further explored in tissue engineering creating coronary
capillaries. I write this statement in almost every paper of mine because it
holds a very important meaning. The fact that prehistoric sponge morphology
found in deep-sea hydrothermal vents was used, and recreated in the lab to
apply in the adhesion of cells, proliferating growth for something beneficial to
the medical world. This research encompasses the old, the present, and the future,
which is outstanding.
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| Nicole in the lab |
As an undergraduate student in college, studying
chemistry, and being involved in research helped teach me important skills such
as communication with my peers, and working together. Collaborating with a team
of students, and professors instilled in me a sense of leadership, and how to
incorporate different ideas into my research experiments. My research on recreation of blood
capillaries using laboratory grown tubules, and cancer cells, helped generate
thoughts on different dental breakthroughs that I could address in the future,
as an applicant to dental school currently. Our laboratories breakthrough encouraged me to
exam more about the study on semi-liquid bone grafts for jaw lines, sparking an
interest in conducting future research involving tooth regeneration. Research
has made me become conscious about pursuing a research career in dentistry as
well as caring for patients as a practicing dentist.
My future is to pursue a medical career in Dentistry where the
realm of chemistry is heavily applied for the upbringing of new research. This
specific research is very detailed, and contains delicate application of
samples such as mammalian cell adhesions. Accuracy in properly conducting
complex research is an insight into future procedures in maxillofacial surgery
completed as a dentist. Laboratory studies symbolize the foundation of problem
solving necessary in any field of study especially science, and medicine. The cultured sponge- mimetic tubules (SMTs)
are relevant for future dental studies due to its significance to bone
regeneration, and use as an implant from a dental perspective. My research
under the supervision of Dr. Krishnaswami Raja, and Yan Pevtsov has shined
light on a different realm of chemistry pertaining to studies of my future
career. My undergraduate experience, was one of a kind, and highly beneficial.
I am beyond grateful to have been a part of a team of scientists, and
motivational scholars that always said, “the sky’s the limit”.
The mechanism of
formation of these constructs is driven by osmotic pressure and buoyancy.
Structures that resemble chemical gardens exist in nature as seen in
hydrothermal vent systems at the ocean floor in the form of mineral assemblies.
These assembles closely resemble the scaffolds of natural sponges which are
considered as the first animal life form. These constructs then are used to
adhere mammalian cell lines, and test their viability in this new environment.
The cells were able to adhere to the constructs, continuing to grow for over
two weeks until testing was finished. This was an amazing breakthrough
considering it can be further explored in tissue engineering creating coronary
capillaries. I write this statement in almost every paper of mine because it
holds a very important meaning. The fact that prehistoric sponge morphology
found in deep-sea hydrothermal vents was used, and recreated in the lab to
apply in the adhesion of cells, proliferating growth for something beneficial to
the medical world. This research encompasses the old, the present, and the future,
which is outstanding. 
My future is to pursue a medical career in Dentistry where the
realm of chemistry is heavily applied for the upbringing of new research. This
specific research is very detailed, and contains delicate application of
samples such as mammalian cell adhesions. Accuracy in properly conducting
complex research is an insight into future procedures in maxillofacial surgery
completed as a dentist. Laboratory studies symbolize the foundation of problem
solving necessary in any field of study especially science, and medicine. The cultured sponge- mimetic tubules (SMTs)
are relevant for future dental studies due to its significance to bone
regeneration, and use as an implant from a dental perspective. My research
under the supervision of Dr. Krishnaswami Raja, and Yan Pevtsov has shined
light on a different realm of chemistry pertaining to studies of my future
career. My undergraduate experience, was one of a kind, and highly beneficial.
I am beyond grateful to have been a part of a team of scientists, and
motivational scholars that always said, “the sky’s the limit”.
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