Two AU Students Receive National ACS Scholarships

Senior Biochemistry and Biology major Jared Baisden and Junior Toxicology and Environmental Science/Biology major Cassie Nix, have been awarded scholarships this year through the American Chemical Society Scholars Program.  Both Jared and Cassie are actively involved in undergraduate research this year.  Jared’s honors thesis is focused on the isolation of compounds produced by wilting red maple leaves, which may be associated with toxicity to horses that eat these leaves.  He is working under the supervision of Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer.  Cassie is working with Dr. Andrew Trimble on the analysis of estrogens and DDT in environmental samples, and on the analysis of toxic alkaloids in jimsonweed plants.

Jared Baisden

This American Chemical Society program awards renewable scholarships of up to $5,000 to underrepresented students who want to enter the fields of chemistry or chemistry-related fields, such as environmental science, toxicology and chemical technology.  High school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores, or juniors are eligible to apply. 

Cassie Nix

The ACS Scholars Program was established in 1994 to attract African American, Hispanic, and American Indian students considered underrepresented in the chemical sciences by the National Science Foundation to pursue careers in the field.  The program also aims to build awareness of the value and rewards associated with careers in chemistry and to assist students in acquiring skills and credentials needed for success.  AU aluma Marie Southerland (Biochemistry ’12) was a previous recipient of this award. 

Toxicology graduate works for Ohio Department of Health

Tricia Matz (Toxicology ’11) recently received her Master’s degree in Public Health from Ohio State University with a dual specialization in Epidemiology as well as Health Behavior, Health Promotion.  Following graduation, she was hired to serve as the Adolescent Health Epidemiologist for the Ohio Department of Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health.  At ODH, she is working with data from the Youth Risk Behavioral Survey along with some surveys conducted in the state.  Her primary role is to use the data to assess the health of adolescents in Ohio to determine if any trends exist for particular behaviors (seat belt use, tobacco use, alcohol use, etc.).  Tricia will also use the data collected to compare Ohio adolescents to those in the nation to see how Ohio adolescents are doing overall, as well as some areas where more programming and policies are needed.