Forensic Biology and Chemistry major studying Nuclear Chemistry at Brookhaven National Laboratory

This summer we are featuring stories from our students involved in science internships.  Coriana Borton is a double major in Forensic Chemistry and Forensic Biology, and is a member of the Honors Program.  She will be a senior this fall. She writes about her experiences this summer learning about nuclear and radiochemistry at the US Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory:

“I am currently one of twelve students taking part in a 6-week intensive program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The main focus of this program is teaching nuclear and radiochemistry to undergraduate students. While here I am attending lectures, labs, and seminars. In laboratory I have gotten hands on experience working with radionuclides such as ⁵⁹Fe, ^113mIn, ¹¹³Sn, ³H, and ¹⁴C. Throughout the labs I have also been exposed to new instrumentation including Geiger-Müller, NaI, high-purity germanium, and liquid scintillation radiation detectors. Due to the work being done in the laboratories I first had to be trained as a radiation worker. So far, this program has done a great job in showing me the real life applications of nuclear and radiochemistry. I have been able to visit Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant, Groton nuclear submarine base, a synchrotron light source, a heavy ion collider, and the NASA space radiation lab. With all of these experiences, it has been amazing to see the topics I am learning about in real life applications. So far I have had a great experience here; I have learned so many things that I would not have been able to anywhere else. In addition, I have been able to meet so many new people and talk to professionals who actually work in this field. While this program is a lot of work, I would definitely recommend it to any chemistry or physics major who is interested in learning more about nuclear and radiochemistry!”