Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research plays an important role in the Arduengo group. The research conducted by undergraduates complements a variety of efforts within the group ranging from the scouting of prospective programs, to logistical support of on-going programs, and the prosecution of independent research programs. Undergraduate members of the group have access to the world-class chemistry laboratories in Shelby Hall and many members also benefit from internships overseas in laboratories with which the Arduengo group has collaborations.

Undergraduate researchers from Professor Arduengo's group have an opportunity for summer research experence in foreign laboratories. Both Joshua Dolphin and Keith Bentley were undergraduate members of Professor Arduengo's group from Fall 2005 to 2007. Personnel exchange was a key feature of the JSPS-NSF “Core-to-Core” research program and in Summer 2006 UA's Josh Dolphin spent time in Hiroshima, Japan in the laboratories of Professor Yohsuke Yamamoto. Josh documented his experiences in his blog. On June 25,2006 Keith Bentley left the U.S. for a summer research stay in the research group of Professor Rainer Streubel in Bonn, Germany. This U.S./Germany exchange is sponsored by the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD, German Academic Exchange Service). Professors Arduengo and Streubel continue to develop new collaborations and personnel exchanges in connection with their research. Dr. Arduengo's lab at the University of Alabama hosted numerous exchange visitors at all academic levels from overseas (Mr. Oliver Steinhof, Braunschweig; Mr. Hideaki Yamamichi, Hiroshima; Mr. Holger Helten, Bonn; Bianca Milde, Chemnitz; Susanne Sauerbrey, Bonn; Sven Arenz, Köln; and Christiane Knappke, Köln) .

Previous and Current Undergraduate Members of the Arduengo Research Group

Gregory B. Ames (1977-8, U. of Illinois)

Thomas E. Stumpf
("Synthesis and Complexes of N-Methylmonoaza Crown Ethers", 1979, U. of Illinois)

Robert L. Burger, Jr.
("Design and Synthesis of a Crown Ether Ligand for Transition Metals", 1979, U. of Illinois)

Thomas D. Paloumpis
("Studies in the Chemistry of Thioheptalenes", 1980, U. of Illinois)

Eric K. Eisenhart
("Synthesis of Dioxa Analogs of the Trithiapentalene System," 1980, U. of Illinois)

Daniel C. Alter
("The ylides of Diazotetrakis(trifluoromethyl)cyclopentadiene", 1983, U. of Illinois)

Brian L. Benac
("Approaches to the Synthesis of 5-diazo-1,2,3,4-Tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)cyclopentadiene", 1983, U. of Illinois).

Mark B. Mizen
("Attempts toward the Synthesis of the first 10-N-3 Species," 1984, U. of Illinois)

G. Peyton Wood, Jr.
("The Metallation of Oxy-Arenes", 1984, U. of Illinois)

Julia Cooper
("Hydrogen-Bonding Networks of Imidazolium Salts," 2001, U. of Alabama)

Geoffery Hudson (2002, U. of Alabama)

Uriah Kilgore
("Synthesis of Imidazolium Chlorides and Creating a Metal Complex," 2002, U. of Alabama)

Michael Phillips (2004, U. of Alabama)

Keith Bentley (2005-2007, U. of Alabama)

Joshua Dolphin (2005-2007 U. of Alabama)

Ashley Hunter
("Hydrogen Storage with Unusual Valence Structures," 2006, U. of Alabama)

Andrew Huddleston (2006-2007, U. of Alabama)

Joseph Nelson (2007-2011, U. of Alabama)

David Dorn (2008-2010, U. of Alabama)

Michael Eddins (2009-2011, U. of Alabama)

Stefan Osborn (2009-2011, U. of Alabama)

Minne Lahoti (2011-present, U. of Alabama)