Carroll Chemistry Newsletter - Winter 2025
Medicine in Mexico: A Transformative Experience
This winter break was the seventh year of the Medicine in Mexico trip led by Chemistry Professor Kyle Strode. This January, a team of six Carroll students, accompanied by three physicians, a physician assistant, and a faculty advisor, traveled to the Mission and School of Santa Maria del Mexicano in Colon, Querétaro, Mexico, to provide medical outreach services.
Read the full article here about this annual event that offers Carroll students pursuing educational pathways in the healthcare field a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience while serving others.
SAINTS GIVING DAY
March 20-21, 2025
Join us in supporting the Chemistry Department as we raise funds for undergraduate research during the fourth annual Saints Giving Day. This 24-hour online fundraising campaign kicks off at noon on Thursday, March 20, and continues until noon on Friday, March 21.
The Chemistry Undergraduate Research Fund recognizes that the quality of our students' experiences is central to Carroll’s mission and value proposition. Many students conduct research at Carroll College under the guidance of faculty and make original contributions to their field.
The opportunity to participate in undergraduate research is transformative for students, and it can help build valuable skills and bring clarity to students' future career goals. Additionally, being able to travel to conferences and present their scholarly research has proven to be an extremely rewarding experience for students.
While the Chemistry Department and Carroll College as a whole are working towards a permanent source of funding for these experiences, we would like to create opportunities for as many students as possible to conduct research and to travel to conferences. Donations will be used to support student research stipends, conference registration fees, travel, lodging, per diem, and other conference expenses.
Visit Saints Giving Day, any time from noon March 20 to noon March 21 to support our students. Thank you!
Chemistry Faculty Provide Guest Lectures at Montana High Schools
Over the past year, chemistry faculty have traveled around Montana giving guest lectures at high schools. The presentations shared some of our recent undergraduate research projects, such as, Copper leaching from drinking vessel.
Faculty have presented at Thompson Falls High School (Jan. 2024), Sentinel High School in Missoula (Feb. 2024), Valley Christian in Missoula (Feb. 2024), Fairfield High School (March 2024), and Billings West High School (Oct. 2024).
It was a pleasure meeting these students and the dedicated high school educators who support them.
Please reach out to the chair of the chemistry department, Dr. John Rowley, if you or someone you know would be interested in having chemistry faculty provide guest lectures at your high school or community group.
Alumni Research Lecture
Understanding the molecular arms race between microbes and their viral predators using structural and biochemical approaches
Nate Burman graduated from Carroll in 2019 with a major in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and a minor in Chemistry. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Montana State University studying microbiology in the Wiedenheft Lab.
On December 4, 2024, Nate provided an engaging presentation on his ongoing PhD research understanding the molecular arms race between microbes and their viral predators using structural and biochemical approaches. Nate discussed the structure and function of PARIS, a prokaryotic immune system, which was recently published in Nature.
We love having our alumni return to campus and share their experiences with our current students. If you know of other Carroll alumni doing interesting work and think they should be highlighted next, please reach out to us!