Alumni Spotlight - Michele McClellan
In the fall of 2001, Michele McClellan started her Penn State years as a student at the Brandywine Campus (then Delaware County). While she chose to pursue a major in Chemistry, she was also able to explore other interesting areas of study as a member of the Cooper Honors Program and later, as a member of the Schreyer Honors College. As a Cooper Scholar, she took classes in Music, English Composition and the works of Women Writers, Introduction to Psychology, and also did independent research in the Chemistry Department. While doing research with Dr. Michael DeRosa, Michele worked on a project studying the synthesis and analysis of molecular propeller molecules. After two years at the Brandywine Campus, Michele moved on to University Park to complete her degree. She received her B.S. in Chemistry from the Eberly College of Science in the spring of 2005. During her time at Penn State, she was a member of the Lion Ambassadors, tutored Chemistry in the Learning Center, and also helped with new student orientation as an orientation leader. Currently, Michele works as an Analytical scientist at DuPont's Chambers Works Plant in Deepwater, NJ. There she helps support the Gas Chromatography unit of her analytical group, working on troubleshooting and method development for the chemical intermediates manufactured on the site. She is also a member of the board of the Delaware County Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association.
Michele's advice for current honors scholars: "The best advice I've been given and that I can now give is to never stop learning. As a member of the Honors Program you're given a great start--there are things to be learned through the classes you take and lasting relationships to be made with the wonderful faculty members who will teach you. But getting your diploma is only the beginning--never let an opportunity to learn about your work, your interests, or even yourself, pass you by. Every experience you have and every person you meet teaches you something. I learned so much at Penn State that led me to who I am and what I'm doing now, but I'm constantly learning more to make me both better at what I do and make me into the person I'll be in the future."
HOW MASS SPECTROMETRY IS BEING USED TO CHANGE THE FIELD OF VIRUS RESEARCH
Student Researcher: Michele McClellan (Chemistry)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael DeRosa (Chemistry)
Mass Spectrometry has been used to make progress in the field of immunology and virus research. New techniques of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS, electrospray ionization (ESI) MS, and gas chromatograph (GC/MS) have made it possible for scientists to understand the nature of viruses, find better techniques for quickly identifying viruses, and has even helped make progress in finding vaccines. MALDI, ESI, and GC/MS have solved the previous obstacle of viruses being too massive to analyze by traditional MS--these new machines instead transform the virus into ions and study the molecule according to charge. These advances have already made it possible to identify specific characteristics of the Sindbus virus after only 2 to 5 minutes of being tested. Distinguishing characteristics of the e-coli bacteria have also been isolated along with the human rhinovirus, the tobacco mosaic virus, and others. These new MS methods have also given scientists greater insight into how T and B cells fight against HIV which may put them closer to finding a cure. Recently MALDI, ESI and GC/MS have become an important factor in quickly identifying various chemical and biological weapons in order to offset their effects.
Michele McClellan presenting her chemistry research, Spring 2003.
