September 27, 2007
RJLG Partners with Chemistry Program for High School Students
RJ Lee Group is one of several local businesses that has
partnered with Duquesne University to support a program that
provides research opportunities to outstanding local high school
students. Project SEED, which is in its fourth year at Duquesne,
exposes economically disadvantaged high school students to hands-on
research as they work one-on-one with faculty and mentors at
Duquesne. The program operates under the guidelines of the American
Chemical Society, but depends mainly on donations from local
companies. RJ Lee Group is one of several local businesses
that has partnered with Duquesne University to support a program
that provides research opportunities to outstanding local high
school students. Project SEED, which is in its fourth year at
Duquesne, exposes economically disadvantaged high school students
to hands-on research as they work one-on-one with faculty and
mentors at Duquesne. The program operates under the guidelines of
the American Chemical Society, but depends mainly on donations from
local companies.
Through its participation, RJ Lee Group is helping to nurture and
develop a new generation of scientists. This year, each student is
working on his or her own cutting-edge research projects under the
supervision of their faculty mentors. For example, one student is
examining a more energy-efficient way to prepare inter-metallic
compounds, which can be utilized in solders and as superconductors,
using a microwave. Another student is working on a computational
chemistry problem, studying protein-drug interactions that could be
important to the pharmaceutical industry.
Students, who receive stipends for their work, also have
opportunity to compete for $5,000 college scholarships. Students
from the Duquesne program have won scholarships for the last two
years. The eight-week program, which wrapped up in August, puts
students in the lab or in the field Monday through Friday, eight
hours a day.
"The key is they get in-depth experience," said Dr. Jennifer
Aitken, project coordinator and assistant professor of chemistry.
"They learn how to use equipment that some undergraduates don't
even get to use. They make contacts within the field by
participating on the field trips, and they have the opportunity to
gain financial aid."
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