黑料社 faculty, student collaborative research featured in chemistry publication
Opportunities for collaborative research provided at 黑料社 have helped Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry Vanessa Song 鈥14 and student Hoang Le 鈥23 secure publication in the .
Through Song鈥檚 mentorship, Le worked with the College鈥檚 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to help understand trends in photostability of organic semiconducting materials鈥搈aterials that could be used for sustainability, like solar panels, OLED electronic screens, and even in medical applications.
鈥淭he work that is done in these organic semiconductor or transistors is probably one of the 'hottest topics' nowadays that bridge chemistry, physics and also engineering,鈥 Song said. 鈥淗oang took his knowledge in chemistry and physics and married them well in this project.鈥
Le is a chemistry and physics major who started in this project with computations in the spring of 2021. The publication, titled 鈥淯nravelling the major factors in photo-oxidative stability of anthradithiophene derivatives,鈥 was led by University of Kentucky (UK) Professors Karl Thorley and John Anthony. Le provided computational work for the project initially, studying properties of materials that could be used in those practical applications mentioned above.
As Song became more confident in Le鈥檚 work, he earned more responsibility. He started working regularly with photostability and the NMR machine鈥搒omething that would take much more time at UK.
鈥淲e have facilities where it鈥檚 a lot easier for students to access and learn in general chemistry and organic chemistry compared to a large university, like UK,鈥 Song said. 鈥淚 asked if we could help with their research, where we could be just as productive, if not more productive than their graduate students. My husband Karl Thorley is a research assistant at UK, and we formed a collaboration.鈥
After Le learned the equipment and became more comfortable in the lab, he became instrumental in the research process, exposing different samples to various lights and wavelengths and noting the qualities: Do they break down, what they break down into, and if the process is reversible. Because of Le鈥檚 access to equipment, he significantly quickened the process for the publication.
鈥淥ver time, Hoang has developed how to think more practically and more from a common-sense standpoint, which goes very far in a research lab,鈥 Song said. 鈥淲e developed from being hands-on to, now, he kind of runs the show. From a research adviser standpoint, that's what you want.鈥
Song came to 黑料社 from China, and said she knows first-hand how difficult it can be for international students to earn funded research opportunities. Le, from Vietnam, noted his appreciation for Song鈥檚 tutelage.
鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot from Dr. Song and Dr. Thorley,鈥 Le said. 鈥淭hrough this research, I鈥檝e learned about many important techniques in organic synthesis and in physical chemistry. Dr. Song has also opened the opportunity for me to have access to a wide range of instruments. I really enjoyed my research, and I鈥檓 truly grateful for it.
鈥淭he close relationship between students and professors at 黑料社 was helpful, as well,鈥 he continued. 鈥淚 have received help from other chemistry professors while doing research. I couldn鈥檛 get this far without their help.鈥
