Mulcahy awarded second consecutive NSF grant for undergraduate research
Dr. Seann Mulcahy, Associate Professor of Chemistry, was recently awarded a new grant from the National Science Foundation for a project entitled “RUI: Asymmetric Synthesis of Atropisomeric beta-carbolines.” The award, totaling nearly $240,000, will be used to support the training and mentoring of undergraduate students at Providence College, and will extend from September 2020 – August 2023.
This project extends on the success of Dr. Mulcahy’s previous NSF Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) award, which made substantial progress in developing new chemical reactions catalyzed by palladium. This grant will support an undergraduate research program aimed at the development of new methods in asymmetric synthesis. Dr. Mulcahy and his team will develop new chemical tools for making organic molecules known as atropisomers. These molecules are unique because they cannot fully rotate around one of their carbon-carbon single bonds. This limitation locks the atropisomers in two distinct propeller-like forms that are non-identical mirror images of one another. Preparing one or the other of these forms is a challenge in the field of chemical synthesis, but access to these distinct molecules is important for pharmaceutical and material applications. Dr. Mulcahy and his students are researching ways to selectively make new atropisomers using a transition metal catalyst to stitch together the key components. A diverse team of undergraduate students will receive training by working to optimize this catalytic reaction and study the properties of these molecules. Computational studies both at Providence College and in collaboration with Professor Jeffrey Gustafson at San Diego State University will be used to help guide these investigations. Professor Mulcahy is also organizing workshops in chemical synthesis for underrepresented high school students in the greater Providence region, creating a summer immersion program for high school juniors interested in research, and developing new resources for college students to cope with failure and be more resilient in STEM.
This marks the second consecutive 3-year award for Dr. Mulcahy made under the NSF RUI program from the Division of Chemistry. RUI proposals support Predominantly Undergraduate Institution (PUI) faculty in research that engages them in their professional field, builds capacity for research at their home institution, and supports the integration of research and undergraduate education. Dr. Mulcahy’s first RUI impacted 10 students, 60% of whom came from underrepresented groups. All of the students went on to present work at scientific conferences. This new award will impact even more students, offering them opportunities to present their work and build their graduate-school portfolio, providing them a piece of mentored signature work.
These awards are increasingly competitive. Receiving one in a career is noteworthy, and receiving two consecutive awards is outstanding. This is a testament to a rich and vibrant environment to conduct undergraduate research at Providence College and Dr. Mulcahy’s unwavering commitment to both his students and his scholarly work.
