Chemistry student wins award
WAYNESBURG – Tiffany Onifer, a junior chemistry major from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, represented Waynesburg University at the undergraduate research symposium at West Virginia University, where she won second place with her research presentation titled “The characterization of prepared immobilized-cyclodextrin beads and their binding affinity with enkephalin neuropeptides in microdialysis sampling.”
During her research for the symposium, which was held March 16, Onifer made cyclodextrin beads and tested their reusability and interaction with met-enkephalin and leu-enkephalin neuropeptides.
“I researched a method to improve sampling of enkephalins through microdialysis sampling,” said Onifer. “Enkephalin research is of great interest because of its importance in drug addiction.”
The WVU Symposium offered undergraduate students the opportunity to enjoy the lectures of a guest speaker and present their own research. Prizes were awarded to students with the best presented research.
With the hands-on educational experiences conducted in Waynesburg’s chemistry classes, Onifer knew she would have the opportunity to stand out among other students presenting that day.