Young Scientist Prize


 

April D. Jewell is recognized with the ICSOS Young Scientist Prize 2011 for her research on “A novel approach for controlling surface-based molecular self-assembly, rotation and chirality”, which is part of her PhD studies in the group of Prof. E. Charles H. Sykes of the Department of Chemistry at Tufts University. 

 

April Jewell obtained her B.Sc. in Chemistry at George Washington University in Washington, DC, and subsequently worked as an Associate Engineer at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, before joining Tufts.  

 

Over the last three years April has worked on several projects, the first of which involved molecular self-assembly of a novel phosphine based system. She discovered a phosphine based system that self-assembles with surface restructuring that is markedly different than that observed with thiols. This work suggests that self-assembly may be controlled and improved by adjusting the molecule-metal bond strength. In another project of note April has studied the enantiospecific self-assembly of a novel system of thioethers. There is a growing interest in chirality at surfaces from both a fundamental and an enantioselective reactions/separations viewpoint. April discovered the homochiral self-assembly of asymmetric thioethers that become chiral upon binding to a surface.

 

April has also distinguished herself in many aspects of teaching and outreach. April makes regular visits to schools to give nanoscience/catalysis presentations and demonstrations to the juniors and seniors. A select group of individuals that show interest in pursuing college-level studies are then invited to Tufts University for a week each spring. April has been instrumental in running demonstrations and experiments with the high school students.

 

 

April has made two very professional YouTubeTM videos about catalysis/energy and molecular machines. April’s short video entitled “Using Nanotechnology to Investigate Alternative Energy Sources” debuted on YouTube in June 2008. Since then it has been viewed over 20,000 times and is linked to many science websites and blogs. She more recently produced another video on “Molecular Machines” which featured the research group’s molecular rotor work. April is also volunteer teacher for Science Club for Girls - a Cambridge based organization, and has been working with 1st graders in Chinatown, Boston, for the past four summers. Furthermore, April is chair of the Northeastern Section Younger Chemists Committee.