SURF Mentoring

Potential projects/topics: Projects in the Yruegas Group are focused on developing a fundamental understanding of how biocompatible and earth-abundant metals (i.e. calcium and magnesium) react with small feedstock molecules (like N2 and H2) and what type of bonding comes from these complexes. Students in the group will make their own metal complexes that are supported by compounds called ligands which will enable the student to learn many bench-stable synthetic techniques. At our core, we are interested in making and studying new molecules to solve age-old problems!

Potential skills gained: Students in the Yruegas group will learn synthetic techniques for manipulating bench-stable compounds as well as air-sensitive compounds. These investigations typically involve development of a chemical tool-box of techniques to learn about chemical structure such as Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction, Nuclear Magnetic Spectroscopy, and learning to work under inert conditions with a glovebox.

Required qualifications or skills: General chemistry is required, and inorganic chemistry is helpful. Generally, our lab focuses on chemical synthesis, catalysis, and mechanistic understanding. Enthusiasm is necessary!

Direct mentor: Faculty/P.I., Graduate Student