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Utica University student Katie Mattes was invited to present chemical synthesis research at the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Conference. Mattes is a sophomore, majoring in biochemistry with a minor in creative writing, and serves as a student-athlete as a member of Utica’s Women’s Volleyball team.
Mattes and a team have been conducting research since Spring 2024 with advisor, Dr. Elaine Liu, assistant professor of chemistry. In March 2025, she will travel to San Dieg to present on her synthetic enzyme.
“My dream has always been to use chemistry to help change the world for the better and educate other people on how that is possible,” Mattes said. “I also hope to be a representative of the student athlete population here at Utica University. We have so many hardworking student athletes here, and I am proud to be a representative of us on the national stage.”
Mattes created a synthetic enzyme to catalyze a renewable energy reaction. Much like humans have enzymes in their body that catalyze reactions to produce energy, Mattes created a sulfur-based molecule to act like an enzyme to help catalyze a reaction that produces renewable energy. When a metal ion is placed onto Mattes’s synthetic enzyme, it will catalyze a hydrogen formation reaction. That hydrogen formation reaction is the renewable energy resource.
The ACS National Conference hosts approximately 10,000 attendees from around the world so peers can connect and receive the latest insights in chemistry. Being invited to host a poster session is an opportunity for undergraduate students to collaborate with chemists and share their research on the global stage. Mattes will have the opportunity to take part in other activities targeted toward undergraduate students.
“While I am there I will also attend meetings for undergraduate biochemistry students on how to prepare for grad school which is where I want to go after I graduate from Utica,” Mattes said.
Mattes is currently part way through the process. In the next couple of months she will submit her formal proposal, create a poster describing her research for the conference, and apply for Student Government Association funding. Finally, in March 2025, she will take off for San Diego and represent Utica University and show off all of her hard work.
