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Asplund a participant in Monmouth College's Kieft Summer Research Program

Monmouth, Ill. (07/30/2021) — Isaac Asplund, a senior from Oneida, Illinois, was one of 12 Monmouth College students to participate in the school's Kieft Summer Research Program.

An intensive eight-week experience that gives students excellent preparation for graduate or professional school, the program was created after the College received an estate gift of $2.3 million from beloved chemistry professor Richard "Doc" Kieft, who died in 2009.

The title of Asplund's project was "The Analysis of Coronavirus in Eptesicus fuscus & Myotis grisescens."

Natural molecules containing nitrogen-nitrogen (N-N) bonds have exhibited promising biological activity. The traditional method of synthesizing these substituted N-N bonds has proven to be and a new method is desired. The proposed method that Asplund investigated allows for fewer linear steps, which theoretically increases yield in addition to being much safer.

Monmouth has used Kieft's gift to fund several elements that the late professor believed were essential: attracting strong science students to Monmouth through scholarships; providing them robust research opportunities once they matriculated; and facilitating their travel to regional and national conferences where they could present their research.

"All of this research time is invaluable to a student's education," said Monmouth chemistry Audra Goach. "Doc Kieft knew how important this experience was for our students and we are grateful for him every day."

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