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Local student conducts summer research at Monmouth College

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, IL (07/27/2018) — Seth Croslow, a sophomore physics and chemistry major from Lawrenceville, Ill., recently spent eight weeks as a Kieft Summer Research Student at Monmouth College.

Croslow worked on a project titled "Effects of Divalent Transitional Metal Ions on Insulin Aggregation."

"People who suffer from diabetes have to attain insulin via injection, since their body either cannot produce insulin or is resistant to it," SAID Croslow, who said insulin exists in two main forms, monomeric (single insulins molecules) and hexameric (containing six insulin molecules). "The body cannot readily use hexameric insulin, but it can use monomeric insulin. By studying insulin's aggregation with various transition metal cations, we can get a closer look as to what is happening to insulin upon injection and inside the body."

Croslow enjoys the opportunities that being a Kieft Summer Research Student provides.

One of the best parts about being here during the summer is that I can devote 100 percent of my attention to my research," he said. "I am able to get so much accomplished in just a single day. I have also never had so many opportunities to learn new things; along with research, I have been able to use a wood lathe to make my own pen, learn (the programming language) Python with some other students and begin creating a fluorescence microscope."

A 30-year chemistry professor who was beloved by Monmouth students, Richard "Doc" Kieft left his $2.3 million estate to the chemistry department. He also created the summer research program, which gives science students an opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research under close faculty supervision. The students work 40-hour weeks and receive free housing and a small stipend. Since its inception in 2010, the program has grown steadily in scope and complexity of research.

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