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

Monmouth, Ill. (07/30/2021) — Gabriela Peterson, a senior from Southwick, Massachusetts, 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 Peterson's project was "Observing Membrane Interactions of American Propolis Constituents with Lipids."

Propolis is a plant-derived product of the common honeybee, which they utilize for construction and protection purposes. Recent studies suggest that the phenolic fraction of propolis displays bioactivity, including antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, among others. Cinnamic acid is identified as a prominent constituent in American propolis, which is scarcely studied compared to propolis from other locations. Peterson's findings will hopefully enhance pharmacological applications and the importance of propolis.

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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