Seth Elsheimer, Ph.D.
CHM 2210, CHM 2211, CHM 2211L and CHM 3212L or equivalent courses. Basic understanding of organic chemistry principles and laboratory techniques is normally required.
1) Pavia, D. L.; Lampman, G. M.; Kriz, G. S. Introduction to Organic Laboratory Techniques
2) Any organic chemistry text (McMurry or equivalent)
Research is essential to a good chemistry education. In research more than any other course the cliche' holds true that you will get out what you put in. I am enthusiastic about the project you will be working on and hope you will share that enthusiasm. Our mutual goal is for you to make a contribution to the field of chemistry. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have expanded the frontiers of science while gaining valuable experience and training. Your resume' will be strengthened significantly by the experience and publications that will result from your research. You may be working on your project over several semesters. In general, your research should be of sufficient quantity and quality that your name will appear as co-author on at least one publication submitted to a peer-reviewed chemistry journal. That means the research should be:
1) Original - not previously published
2) Documented - notebook, spectra, etc.
3) Reasonably thorough - control experiments done, new compounds completely characterized, etc.
4) Reproducible
It is common for the instructor or other students to work with you on a project.
Generally you will be doing library and laboratory work as needed. The actual work will vary depending upon the specific project but the following minimum requirements can serve as guidelines.
You are responsible for scheduling your own time. One guideline to keep in mind is that students in CHM 2211L (two credits) spend six hours a week in lab and usually spend several additional hours each week outside of lab preparing reports, studying for quizzes, etc. Of course, results are more important than "putting in the hours". Occasionally your results may be less than expected. That is normal so don't be discouraged. The nature of research requires a certain number of unsuccessful attempts, failed experiments, and learning from mistakes. Unlike the teaching labs (e.g., CHM 2211L) the experiments you will be carrying out are often not tried-and-true exercises which should always yield a known result if performed according to a textbook procedure. In research, a given amount of time spent in the lab does not guarantee specific results. It is true, however, that the less time you spend trying, the less your chance of success is.
(a) Each semester a formal written report of that semester's research progress is due no later than the last day of final exams.
(b) I will sometimes request additional informal one-page handwritten summaries of recent progress. These might be as frequent as weekly in times of high activity. Forms will be provided as needed.
(c) Chemistry majors have an additional departmental requirement that a final report be submitted for faculty review "during the semester that the student enrolls in the 4th credit hour ... one week prior to the last day of scheduled classes."
Your research notebook is the most important documentation of your research effort. In patent cases the notebook is regarded as a legal document. It will remain here as a permanent record of your work after you leave UCF. I will use your notebook as the basis for writing a manuscript for publication. It is essential that your notebook be reasonably easy to read and follow. It should be bound (i.e., pages sewn in and not removable). The inexpensive black and white speckled composition books are fine but more elaborate and expensive notebooks are available. I have some blank notebooks and will gladly supply you with one on request. Lined, graphed, or plain white pages are all acceptable. Pages should be consecutively numbered throughout. Leave a few pages blank at the front for a table of contents which you will update often. Make entries with permanent blue or black ink. Avoid pencil or water-soluble ink from felt- tipped pens. Do not attempt to erase or obliterate entries. Draw a single line through errors and enter the correction nearby. Do not tear out pages. Place your name, course number, lab room number, and instructor's name somewhere conspicuous on the front cover. Include some information on the inside front cover that will allow the notebook to be returned to you (or me) in case it is lost. Keep your notebook current. Use it as a workbook and record data and observations directly into it. Do not take data on scraps of paper with the intention of copying them into your notebook later. Informal notes to yourself, tare weights, and starting times for timed reactions should all be included. Some researchers find it helpful to save the left-hand pages for scratch calculations and other informal entries while reserving the right-hand pages for more formal entries. Specific format is up to you but each experiment should include sufficient information so that an "outsider" could come in and reconstruct your work based on the instructions found in your notebook. Include: Date(s), Title, Reaction, and Literature citation(s) Describe your procedures and observations. Include all preliminary calculations and yield calculations.
You will routinely be generating IR and NMR spectra. Label them completely with your name, date, instrument and sample parameters, sample source and identity, and the page in your notebook where the work associated with that spectrum is described. You may find it helpful to devise a numbering system for spectra that includes some of the information above. For example, my spectrum numbered SE-II-27 indicates that Seth Elsheimer ran the spectrum and the work describing the origin of the sample can be found in his second notebook on page 27.
You should already know most of the laboratory safety rules. Please familiarize yourself with the location and procedure for using the fire extinguishers, emergency exit(s) and safety shower. Some form of eye protection is required whenever you are in CH 334. Review the safety section at the beginning of the lab textbook by Pavia, et al.
Keep CH 334 a place in which it is pleasant and safe to work. Besides cleaning up after yourself, be on the lookout for ways to contribute to the common good. Label everything. Your name and the identity of the contents should be on all your containers. If you must leave something set up in the hood or on a bench, leave a note with your name, what it is, and when you will be back to move it. Be considerate of our limited space and equipment. When we are running low or run out of something, replace it if possible. Wash acetone, towels, soap, common glassware, etc., can all be obtained from the stockroom. Report breakage or consumption of specialty items and chemicals so they can be reordered. Do not remove any chemicals, equipment, glassware, or tools from our laboratory without prior approval from me.
These will be scheduled as needed and will be arranged so they will not conflict with your courses. Please provide a copy of your schedule to me at the beginning of each semester.
You will be issued a key to CH 334. This remains the property of UCF and should be turned in at the end of your last semester of research with this group. Several other keys are stored in CH 334 which are for use by the entire group. These are for access to the organic teaching lab, the NMR instrument room, etc. They should remain in CH 334 and are to be used only for research-related activities.
You are responsible for pursuing the project goals. I stand ready to assist in any way possible but I cannot help you if I don't know what you need. Please feel free to send me e-mail (sethe@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu), call my mobile phone (407-645-3785) or UCF office (407-823-5332). Other students in the group or other faculty are often good sources of advice if I am not available.
CHM 4912 students are encouraged to attend chemistry department seminars.
Grades are based on effort, notebook, report(s), safety, housekeeping, technique, and results. If insufficient effort or progress is made, a grade of "I" can be assessed. Failure to turn in your notebook, report, spectra, or keys will result in an "I" grade.
In conclusion, let me welcome you to our research team. I look forward to an
educational and productive collaboration in research.