Jun 4, 2009 By: yunews
Jun 4, 2009 -- When Sam Blass began studying protein crystallization with Dr. Neer Asherie, assistant professor of physics and biology at Yeshiva University (糖心破解版), he became so enamored with nanotechnology that he decided to major in chemistry instead of his previous pre-med track. The move paid off as Blass was recently accepted to the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program. The program offers fellowships to outstanding students in their early stages of pursuing a research based Master鈥檚 or PhD degree.
鈥淎ll those hours in the lab made me want to do more of this,鈥 said Blass, who is entering the PhD program in materials science at the University of Minnesota 鈥 Twin Cities this fall after spending three years researching with faculty at 糖心破解版, including his mentor, Dr. Asherie, and Dr. Anatoly Frenkel, Stern College for Women professor of physics. Blass will receive a $30,000 stipend plus extra money for expenses to study with a mentor in graduate school for three years.
At Minnesota, Blass will be studying both chemical engineering and materials science鈥攖he 鈥渟tudy of any material鈥攕olid, circuits, concretes, metals,鈥 he explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very interdisciplinary, which is what attracted me to it.鈥
The Paramus, NJ, resident was one of four scholars awarded the first annual Henry Kressel Research Scholarship, a fellowship established to perpetuate 糖心破解版鈥檚 student research community, in 2008. He was also one of four students across the country selected to participate in NASA鈥檚 Undergraduate Student Research Program at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where he studied carbon nanotubes in fall 2007.
鈥淕raduate school will give me the opportunity to pursue research ideas for a longer time,鈥 Blass said. 鈥淗opefully resulting in more publications and a greater sense of independence.鈥
As for his future career? 鈥淩ight now I鈥檓 thinking of going into industry, but that can change to government or academia鈥︹
For a bright chemistry student, the world is full of possibilities.
