Three Missouri State University chemistry graduate students represented the university well at the 13th Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization (SNO) annual conference. 

Blessing Akinwande, Mark Fakunle and Riley Pope-Buss presented their research at the conference, which took place from Nov. 8-10 in Providence, Rhode Island.

The students traveled with their mentor Dr. Cyren Rico, associate professor in the chemistry and biochemistry department. Rico also reconnected with Preston Clubb, a former graduate student. Clubb attended the conference as a doctoral candidate at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Poster presentations 

Their poster presentations analyzed:  

• How the amino acids in lettuce changed after being exposed to the nanoparticles molybdenum disulfide and sulfur (Akinwande). 

• How the antioxidant makeup of lettuce changed when exposed to molybdenum disulfide and sulfur nanoparticles (Fakunle). 

• How the chemical makeup of scallions changed when exposed to cerium oxide nanoparticles and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (Pope-Buss). 

The students traveled with their mentor Dr. Cyren Rico, associate professor in the chemistry and biochemistry department.  

According to Pope-Buss, Dr. Rico’s involvement in the conference sparked her interest in attending.  

“Dr. Rico has been involved with SNO for many years. He said going would be a valuable experience. It absolutely was,” she said. 

Sessions and travel

At the conference, the students attended sessions related to the field, including “Nano for Energy, Infrastructure and the Environment” and “Nano Education, Outreach and Workforce Development.”   

“The most memorable part of the conference was visiting Providence and seeing Brown University,” Pope-Buss said. “I love that attending conferences not only allows you to meet new professionals in the scientific community but also travel and see new places as well.” 

Learn more about the chemistry and biochemistry department