University Honors

The effects of alcohol on microalgae cells using different alcohol concentrations and howthose impact the cell’s structural integrity will be studied. This study is significant because I willbe connecting the results to fetal alcohol syndrome in humans. When alcohol is consumed by apregnant woman, potential damage could occur to the fetus. In my research, I will bedetermining at which point in time and amount of consumption greatly effects the organism. Thereason I am studying microalgae is due to accessibility and ethicality. My expectations for thisproject are that with any amount of alcohol present, the cells will be impacted and that theirmembrane will deteriorate as the mass flow rate and concentration increase. With the help of Dr.Ke Du, an Assistant Professor in the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, andwith $8,000 in funding from the National Science Foundation, I will be executing myexperimental research.The way I am going to conduct this research is by using nano-sieve equipment which hasa canal where the microalgae cells will rest. The gaps will be filled with alcohol and the massflow rate of alcohol and concentration of alcohol will vary as different trials are completed. I willpotentially be working with two of Dr. Ke Du’s PhD students where one will help interpret myresults using photolithography and the other will assist me with the cell culturing process.