 Chrysa
Malosh
Duryea, PA
Major: Chemistry
Minor: Mathematics
IUP's chemistry lab, despite the beakers and Bunsen
burners, has a "lived-in look" about it. Students tape
up favorite posters and drawings, or scatter stuffed animals or
mugs along various shelves. When Chrysa Malosh's parents came
on their first visit, they took one look at her favorite cartoon
characters among the other lab memorabilia and got worried.
"They knew right away we lived in our lab. Well, I do
go out for meals. Other than that, I like to work from about eight
in the morning until midnight. Dr. Woods, my professor, compliments
me on my drive, my hard work and my willingness to get things,
done but I always say, working with someone like him, it just
seems right. The funny thing is, I didn't really think much about
my work until Dr. Woods started explaining it to my parents. Then,
while he was talking, it hit me that I had done something in my
experiments that no one else in the world had ever done before
and he made it clear that it was because of my perseverance, imagination,
and hard work that I had accomplished it. That was amazing to
me. Then at several of the presentations, where I was able to
have some very insightful technical discussions about my work
and other topics related to it, I realized just how much I had
learned at IUP, and just what I was capable of, while 'only being'
a junior in college."
And what had Chrysa Malosh done that no one – anywhere –
had ever successfully done before?
"I can't tell you specifically, because we haven't published
the work yet, but it's in the area of Organic Synthetic Methodology,
specifically, Halogenation. All I can say now is that it involves
a basic step in the production of many synthetic organic compounds.
Usually these processes require the use of hazardous materials
– halogens such as iodine, chlorine, bromine – materials
that can burn lungs, or they're carcinogenic as well as costly
and difficult to dispose of without damaging the environment.
And the processes usually take 24 hours before you get your finished
product. In my experiments, I found out how to eliminate these
solvents entirely – and get your final product in about three
minutes. And, up to now, no one's been able to do this. That's
an amazing thing about chemistry how many things haven't been
discovered or solved yet."
Part of the significance of Chrysa's discovery, beyond her own
persistence and intelligence, is that in most universities, undergraduates
don't really have the opportunity to do any serious, in-depth
research.
"Typically they get to wash glassware and attend some
extra seminars. Not only that -- the professors here at IUP truly
care about their students. And when I told Dr. Woods this project
was really his, originally, he said 'I came up with idea but you
made it work.' So, when the experiment is published, my name goes
on it first. Now, that sort of thing just doesn't happen in most
undergrad programs. The faculty members at IUP are here to teach,
not just to further their own careers. I've taken courses at three
different types of universities: a large public-research-based
university, a smaller private, state-related university and IUP.
IUP is the only one where the professors were more interested
in what you were doing than in what they were doing. There are
profs here who spend fifty hours a week preparing for a lecture
that they teach for three, just to make sure that the information
they teach is up to date and that the students will get as much
as possible out of the course. You can stop in and chat with any
of the professors when you're walking down the hall and happen
to notice that they are in. To me, it feels like home. They are
willing to help you when you have questions that are related to
their area of specialty. If you put forth a real effort to succeed
in your field, they will help make sure that effort is not wasted
and that you receive the maximum benefits of your work."
Although she didn't know all this going in, Chrysa Malosh chose
IUP after one visit to the campus. It's a choice she's been happy
about ever since.
"I had already been to several other universities and
I was impressed by the people on the campus at IUP. They were
genuinely interested in my questions and were very outgoing. I
also fell in love with the campus. It was October and the leaves
had begun to change and I just had a sense that I belonged here.
I could picture myself in the Oak Grove studying under a tree
of riding my bike through campus. I also liked the fact that class
sizes would be small and there would be a lot of individual attention
available. And I liked what the Honors College offered. It was
unlike the other programs I looked at, in that it was not just
packaged as taking the "honor section" of existing courses,
nor was it just some glorified "honor role" type of
program. The Core Course was unique. It reminded me of the schools
you read about run by Plato or Socrates, where thinking and discussion
is at the forefront. Looking back, as a science major, I value
the fact that I had such a good portion of my first two years
of academics focus on building my intellectual, reasoning, and
communication skills, so that when I eventually was immersed in
my field of study I could apply what I had learned in Core to
present myself and my ideas in a better light. I feel more confident
in situations where I am surrounded by strangers who have more
experience in an area than I do. I can speak on a level with "adults"
and feel comfortable. Also I have learned to recognize that although
you may not agree with what someone is saying, you can still take
something from it. The whole experience teaches you how to handle
yourself in situations where you have to voice and back up your
opinions, even where yours may be in the minority. Another important
benefit the Honors College offers is the opportunity to be introduced
to 'culture.' Because of the Fine Arts events that you are required
to attend, as well as the non-Western focus of some of the classes,
you gain a growing understanding and appreciation for our own
culture and for others."
The Honors College also helped Chrysa Malosh in an unexpected
way – one that made her research breakthrough, and an exciting
new project, possible.
"It's because the Honors College, thanks to our Director,
Dr. Goebel, found a way to fund my research, that I was able to
work through the summer. And, the Assistant Director, Rick Kutz
had a lot to do with this early on, when he (half) kiddingly advised
me to 'take Dr. John Woods – or I'll kick you in the head!'
I'd heard of Dr. Woods, that he was scary, he wears black, he's
hard, demanding – but Rick said if I really wanted to understand
chemistry and come out with more than grades, I'd take him. So
I did. And he was hard. And I was scared, and involved with the
soccer team and somehow, not surprisingly, I guess, ended up with
a 'c.' I went to see Dr. Woods, and he told me if came back over
break, and worked with him, he'd catch me up to speed. So I took
in the spring, got a 'b,' (which is as good as an 'a' with him),
and then, in the summer, when the funding came, Dr. Woods let
me take a crack at a project a grad student tried to do (sure!)
that hadn't worked -- but a side reaction looked promising. This
is the work we're publishing and that I've presented in conference
– an intercollegiate chemistry conference where I was representing
one of few small schools, where most of the other students were
from big research and Ivy League schools. And because of this
work I really got hooked on organics – and what we call 'green'
(or environmentally 'friendly') chemistry - how I understood it
better by doing research. And it's why Dr. Woods is the biggest
influence on my career so far."
And where is that career heading for Chrysa Malosh?
"For the present, I'm a student assistant on a grant for
a project being developed to train individuals on how to handle
hazardous materials. Dr. Woods and Dr. Robert Eddy, a professor
in Chemistry Education, put me forward for this and it may, in
fact, lead to a job. For a lot of grads, industry is a very popular
option due to the large salaries and benefits available for students
with chemistry degrees – especially advanced degrees. There
are not many majors any more and the demand is high. Pharmaceuticals,
plastics, textiles, fuel, environmental firms…all kinds of
things. For me, long range, I would like to be a professor at
a small to medium sized university, where it would be possible
to teach undergraduate and graduate students alike, as well as
conduct a productive research group. As I said, I am currently
interested in Green Chemistry, which is an area of chemistry concerned
with lowering the detrimental impact of chemistry on the environment."
And, no matter where she goes, Chrysa will carry long-lasting
memories of the Honors College, IUP and that very "lived-in"
laboratory.
"I'll miss the family I have acquired while at IUP. The
past four years have not been just about increasing my academic
knowledge, but about becoming my own person and gaining a true
sense of identity. That all began with my first two years here
in the Honors College. I was encouraged and nurtured by the friends
I had made, particularly within the Honors College, and I was
advised by people who I trusted and who I knew had my best interests
at heart, so whenever a decision or situation arose, I knew that
I had a support system there to help me if I needed it. As I moved
more into the area of my major I became involved within the chemistry
department where I felt that I was not just a student, but one
of their own, where professors took the time to work with me on
an individual basis, offering guidance and advice. And, as one
of my mentors in the department once said to me: No one ever 'leaves'
– this is your home and you are always welcome."
More information about Chrysa
Want to learn more?
|
