Issue date: 6/10/08 Section: News

Chemistry student Rebecca Grove observes crystals under the microscope as her professor Kraig Wheeler looks on. Grove won the prestigious Barry S. Goldwater Scholarship for her ground-breaking research on Louis Pasteur's work in crystal growth with Wheeler's assistance. (Submitted photo)

Rebecca Grove is making her mark in the chemistry field.

Grove's replicated research of Louis Pasteur's 1853 work on crystal growth has been published and helped land her the Barry S. Goldwater Scholarship.

"(Pasteur) was able to report that he got crystals, but not why," said Grove, a senior chemistry major with a minor in biology.

Associate chemistry professor Kraig Wheeler presented the research idea to Grove and together they studied the crystal growth of organic compounds and viewed their individual atoms with X-ray diffraction.

"He's been very, very helpful," Grove said of Wheeler. "He's very patient even if I have to ask him something more than once."

Grove said with the data they received, they were able to see what's going on inside the crystals like how they interact and where they will bond.

"Rebecca's laboratory efforts provided much needed results that have offered unique insight into a 160 year old science problem," Wheeler said.

Grove began working in Wheeler's laboratory in Fall 2006.

"She uses her time extremely well to accomplish research tasks," Wheeler said. "The combination of being easy going, passion for learning, and desire to succeed has helped her progress as a research scientist."

In January, Grove submitted an application for the Goldwater scholarship. Included in her application were details about her research. Grove found out in March that she was one of 321 students in the country to be given the scholarship.

"I didn't win for the research, but the research helped," Grove said adding that her grades and extra curricular activities also played a role.

Grove's mother Betty said her daughter has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout both high school and college.

"Rebecca is the kind of student any professor would like to clone given the chance - (she) attends class prepared, asks insightful questions, seeks help when needed, and requests additional assignments to help clarify course content," Wheeler said. "You really can't ask for more in a student."

The Goldwater scholarship is the premier undergraduate award in science, math and engineering and Grove will receive $7,500 toward her undergraduate degree.

Before winning the scholarship, Grove and Wheeler's research was published in the Angewandte Chemie Journal. Both Grove and Wheeler were excited when they heard the news.

"I never expected it to be in such a major journal," Grove said.

Grove said it's the second leading journal in the world.

"It's a good feeling knowing that some of those in the international science community found our work mildly amusing and worthy of some exposure," Wheeler said. "I was elated to discover that our manuscript was accepted for publication into Angewandte Chemie - a high impact journal."

Grove is working in the lab this summer and expanding the research. She said they are now looking at how well molecules will and won't expand.

"She has come a long way in nearly two years and has shown what it takes to succeed at the next level," Wheeler said. "It's been a pleasure to have the opportunity to watch her develop as a student and researcher. Rebecca is going places after EIU"

After Eastern, Grove said she wants to get a doctorate in organic chemistry and, in the long term, teach at the collegiate level and run a research lab.

"I see her definitely continuing her advanced degree," said Betty of her daughter's future. "We are just extremely proud of her for who she is, what she stands for and for her accomplishments."

Grove has tutored for the science department and her parents are teachers as well.

"It kind of fell into place," Grove said. "Tutoring and teaching is something I really want to do."

Grove's grandfather Ewart Grove was a teacher also. He was a chemistry professor at the University of Alabama in the 1950s.

Grove said her grandfather sparked her curiosity in chemistry.

"I was always so curious and always asking questions and as a chemist you are always asking questions," Grove said.

Because Grove's father Ed had a chemist for a dad, Ed was able to follow his daughter's research a little bit.

"Through her research, she's also trying to make a difference," Ed said. "It's not just for her sake."

The findings for the research could be applied to other fields like nanotechnology and medicine.



Kristina Peters can be reached at 581-7942 or at kmpeters2@eiu.edu.

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