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The Ph.B. program in Chemistry

Below are some suggested topics for Advanced Studies Courses (ASCs) for PhB students. The list is certainly not exhaustive and students are encouraged to come up with their own topics if they wish. The topics are listed approximately in increasing order of prerequisites.

Title of ASC	Brief description	Suitable for	Contact
Molecular Symmetry and the Molecular-Orbital Model	An introduction to molecular symmetry including symmetry operations, point groups, character tables and symmetry species. An introduction to the molecular-orbital (MO) model and its application to diatomic molecules, and simple linear and non-linear polyatomic molecules.	ASC add-on to Chemistry I or Chemistry II	rob.stranger@anu.edu.au
Regulation of Hormone Levels Associated with Disease States in Higher Organisms	There are several projects in this area, involving producing enzyme inhibitors to down-regulate, and prohormones to up-regulate, the biosynthesis of peptide hormones. The synthesis and potential of these compounds as pharmaceutical agents for treating human and animal disease states associated with hormone imbalances will be investigated. For more details, see http://rsc.anu.edu.au/~eastongrp/	Students from all years	easton@rsc.anu.edu.au
Supramolecular Chemistry and Molecular Recognition	This research involves the design and synthesis of molecular machines such as molecular ratchets, shuttles, tweezers, switches, pistons and muscles, as the building blocks of nanotechnological devices. For more details, see http://rsc.anu.edu.au/~eastongrp/	Students from all years	easton@rsc.anu.edu.au
Free Radical Reactions of Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins	The aim of this project is to study free radical reactions of amino acids and their derivatives that are involved in many metabolic processes and associated with numerous physiological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and heart disease. The objectives of the work are to develop a better understanding of the biochemical reactions, produce new drugs, and develop efficient synthetic methods. For more details, see http://rsc.anu.edu.au/~eastongrp/	Students from all years	easton@rsc.anu.edu.au
Enzyme Catalysis of Non-biological Reactions	This project involves developing enzymes to catalyse non-biological reactions, such as cycloadditions, by designing non-natural substrates that bind to an enzyme with the correct alignment and close proximity of the reacting groups for catalysis to occur. For more details, see http://rsc.anu.edu.au/~eastongrp/	Students from all years	easton@rsc.anu.edu.au
Novel Amino Resins	The objective of this project is to design and synthesise novel amino monomers, for incorporation into thermosetting resins in order to enhance resin characteristics such as solubility, flexibility and strength. These resins are used as the binder in reconstituted wood products, such as particleboard and fibreboard. For more details, see http://rsc.anu.edu.au/~eastongrp/	Students from all years	easton@rsc.anu.edu.au
Linkage Isomerism and Stereoisomerism in Metal Complexes	This project involves syntheses of transition metal complexes with ligands that exhibit linkage and stereoisomerism, spectroscopic studies, and molecular modelling.	2nd year students	Mark.Humphrey@anu.edu.au
Activation and Cleavage of Small Multiply-Bonded Molecules.	This project will use state-of-the-art computational methods to design either three- or four-coordinate transition metal complexes which are specific for binding and activating small molecules such as N2, CO and NO, and will involve calculating the structures and energies of the relevant species along the reaction path in order to determine the extent of small molecule activation and the overall reaction energetics.	2nd/ 3rd year students	rob.stranger@anu.edu.au
Understanding Two-dimensional NMR Spectroscopy	Program new 2D NMR experiments on a high-field NMR spectrometer.	Prerequisite:   spectroscopy course and some familiarity with a computer language.	go@rsc.anu.edu.au
Metal Alkynyl Complexes	This project involves synthesis, electrochemical, and optical studies of transition metal complexes with alkynyl ligands (CºCR).	3rd year students	Mark.Humphrey@anu.edu.au
Optical Tweezers for Studying Microrheology	Use optical tweezers to measure the microrheology (or fluid properties at the micron length scale) of a liquid chosen by student, including complex fluids such as polymer/colloid solutions, biofluids, cell-encapsulated liquids, amongst others.	Suitable for 3rd year student with physical chemistry/soft matter physics background	sevick@rsc.anu.edu.au

Be sure to check back regularly – further possibilities will be added to the table as they are notified to the Chemistry PhB coordinator.