Kennesaw State University students showcased their research at the Symposium of Student Scholars held from November 19 to 21. The event, organized by the Office of Undergraduate Research, highlighted projects focused on addressing environmental challenges.
Both first-place winners in undergraduate and graduate categories explored deep eutectic solvents (DES) as alternatives to traditional organic solvents. These substances are considered less harmful to the environment and offer new possibilities for various applications.
Undergraduate student Saniya Samura won first place with her project titled “Development of Anti-Inflammatory Drug–Based Deep Eutectic Solvents for Ointment Formulation.” Samura aimed to improve topical creams and ointments, which often struggle with poor solubility and limited skin absorption. By combining common drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin with hydrogen bond donors, she created DES mixtures that demonstrated improved drug absorption using safer materials.
Graduate student Momena Begum received first place in her category for her work on “Efficient Removal of Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Aqueous Solution Using Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvent.” Begum’s research addressed the challenge posed by Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), chemicals found in products such as non-stick pans, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, food packaging, and firefighting foams. PFAS persist in the environment and can accumulate in water sources and living organisms. Traditional methods to remove these chemicals from water are costly and energy-intensive. Begum’s project showed that hydrophobic DES could remove between 69% to 98% of PFOA—a common PFAS—from water efficiently, safely, and at a lower cost.
Other recognized projects included Fariha Alam’s second-place graduate entry on wearable systems for classifying stress states; Viswa Teja Nukavarpu’s third-place graduate project on microfluidic devices for infection testing; Suki Lewis, Sri Gunturu, and Katelyn Nguyen’s second-place undergraduate study using mathematical modeling to analyze early COVID-19 responses; and Charlene Font’s third-place undergraduate examination of Romantic era influences in modern dance.
Students from all nine academic colleges participated through poster sessions, oral presentations, and virtual formats. Director of Undergraduate Research Amy Buddie commented on the event: “This Fall Symposium was a great success,” she said. “The students did a fantastic job of presenting their research; they were poised, confident, and knowledgeable.”
The symposium underscored Kennesaw State University’s commitment to interdisciplinary research opportunities across its academic programs.
